Rivers Sole Administrator Seeks More Time From NASS Panel Amid Fragile Emergency Rule

The Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Rear Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd), has appealed to the National Assembly’s Ad-hoc Committee for additional time to prepare a detailed briefing on the state’s ongoing situation, citing the fragile political and security environment under the current state of emergency.

Speaking at the National Assembly on Friday, Ibas acknowledged the critical role of the committee in safeguarding Nigeria’s democratic foundations and expressed his commitment to transparency and cooperation.

“Mr. Chairman, please permit me to begin by respectfully acknowledging your leadership and the critical role of this committee in safeguarding the democratic and constitutional integrity of our great nation,” Ibas said in his opening remarks.

He addressed his earlier absence from prior committee engagements, clarifying that it stemmed from pressing governance duties rather than disregard for legislative oversight.

“I deeply regret my inability to attend earlier engagements with this esteemed committee… Today marks exactly 10 days since the first invitation, during which we had four public holidays and two weekends,” he explained.

The administrator emphasized the exceptional difficulty of managing state affairs under emergency rule, noting that while Rivers remains relatively calm, the situation is still delicate.

“The absence, of course, was not out of disregard, but rather due to the weighty and urgent demands of stabilizing governance in a state under a declared emergency,” Ibas stated.

He urged the committee to grant more time to ensure a thorough, well-prepared report, one that reflects the complexity and sensitivity of the state’s transitional challenges.

“It is important that any engagement with this committee is done with the depth, accuracy, and clarity it rightfully deserves,” he said.

Reaffirming his willingness to collaborate with federal lawmakers, Ibas thanked the committee members for their understanding and extended appreciation to the media for their role in amplifying the federal government’s stabilization efforts.

“I remain fully committed to cooperating with the committee and to ensuring that all relevant information is made available in due course,” he concluded.

The committee is expected to deliberate on the administrator’s request before outlining its next steps in overseeing Rivers State’s interim governance arrangement.