Vice-Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd), the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, has explained his decision to appoint administrators for the 23 local government areas (LGAs) in the state, stating that it was essential for strengthening grassroots governance. Ibas made the announcement on Friday during a meeting with the newly appointed administrators at the Rivers State Government House in Port Harcourt. His comments come after his recent visits to several local government areas, where he assessed the situation and concluded that additional administrative support was necessary to carry out his duties effectively.
In his address, Ibas emphasized that the move was in response to the challenges he identified during his visits and as part of his efforts to implement the mandate given to him by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu following the declaration of a state of emergency in the state. The Sole Administrator revealed that after careful consideration, he selected the administrators to oversee the day-to-day affairs of the LGAs, which will be crucial for restoring stability and ensuring effective governance.
Since assuming office as the Sole Administrator, Ibas has been working to address the challenges facing Rivers State following the political turmoil that led to the imposition of emergency rule. One of the immediate issues he observed was the lack of effective governance at the local government level, which he felt needed urgent attention. According to Ibas, the local government councils were not fully functioning as they should be, and this gap in governance was affecting the delivery of essential services to the people.
“I have taken time to visit a few local government areas, and those visits have afforded me the opportunity to interact with local government civil servants. It was clear that I needed help with administering the entire state after the emergency proclamation areas, which I am responsible for following from Mr. President’s proclamation,” Ibas explained during his meeting with the new administrators.
His visits to several LGAs gave him a deeper understanding of the administrative challenges faced at the grassroots level. Ibas further stated that he realized the task ahead of him could not be achieved without help from qualified individuals capable of managing the affairs of the local governments.
Having identified the need for support, Ibas appointed administrators for each of the 23 local government areas in the state. The announcement was made on April 7, 2025, and the new appointees were officially introduced to the public. Ibas expressed that the decision to appoint these administrators was a necessary step to ensure that the state would have effective and responsive leadership at the local level.
“I went about trying to identify a few individuals, and on the 7th of April 2025, I selected those seated here today as administrators of the 23 Local Government Areas,” Ibas said, referring to the newly appointed officials.
These administrators are expected to work closely with Ibas to restore peace and stability in the state, with a particular focus on ensuring the efficient delivery of services to local communities. The Sole Administrator noted that the appointments were made based on the individuals’ leadership abilities, commitment to public service, and willingness to work in line with the state’s development agenda.
Ibas also made it clear that the new administrators would be held to high standards of accountability and transparency in their roles. He warned that any form of recklessness, abuse of office, or misuse of public funds would not be tolerated. His administration, he stressed, would be committed to ensuring that public resources allocated to local governments are used for the intended purposes.
“Let me state it unequivocally clear here: this administration will not tolerate any form of recklessness, abuse of office, or misuse of public funds or trust,” Ibas stated firmly. He emphasized that the management of public funds would be strictly monitored to ensure that every project, policy, and expenditure would deliver value for money.
To this end, the Sole Administrator outlined his plans to put mechanisms in place to ensure strict compliance with financial and administrative standards across all local government areas. Ibas made it clear that his administration would be vigilant in monitoring local government activities to maintain transparency and prevent financial mismanagement.
During his address, Ibas identified several critical areas that the new administrators must prioritize in their work. These included sanitation, environmental management, primary healthcare, civil service welfare, discipline, education, and youth engagement. He stressed that the performance of the administrators would be assessed based on their ability to address these issues effectively.
“These areas will form the basis of assessing your performance in the coming weeks,” Ibas said, highlighting the importance of these sectors in improving the living conditions of the people in Rivers State.
Ibas also reminded the administrators of the historic nature of their appointments. He noted that their roles were significant not only in the context of Rivers State but also in the broader effort to restore democratic governance and stability in the state. He described their appointments as a recognition of their leadership capacity and their potential to contribute to the development of their respective local government areas.
One of the central themes of Ibas’s address was the restoration of peace and stability in Rivers State. The state has faced political instability in recent months, culminating in the declaration of a state of emergency by President Tinubu. Ibas underscored that the role of the new administrators was vital in achieving the broader goal of restoring democratic institutions in the state.
“I expect you all to recognize this moment in history and rise to the occasion, as impartial leaders that will help me deliver on the mandate given to me by Mr. President—to restore peace and stability and work towards returning all democratic institutions in the State,” Ibas urged the administrators.
He called on them to uphold the highest standards of leadership, stating that they had been entrusted with the sacred responsibility of managing the affairs of their respective councils with care and dedication to the welfare of the people.
Ibas also indicated that his administration would not be passive in monitoring the performance of the new administrators. The implementation of policies and programs at the local level will be subject to regular evaluation to ensure that they align with the state’s goals of transparency, accountability, and sustainable development.
“We will work out the necessary modalities to monitor and ensure good compliance with the principles of due process, transparency, and zero tolerance for financial recklessness across all local government areas,” Ibas assured.
