Ibas: 18 things to know about Rivers administrator

President Bola Tinubu has appointed Admiral Ibokette Ibas (retd.) as the administrator for Rivers State.

Ibas was named after Tinubu announced the suspension of the Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, and his deputy, Mrs. Ngozi Odu, for six months.

Until his appointment, he was the 22nd Chief of the Naval Staff, a position he held until 2021.

Below are 18 things to know about the new Rivers state administrator:

1. Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (CFR, psc+ GSS AM ndc MSc) was born on September 27, 1960, in Nko, Cross River State, Nigeria.
2. He enlisted in 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.
3. Ibas completed his primary education at Nko Primary School and Big Qua Primary School in Calabar in 1971.
4. He attended the Hope Waddell Training Institute in Calabar from 1972 to 1976, followed by the School of Basic Studies in Ogoja from 1977 to 1979.
5. He continued his schooling at the Nigerian Defence Academy and then earned a master’s degree in defence and strategic studies from Quaid-i-Azam University in Islamabad, Pakistan.
6. He completed the Sub-Lieutenant Technical Course at INS Venduruthy, India, from 1983 to 1984, and Primary Pilot Training at the 301 Primary Flying Training School, Nigerian Air Force Base, Kaduna, from 1986 to 1987.
7. In 1990, he completed the Junior Staff Course at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College in Jaji.
8. He then went on to the Amphibious Warfare Course at the United States Marine Corps University in Quantico, Virginia, in 1992.
9. He also specialised in underwater warfare at NNS Quorra in 1994 and completed the Senior Staff Course at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College in Jaji in 1997.
10. He also took the National Defence Course at the National Defence College.
11. He served as the executive officer of NNS Siri, NNS Ekun, and NNS Ambe from 1993 to 1996.
12. He was also the commanding officer of the Nigerian Navy Underwater Warfare School from 1997 to 1998 and then the Forward Operating Base, Ibaka, from 1998 to 2000.
13. His service positions included directing staff at the Armed Forces Command and Service College in Jaji from 2000 to 2002, followed by deputy commandant in 2014.
14. He was the navy provost marshal from 2003 to 2004, and from 2004 to 2005, he was the Chief of Navy Staff’s primary staff officer.
15. He served as commander of the Naval Air Base in Ojo from 2006 to 2009 and then as chief staff officer at the Naval Training Command in Lagos from 2010 to 2011.
16. He also served as the Chief of Administration at Naval Headquarters (2011-2012), Navy Secretary (2012-2013), and Flag Officer Commanding Western Naval Command (2013-2014). In 2014, he was named chief of logistics and later GMD/CEO of Nigerian Navy Holdings Limited.
17. On July 13, 2015, Ibas was named the 22nd Chief of the Naval Staff, a position he held until 2021. After retiring from the Navy, he remained a prominent player in national security and maritime issues.
18. Following the proclamation of a state of emergency in Rivers State, President Bola Tinubu named Vice Admiral Ibas as the state’s sole administrator on March 18, 2025. His responsibilities include monitoring government and restoring state order in the face of political upheaval.