A group, National Good Governance Advocates (NGGA), has hailed Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), the sole administrator of Rivers State, for his transformative leadership and meticulous stewardship of resources, which have driven development in the state.
In its report, which was made public at a news conference in Abuja, the NGGA celebrated Ibas for rescuing Rivers from the brink of collapse and restoring stability, security, and public confidence.
The report paints a grim picture of Rivers before Ibas’ appointment on March 18, 2025, following President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency.
In his address, national president, Dr. Abiodun Israel, recounted how suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s administration plunged the state into chaos through “brazen abuse of constitutional norms,” including his unlawful attempt to declare the seats of 27 elected lawmakers vacant over political differences.
The NGGA noted, “The collapse of democratic institutions had become glaring… laying bare the capriciousness with which the instruments of power had been wielded.
“This was compounded by resurgent militancy and pipeline explosions that threatened Nigeria’s oil-driven economy, creating a dagger aimed at the economic heart of Nigeria.”
Under Ibas’s leadership, the group said Rivers has undergone a remarkable transformation.
The NGGA’s report states, “The pervasive climate of fear that once haunted the streets of Port Harcourt, the markets of Bori, the creeks of Bonny, and the oilfields of Ogoni has been replaced by a resurgent atmosphere of peace and assurance.
”Within a week of his administration, militancy was subdued, pipeline explosions ceased, and oil production stabilised, averting a national economic crisis.”
The report further highlights that “in less than two weeks into his administration, markets had begun to hum with activity; businesses awakened from forced dormancy; and residents walked streets with that long-absent sense of safety.”
According to the group, Ibas’ achievements extend to governance and infrastructure. The NGGA commended his commitment to democratic restoration, noting his release of funds to the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission for the August 30, 2025, local government elections.
“His infrastructural projects include the reconstruction of the Rivers State House of Assembly complex and the completion of the Mother and Child Hospital, integrated into the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital network,” the group added.
