President Tinubu Swears in Vice Admiral Ibas as Rivers State Sole Administrator

President Tinubu Swears in Vice Admiral Ibas as Rivers State Sole Administrator

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has officially sworn in Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd.) as the Sole Administrator of Rivers State. The swearing-in ceremony took place this afternoon in the President’s office at Aso Rock, attended by key government officials, including Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila, Attorney-General of the Federation Lateef Fagbemi, Principal Private Secretary Hakeem Muri-Okunola, and Special Adviser on Information and Strategy Bayo Onanuga.

The ceremony followed President Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State on Tuesday, March 18. The decision resulted in 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. In a national broadcast, the President cited political instability, constitutional breaches, and security concerns as reasons for the drastic move.

Vice Admiral Ibas, who previously served as Nigeria’s Chief of Naval Staff from 2015 to 2021 under former President Muhammadu Buhari, has now been tasked with overseeing the state's affairs until stability is restored.