Tinubu nominates ex-naval chief Ibas as Rivers state administrator

President Bola Tinubu has nominated retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas as the administrator of Rivers state.

Ibas, a former chief of naval staff, will be responsible for overseeing the affairs of the state for at least six months.

The new Rivers administrator served as chief of naval staff from 2015 to 2021. He also served as Nigeria’s ambassador to Ghana.

The president had earlier on Tuesday declared a state of emergency in Rivers following the persistent political crisis and instability in the state.

Tinubu also suspended the governor, his deputy and the members of the state assembly.

He said the administrator will manage the state without enacting new laws but may issue regulations subject to federal executive council approval and presidential promulgation.

The president said the judicial arm of Rivers state remains unaffected and will continue its constitutional duties.

Tinubu said his intervention, published in the federal gazette and shared with the national assembly, seeks to restore peace and order in the troubled state.

“The administrator will not make any new laws. He will, however, be free to formulate regulations as may be found necessary to do his job, but such regulations will need to be considered and approved by the Federal Executive Council and promulgated by the president for the state,” the president said in a televised broadcast.

“This declaration has been published in the federal gazette, a copy of which has been forwarded to the National Assembly in accordance with the constitution.

“It is my fervent hope that this inevitable intervention will help to restore peace and order in Rivers State by awakening all the contenders to the constitutional imperatives binding on all political players in Rivers state in particular and Nigeria as a whole.”