In a significant administrative move, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (Retd.), the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, has appointed Professor Ibibia Lucky Worika as the new Secretary to the State Government (SSG). This appointment follows the recent resignation of the former Head of Service, Dr. George Nwaeke. 
Professor Worika, a distinguished scholar from Okrika, Rivers State, holds a Ph.D. in International Environmental and Comparative Petroleum Law & Policy from the University of Dundee, United Kingdom. His extensive career encompasses roles in academia, international legal practice, and high-level policy advisory positions. Notably, he has served as the Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Port Harcourt and is currently the Director of the Centre for Advanced Law Research at Rivers State University.  
Vice Admiral Ibas highlighted that Professor Worika’s appointment reflects a commitment to leveraging the state’s human capital to achieve peace, stability, and security. He emphasized that Worika’s distinguished career makes him uniquely qualified to support the administration in fulfilling its mandate.  
In related developments, Dr. Iyingi Brown, formerly the Permanent Secretary for Welfare in the Office of the Head of Service, has been appointed as the Acting Head of Service following Dr. Nwaeke’s resignation. Vice Admiral Ibas expressed appreciation for Dr. Nwaeke’s contributions and wished him well in his future endeavors.  
These appointments come in the wake of the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, leading to the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the appointment of Vice Admiral Ibas as the Sole Administrator. 
The administration’s recent actions underscore its dedication to fostering effective governance and addressing the state’s current challenges through strategic appointments of experienced professionals.
