Retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, the 22nd Chief of Naval Staff of the Nigerian Navy from 2015 to 2021, has been appointed as the Administrator of Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu. Born on 27 September 1960 in Nko, Cross River State, Ibas began his illustrious military career when he joined the Nigerian Defence Academy as a member of the 26th Regular Course on 20 June 1979 and was commissioned as a sub-lieutenant on 1 January 1983.

 

Ibas received his early education in Nko and Calabar, attending Nko Primary School and completing his primary education at Big Qua Primary School, Calabar in 1971. He later attended the Hope Waddell Training Institute in Calabar from 1972 to 1976, and furthered his studies at the School of Basic Studies in Ogoja between 1977 and 1979 before his entry into the Nigerian Defence Academy.

 

Throughout his military career, Ibas attended numerous training programs both at home and abroad. He completed the Sub-Lieutenant Technical Course at INS Venduruthy in India (April 1983 – May 1984) and underwent Primary Pilot Training at the 301 Primary Flying Training School at the Nigerian Airforce Base in Kaduna (April 1986 – October 1987). He further honed his skills at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College in Jaji, Kaduna, first in January 1990 with the Junior Staff Course and later in August 1996 when he completed the Senior Staff Course with excellent grades. His international training includes a diploma in amphibious warfare from the United States Marine Corps University in Quantico, Virginia (July 1992 – May 1993), and attendance at the National Defence College in Islamabad, Pakistan (August 2005 – June 2006), where he also earned a master’s degree in Defence and Strategic Studies from Quaid-i-Azam University.

 

During his time in the Nigerian Navy, Ibas served in a variety of roles. As a midshipman, he served on board vessels such as NNS Ruwan Yaro, NNS Obuma, and NNS Aradu. After his commission, he worked as a watch keeping officer on NNS Ayam and NNS Ekpe, and later became the executive officer of NNS Siri, NNS Ekun, and NNS Ambe as a lieutenant commander between July 1993 and August 1996. He then served as the commanding officer of the Nigerian Navy Underwater Warfare School (August 1997 – September 1998) and of the Forward Operating Base Ibaka (September 1998 – June 2000). His exemplary performance led to his appointment as directing staff and later as director of the Department of Maritime Warfare at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College in Jaji, where he also briefly served as deputy commandant in early 2014.

 

Ibas further distinguished himself in several key staff roles, including serving as naval provost marshal, principal staff officer to the then Chief of Naval Staff, command operations officer at Headquarters Western Naval Command in Lagos, and chief staff officer at the Headquarters, Naval Training Command. At the Naval Headquarters, he was first the chief of administration and later the Navy Secretary before commanding the Western Naval Command from January 2013 to January 2014. He then held the positions of chief of logistics and subsequently, the GMD/CEO of Nigerian Navy Holdings Limited, before his appointment as Chief of Naval Staff on 13 July 2015.

 

On 18 March 2025, following the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, President Tinubu appointed Ibas as the Administrator of the state. Ibas, who is married to Theresa Ibas and is a father to three children, now transitions from a distinguished military career to a role in public administration, where his leadership and experience are expected to help restore order and drive development in Rivers State.