By Akinwale Kasali
The President Muhammadu Buhari-led government has announced the removal of Bala Hadiza Usman as the Managing Director of the Nigeria Port Authority, replacing her with Mohammed Bello Koko as the substantive Head of the parastatal.
Bala-Usman has been on suspension for months. Her removal from the saddle could be described as an end to the alleged various underhand dealings at the NPA.
Koko had been in an acting capacity since May, 2021 when Usman was suspended by the Federal Government.
In a statement issued Tuesday February 15, 2022, the Federal Ministry of Transport confirmed the appointment of Bello-Koko as the substantive head of the Authority by President Buhari.
Usman was queried over issues, allegedly, relating to favouritism, underhand dealings and outright disregard of Court orders while she held sway as the MD of NPA.
Sources within the NPA had disclosed that Usman singlehandedly revoked the lease of LADOL and, allegedly, gave same to Dangote’s friend, a serving Senator, disregarding a Presidential directive. This move, the magazine gathered, angered the Presidency because it was gathered that Ladol had invested over 300million Dollars and for a Federal Government appointee to display such show of disdain was unheard of.
She was alleged to have also shut down the ports and terminals of the BUA Group for close to one year despite a Court order.
Obviously, her intentions and moves favoured Dangote as it could keep BUA Group and other competitors out of business. This issue generated a lot of questions from industry watchers.
Apart from this, there were allegations that issues relating to the dredging of Calabar port which was believed to have been an utmost priority to the Government’s heart were neglected.
It was, however, gathered that her claim for neglecting the project was because she believed the project was not viable, whereas findings by specialists disregarded her claims.
