Rivers State received N401.9 billion under ex-administrator Ibas in six months
Rivers State received a staggering N401.9 billion in federal allocations during the six-month period under the stewardship of former Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (retd), a review of federal government data has revealed.
The data, published by both the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation and the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), shows that the disbursements were made through the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) and included both state and local government allocations between March and August 2025.
Vice Admiral Ibas, who was appointed Sole Administrator of Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu in March 2025 during a political standoff in the state, oversaw the receipt of these funds during his controversial tenure. His appointment followed the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara amid a power struggle that rocked the state’s political landscape.
Breakdown of Allocations
According to a detailed review of the published federal records, Rivers State and its 23 local government areas received monthly allocations amounting to N401.9 billion over the six-month period:
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March 2025: The state received N44.6 billion, while local governments got N18.5 billion.
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April 2025: The state received N44.4 billion, and LGAs got N19.4 billion.
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May 2025: The state was allocated N42.7 billion, and LGAs received N16 billion.
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June 2025: State received N42.3 billion, and LGAs got N18.8 billion.
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July 2025: N39 billion was disbursed to the state, and LGAs received N18.8 billion.
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August 2025: The state got N41.6 billion, while the LGAs received N19.2 billion.
In addition to these figures, another N36.6 billion was released for January and February 2025 local government allocations—funds which had been previously withheld during the period of political uncertainty. Specifically, N16.7 billion was disbursed for January and N19.9 billion for February.
The total disbursement to Rivers State—comprising state and local government funds—under Ibas therefore stood at N401.9 billion, making it one of the largest allocations within the period across Nigeria.
Financial Transparency Concerns
Despite these massive inflows, Ibas’ administration has come under fire for what many critics describe as a complete lack of financial transparency.
Throughout his tenure, there was no release of quarterly budget performance reports—a mandatory fiscal responsibility measure intended to provide the public with insights into how allocated funds are spent.
The absence of these public financial disclosures has sparked calls for accountability and audits from civic organizations and some members of the political class, especially after Governor Siminalayi Fubara was reinstated on September 18, 2025, following the resolution of the political crisis.
Lawmakers Move to Probe Ibas’ Tenure
With the return to constitutional governance, members of the Rivers State House of Assembly have initiated moves to investigate financial activities under Ibas. However, this has been met with resistance from the former administrator’s camp.
Reacting through his Senior Special Adviser on Media, Hector Igbikiowubu, Ibas dismissed the legitimacy of any probe by the state assembly, arguing that the lawmakers had no jurisdiction over his tenure.
“When you say they were going to probe the tenure of the administrator, was it the Assembly that appointed the administrator?” Igbikiowubu questioned rhetorically during a media briefing.
He emphasized that the Sole Administrator was appointed directly by the President and, by extension, answered to the National Assembly and not the state legislature.
“You see, the point to note is that commentary is free. You can’t stop people from running commentary,” he said, adding, “But like I asked earlier, were they the ones that appointed the administrator? So, if you didn’t appoint the administrator, it goes to reason that you have certain limitations.”
He further argued that probing Ibas’ administration could be interpreted as an indirect challenge to the authority of the President and the National Assembly.
“When you also reason that the administrator was supervised by the National Assembly, it goes without reason that when you decide to probe the administrator, you’re invariably saying that you will be probing the administrator and the National Assembly,” Igbikiowubu added.
He concluded by describing the planned probe as “a fool’s errand,” although he conceded that the lawmakers had the right to carry out functions they deemed appropriate.
Accountability Still Elusive
The Rivers State government has historically struggled with fiscal transparency, but the situation reportedly worsened during the brief Sole Administration.
Not only were budget performance reports absent, but there was also no publicly available breakdown of how the funds were allocated across sectors—raising red flags among civil society and watchdog groups.
Critics argue that this lack of accountability has left a significant gap in public knowledge and created suspicions of misuse or misappropriation of public funds during Ibas’ stewardship.
The clamour for an audit is gaining momentum, especially from within the state’s legislative chambers, with some lawmakers pushing for a full-scale financial investigation to determine how the N401.9 billion was utilized.
Others argue that even though Ibas was federally appointed, any state resources disbursed during his administration fall within the purview of state-level oversight mechanisms and should be subjected to scrutiny.
A New Beginning?
With Governor Siminalayi Fubara now back in office, many observers are watching to see whether his administration will act decisively to investigate the financial dealings of his predecessor. Fubara’s reinstatement, facilitated by a political truce brokered at the national level, marks a new chapter in Rivers State politics.
Still, questions remain unanswered: How was the N401.9 billion spent? Were due process and procurement laws followed? Were the funds channeled into development projects or otherwise?
As the dust settles on one of the most politically turbulent periods in the state’s history, the people of Rivers State are left demanding answers—and those answers may only come through transparency, legislative scrutiny, and a commitment to good governance.
The revelations about the N401.9 billion allocation to Rivers State under Vice Admiral Ibas highlight the significant financial resources at the disposal of the state’s leadership during the six-month Sole Administration. However, the continued absence of budget performance documentation and open records has raised serious concerns about transparency and accountability.
As the Rivers State House of Assembly prepares to look into these issues, the coming weeks will be crucial in determining whether the state will finally receive the financial accountability that many residents and stakeholders have long demanded.
