According to Nivo News, with just four days remaining before the September 18 deadline for the lifting of the emergency rule in Rivers State, the Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Étè Ekwe Ibas (rtd), has finalized arrangements to host a thanksgiving service. The event, slated for 10 a.m. at the Ecumenical Centre on Abonnima Wharf Road, Port Harcourt, will bring together permanent secretaries, local government chairmen, heads of security and para-military agencies, traditional rulers, board members of various governing councils, captains of industries, and other invited dignitaries. A statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Ibibia Lucky Worika, confirmed that Ibas will serve as the special guest of honor.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Although his tenure is set to end in a matter of days, Ibas recently took decisive steps to address deep-rooted issues in the state’s pension system by inaugurating the newly reconstituted Rivers State Pensions Board. The board has been tasked with restoring accountability, transparency, and efficiency to pension administration. Speaking during the inauguration ceremony at the Executive Chambers of Government House, Port Harcourt, Ibas pledged his administration’s determination to end the prolonged hardship faced by retirees, many of whom have endured years of unpaid entitlements.

He described the inauguration as more than symbolic, calling it a reaffirmation of government’s duty to honor those who served Rivers State faithfully. “Our pensioners are dedicated men and women who gave their best years to building this state. They deserve dignity, respect, and timely care,” he declared. Charging the board to act decisively, he warned that excuses would not be tolerated, stressing that expectations are high and delivery must be immediate.

Ibas disclosed that the ongoing re-verification exercise had uncovered glaring lapses in the old system. The newly appointed board, he explained, was carefully chosen to restore public confidence, ensure prompt processing of entitlements, and guarantee the welfare of retirees.

Just last week, Ibas noted that the mandate entrusted to him by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had been “sufficiently achieved” following the restoration of democratic governance at the grassroots level. He made the statement during a ceremony where the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) submitted its final report on the recently concluded local government elections.

The Sole Administrator recalled that President Tinubu’s directive was clear: stabilize Rivers State, create an enabling environment for rebuilding its institutions, and return the state to full democratic governance. With the successful conduct and swearing-in of elected local government officials, he expressed confidence that his assignment had been fulfilled.

The state now awaits the return of suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his team, as Rivers people look to President Tinubu’s next move. The emergency rule, declared in March 2025 after a prolonged political crisis, had seen the suspension of Governor Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu, and members of the House of Assembly. In their place, Vice Admiral Ibas was appointed as sole administrator while the judiciary remained intact.