The Federal Government has explained why President Muhammadu Buhari approved the suspension of the Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Hadiza Bala Usman.
Usman, who was reappointed by Buhari as the MD/CEO of the NPA in January, was suspended on Thursday, few months into the new tenure.
Usman was initially appointed as the MD/CEO in 2016.
The Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the President, Mallam Garba Shehu, in a statement issued on Thursday confirmed the development, stating that the decision of the President to suspend Usman was attributed to an investigation carried out on some activities taking place in the NPA.
The President has also approved the recommendation of the Ministry of Transportation for the setting up of an Administrative Panel of Inquiry to investigate the management of the NPA.
The panel will be headed by the Director, Maritime Services of the Ministry while the Deputy Director, Legal of the same ministry will serve as Secretary.
Also, Mr Mohammed Koko has been appointed to act as the MD/CEO of the NPA, pending the conclusion of the investigation by the panel.
The statement reads: “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,” the statement added.
