Amaechi Fingered In Suspension of NPA Boss, Hadiza Bala-Usman

Posted by Niyi Adeyi African News, Featured, Latest Headlines, News, News Across Nigeria, News From The State Friday, May 7th, 2021

(AFRICAN EXAMINER) – The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi is reportedly behind the sack row of the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Hadiza Bala-Usman, AFRICAN EXAMINER has learnt.

According to Persecondnews, the minister had sworn that Bala-Usman would not get a second term but was jolted when in January that the president approved her for a second term of five years in office, a development that did not go down with the minister.

It was also gathered that the minister was upset by the replacement of the NPA Board headed by Akin Ricketts, which he had inaugurated months earlier along with the President.

“Persecondnews recalls that just like he stood against the return of his erstwhile protégé, Dr Dakuku Peterside, as Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) in 2020, he was said to have sworn that Bala Usman was not going to return to office at the end of her first tenure.

“Sources in fact, indicated that he had already “anointed’’ a successor who would reportedly do all of his biddings as opposed to the irrepressible and independent-minded Bala Usman, which he could no longer stand.

“Buhari’s decision to re-appoint her months ahead of the expiration her tenure, therefore, hit Amaechi like a thunderbolt.

“His upset and frazzle, according to those who know, was compounded by the replacement of the NPA Board headed by Akin Ricketts, which he had inaugurated months earlier by the President.

“According to sources, the minister had since then, started to plan how to get back at the NPA CEO for what he considered to be a slight.”

In his statement on Thursday to announce the suspension of the NPA boss, Garba shehu, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity stated that the president approved the recommendation of the ministry of transportation to probe the embattled NPA boss.

His words: “President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the recommendation of the Ministry of Transportation under Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi for the setting up of an Administrative Panel of Inquiry to investigate the Management of the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA.

“The President has also approved that the Managing Director, Hadiza Bala Usman step aside while the investigation is carried out. Mr Mohammed Koko will act in that position.

“The panel is to be headed by the Director, Maritime Services of the Ministry while the Deputy Director, Legal of the same ministry will serve as Secretary.

“Other members of the panel will be appointed by the Minister.”

A source asked why Bala-Usman was the only member of the management team suspended, while Mr Mohammed Koko, Executive Director, Finance and Administration, who was part of her management team, became the Acting Managing Director. The same scenario that played out in NIMASA in which the former Director General, Dr Dakuku Peterside was booted out of office after his first term, his Executive Director, Finance, was appointed as the substantive DG.

Stakeholders are believed that Bala Usman won’t get a fair hearing in the probe because the same ministry, under minister Amaechi, which is the accuser is also the judge in the case. To get justice, they, hence, call for an independent panel devoid of ministry of transportation and the minister’s interference.