Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, a retired Chief of Naval Staff, is Rivers State military administrator announced in the wake of the state of emergency declared by Nigerian President Bola Tinubu.
President Tinubu has announced this in a nationwide broadcast, after suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and the State Assembly for six months amid lingering hostilities between Fubara and Federal Capital Territory Minister, Mr. Nyesom Wike.
Mr Ibas, a native of Nko Village, Yakurr Local Government Area of Cross River, was Nigeria’s 22nd Chief of Naval Staff from 2015 to 2021. He served in the Nigerian Navy from 1979-2021, when he retired.
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Born on September 27, 1960, he started primary education at Nko Primary School in 1966 and concluded at Big Qua Primary School, Calabar 1971. From 1972 to 1976, he attended Hope Waddell Training Institute, Calabar.
In 1977, he attended the School of Basic Studies, Ogoja. He proceeded to the Nigerian Defence Academy in 1979, serving in different capacities and rising through the ranks to be the Chief of Naval Staff.
During his service, he attended several local and international military courses, including Amphibious Warfare School of the U.S. Marine Corps University in Virginia in 1992 and National Defence College, Islamabad, Pakistan. He bagged a Master’s degree in Defence and Strategic Studies from Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan.
Mr Ibas, 64, bagged several awards in service, including the ECOMOG Medal and Forces Service Star. He was conferred with Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR) by former President Muhammadu Buhari.
