Meet Ibok-Ete Ibas, the retired admiral leading Rivers State

Retired naval officer Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas has been appointed as the military administrator of Rivers State following President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in the state.

Born on September 27, 1960, Ibas hails from Nko in Cross River State.

He served as Nigeria’s 22nd Chief of Naval Staff from 2015 to 2021 and was in the Nigerian Navy for over four decades, joining in 1979 and retiring in 2021.

His early education began at Nko Primary School before he moved to Big Qua Primary School in Calabar, where he completed his primary studies in 1971.

He then attended Hope Waddell Training Institute in Calabar from 1972 to 1976 and later the School of Basic Studies, Ogoja, in 1977.

In 1979, he joined the Nigerian Defence Academy, rising through the ranks to become Chief of Naval Staff.

Over the years, Ibas attended several military training programs, both in Nigeria and abroad.

In 1992, he studied at the Amphibious Warfare School at the U.S. Marine Corps University in Virginia.

He also trained at the National Defence College in Islamabad, Pakistan, where he earned a master’s degree in defence and strategic studies from Quaid-i-Azam University.

During his military career, he received several awards, including the ECOMOG Medal and the Forces Service Star.

In recognition of his service, former President Muhammadu Buhari honored him with the title of Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR).

Ibas now takes charge of Rivers State at a time of intense political conflict between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and former Governor Nyesom Wike, a close ally of President Tinubu.