Following the six-month suspension of Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy Mrs Ngozi Odu, President Bola Tinubu appointed Admiral Ibokette Ibas as the state administrator, SAVANNAH NEWSNOW REPORTS.
Before his appointment, he served as the 22nd Chief of the Naval Staff, a position he held until 2021.
Here are some key facts about the new administrator:
Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas was born on September 27, 1960, in Nko, Cross River State, Nigeria. He joined the Nigerian Defence Academy as part of the 26 Regular Course on June 20, 1979, and was commissioned as a sub-lieutenant on January 1, 1983.
Ibas attended Nko Primary School and Big Qua Primary School, Calabar, completing his primary education in 1971. He then attended Hope Waddell Training Institute, Calabar, from 1972 to 1976, and later the School of Basic Studies, Ogoja, between 1977 and 1979.
He furthered his education at the Nigerian Defence Academy, then earned a master’s degree in Defence and Strategic Studies from Quaid-i-Azam University in Islamabad, Pakistan.
He completed the Sub-Lieutenant Technical Course at INS Venduruthy in India from 1983 to 1984 and underwent Primary Pilot Training at the 301 Primary Flying Training School, Nigerian Air Force Base, Kaduna, from 1986 to 1987.
In 1990, he attended the Junior Staff Course at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College in Jaji, then participated in the Amphibious Warfare Course at the United States Marine Corps University in Quantico, Virginia, in 1992.
He specialized in Underwater Warfare at NNS Quorra in 1994 and completed the Senior Staff Course at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, in 1997. He also attended the National Defence Course at the National Defence College, Islamabad, Pakistan, in 2005. As a midshipman, he served on board NNS Ruwan Yaro, NNS Obuma, and NNS Aradu.
After commissioning, he served as a watchkeeping officer on NNS Ayam and NNS Ekpe. He was executive officer of NNS Siri, NNS Ekun, and NNS Ambe between 1993 and 1996. He commanded the Nigerian Navy Underwater Warfare School from 1997 to 1998 and led the Forward Operating Base, Ibaka, from 1998 to 2000.
His staff appointments included directing staff at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, from 2000 to 2002, and deputy commandant in 2014.
Ibas held various staff appointments, including directing staff at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College in Jaji from 2000 to 2002, and deputy commandant in 2014. He served as naval provost marshal from 2003 to 2004 and principal staff officer to the Chief of Naval Staff from 2004 to 2005. Ibas commanded the Naval Air Base in Ojo from 2006 to 2009 and was chief staff officer at the Naval Training Command in Lagos from 2010 to 2011. He held other key positions, including chief of administration at Naval Headquarters, Navy Secretary, and flag officer commanding Western Naval Command. In 2014, Ibas became chief of logistics and later GMD/CEO of Nigerian Navy Holdings Limited. He was appointed Chief of the Naval Staff on July 13, 2015, a position he held until 2021, remaining influential in national security and maritime affairs after his retirement.
On March 18, 2025, Vice Admiral Ibas was appointed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, following the declaration of a state of emergency due to political instability in the state, with the task of overseeing governance and restoring order.
