- On April 7, 2025, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas appointed administrators for all 23 LGAs in Rivers State, despite a court order
- The appointments aimed to streamline governance, with new administrators assuming roles immediately, alongside reconstituted state boards
- A Federal High Court’s restraining order did not stop Ibas's decision to appoint new local government administrators
Rivers State Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), has appointed administrators for all 23 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the state.
This decision was announced by the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Ibibia Worika, in a Special Government Announcement issued on Wednesday morning.
While the specific names of the new appointees were not disclosed, the statement confirmed that the appointments would take immediate effect, with all new administrators set to assume their roles on Monday, 7th April 2025.
The announcement further revealed that Ibas had also authorised the reconstitution of various boards of state agencies, commissions, and parastatals that had previously been suspended.
These changes are expected to help streamline governance and ensure more efficient management of the state’s administrative functions.
The official statement read:
"His Excellency The Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral (Rtd) Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas CFR, has approved the appointments of administrators for the 23 Local Government Areas of Rivers State. He has also approved the reconstitution of some boards of agencies, commissions, and parastatals, earlier suspended. All appointments take effect from Monday, the 7th of April 2025."
This development comes just a day after a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt reportedly issued a restraining order, temporarily halting Ibas’s efforts to appoint administrators to oversee the local government councils.
However, despite the court's intervention, the new appointments have moved forward.
Rivers’ HoS resigns as Ibas appoints new SSG
Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that Dr George Nwaeke resigned as Rivers State Head of Service, following the suspension of former Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
Vice Admiral Ibas thanked Nwaeke for his contributions and wished him well in future endeavours.
