President Bola Tinubu has appointed Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (Rtd) as the Administrator of Rivers State following the declaration of a state of emergency in the state.
The appointment, announced on Tuesday in a nationwide broadcast, comes after the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the State House of Assembly for an initial period of six months.
Tinubu said Ibas, a former Chief of Naval Staff, will oversee the affairs of the state to restore peace, order, and effective governance.
“The Administrator will not make new laws but may formulate necessary regulations, subject to approval by the Federal Executive Council,” the president stated.
The judiciary in Rivers State will continue to function normally, he added.. Here are details about the new administrator
Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas was born on 27 September 1960.
He is a retired Nigerian Navy vice admiral, who was the 22nd Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) of the Nigerian Navy from 2015 to 2021.
Ibas was born in Nko, Cross River State, South South Nigeria.
He enlisted into the Nigerian Defence Academy as a member of 26 Regular Course on 20 June 1979 and was commissioned sub-lieutenant on 1 January 1983.
He began his primary education at Nko Primary School, Nko, in 1966 and completed at Big Qua Primary School, Calabar in 1971. He then proceeded to the prestigious Hope Waddell Training Institute Calabar from 1972 to 1976. Between 1977 and 1979, he attended the School of Basic Studies Ogoja before proceeding to the Nigerian Defence Academy in 1979.
He is also an alumnus of the National Defence College, Islamabad, Pakistan, having attended the National Defence Course from August 2005 to June 2006. In addition he holds a master’s degree in defence and strategic studies from Quaid-i-Azam University in Islamabad, Pakistan.
In the course of a distinguished service in the Nigerian Navy, Ibas has earned several prestigious awards, including the Silver Jubilee Medal, ECOMOG Medal, Forces Service Star, Meritorious Service Star, Distinguished Service Star and the General Service Star. Others are the Passed Staff Course (DAGGER) and a Fellow of the NDC.
In October 2022, a Nigerian National Honour of Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR) was conferred on him by President Muhammadu Buhari
He is married to Theresa Ibas and they are blessed with 3 children.
His enjoys reading, watching documentaries and playing golf
