Commodore Daniel Ibas (retd.), the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, delivered a forceful directive to local government administrators on April 10, 2025, demanding strict accountability to prevent the misuse of public funds.
Speaking at a Port Harcourt town hall, Ibas, appointed after President Tinubu’s March 18 emergency rule declaration, stressed, “Every kobo is for Rivers’ progress—schools, roads, not personal gain.” The warning targeted the state’s 23 LGAs, where ₦2.3 billion in recent federal allocations has come under scrutiny following reports of diverted contracts and ghost worker schemes.
Ibas, a former Chief of Naval Staff known for his no-nonsense approach, vowed to deploy forensic audits and suspend any administrator found wanting, citing his 2018 recovery of ₦500 million in naval fraud as proof of his resolve.
The admonition comes as Rivers reels from political turmoil sparked by the feud between suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara and FCT Minister Nyesom Wike. The emergency rule, which sidelined Fubara’s administration, has fueled unrest, with protests by groups like Rivers Women Unite for Sim drawing thousands.
Residents welcomed Ibas’ stance—Port Harcourt trader Mama Ngozi told reporters, “We’re tired of stolen funds”—but skepticism persists, given the state’s history of corruption scandals, including a 2023 EFCC probe into ₦435 billion in misallocated oil revenues. Critics, including the PDP’s Rivers chapter, slammed Ibas’ unelected role, arguing it lacks legitimacy and distracts from restoring democracy.
Ibas highlighted plans to fast-track projects like the Okrika General Hospital, stalled since 2022, to show tangible gains. Yet, with youth unemployment at 41% in Rivers and Wike’s loyalists rallying against him, Ibas faces a tightrope. As Ibas navigates this volatile landscape, his push for transparency could either calm tensions or deepen the state’s divide, with 2025 shaping up as a pivotal year for Rivers’ 5.6 million citizens.