President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (CFR) as the sole administrator of Rivers State, following the declaration of a state of emergency in the state. The announcement was made on Tuesday, March 18, as part of federal measures to address the ongoing political crisis in the region.
Vice Admiral Ibas, a retired naval officer, served as the 22nd Chief of Naval Staff of the Nigerian Navy from 2015 to 2021. Born on September 27, 1960, in Nko, Cross River State, he brings decades of military and administrative experience to his new role. His appointment comes with immediate effect, granting him executive authority over the state during the emergency period.
As part of the emergency directives, Governor Siminalayi Fubara has been suspended from office for an initial period of six months. The federal government has not provided further details on the roadmap for governance in Rivers State, but the appointment signals a decisive intervention in the state’s political affairs.