Ibas inaugurates nine key boards in Rivers ahead of emergency rule exit

As Rivers State prepares for the end of its emergency rule on September 18, 2025, the Sole Administrator of the state, Vice-Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), has inaugurated nine strategic boards across education, health, economy, environment, and revenue administration.

The Administrator, who was appointed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on March 19, 2025, following the declaration of a state of emergency a day earlier, explained that the newly constituted boards are expected to restore institutional efficiency, strengthen governance structures, and provide sustainable solutions to some of the state’s most pressing challenges.

The boards inaugurated include the Rivers State Universal Basic Education Board (RSUBEB), Rivers State Senior Secondary Schools Board (RSSSSB), Rivers State Internal Revenue Service Board (RSIRSB), Rivers State Microfinance Agency (RSMA), Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme Board, Rivers State University Teaching Hospital Board, and the Rivers State Waste Management Agency (RIWAMA).

In a statement signed by his Senior Special Adviser on Media, Hector Igbikiowubo, Vice-Admiral Ibas underscored that the appointments were not rewards but calls to duty, urging the board members to carry out their tasks with urgency, integrity, and innovation.

Ibas gave particular emphasis to education, which he described as the “foundation for long-term transformation in Rivers State.”

He lamented the current state of overcrowded classrooms, deteriorating infrastructure, and declining performance indices, stressing that bold reforms are urgently needed.

He specifically tasked the Universal Basic Education Board and the Senior Secondary Schools Board to move beyond paperwork and boardroom deliberations and personally assess the realities in schools, particularly in underserved rural areas where students often learn in poor conditions.

“Every kobo spent in this sector must be justified. Accountability must guide every decision,” Ibas warned, while calling for the establishment of modern data systems to monitor student enrollment, teacher postings, school infrastructure, and performance outcomes.

Addressing financial sustainability, the Administrator charged the Rivers State Internal Revenue Service to modernize its operations through digital automation and transparency.

He said Rivers must reduce its heavy dependence on federal allocations by building a robust internal revenue base and blocking leakages that undermine the system.

“The work before you is not just about collecting taxes—it is about building trust, achieving sustainability, and ensuring accountability,” he said.

“Our people must see that every naira they contribute works for them.”

Ibas also linked effective taxation to greater public confidence, noting that transparency and fairness in tax administration would encourage citizens to willingly comply with their obligations.

For the Rivers State Microfinance Agency, Vice-Admiral Ibas stressed the need to stimulate the local economy by broadening access to credit facilities for micro, small, and medium-scale enterprises.

He argued that small businesses form the backbone of economic activity and that empowering entrepreneurs would translate to job creation, poverty reduction, and community development.

“You must empower people at the grassroots to dream, to create, and to expand,” he told the board.

“The growth of our local economy depends on how we support our small and micro businesses.”

The Administrator described healthcare delivery as a dual responsibility—moral and strategic.

He urged both the Contributory Health Protection Programme Board and the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital Board to take decisive steps in strengthening health services.

According to him, the government’s vision is to guarantee affordable and accessible healthcare, with special focus on vulnerable groups such as pregnant women, children, the elderly, and patients battling chronic conditions.

“This programme is about more than health. It is about dignity, security, and the promise of a better life for our people,” he said.

He highlighted the importance of the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital as a referral hub and a training ground for future medical professionals, warning that the hospital’s progress—or lack thereof—would directly shape the entire healthcare system in the state.

Turning to environmental issues, Ibas placed sanitation at the heart of his message to the Rivers State Waste Management Agency (RIWAMA).

He stressed that proper waste management is not a cosmetic exercise but a matter of public health and safety.

“The responsibility before you is urgent and enormous,” he declared.

“You must lead the charge to rid our communities of filth. This is not only about clearing refuse; it is about creating a system anchored on efficiency, sustainability, and discipline.”

The Administrator disclosed that government had already procured modern equipment for waste collection and landfill operations, while also constructing access roads to dump sites to improve efficiency.

He challenged the board to go further by exploring innovative recycling models, including turning waste into energy, fertilizers, and industrial raw materials.

“Around the world, waste is being transformed into valuable products. Rivers State cannot afford to be left behind,” he said, adding that strict enforcement of sanitation laws and public awareness campaigns must accompany technical reforms.

Vice-Admiral Ibas reminded the newly inaugurated board members that their roles carry great responsibility and are not privileges for personal gain.

“The future of Rivers State rests partly in your hands,” he told them.

“Lead with accountability, courage, and vision. Your service will determine whether our people experience real change.”

He emphasized that the boards, once functional, would serve as pillars of post-emergency governance in Rivers, ensuring continuity when full civilian administration resumes.