President Buhari Suspends Hadiza Bala Usman As Nigerian Ports Authority Managing Director

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the suspension of the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Hadiza Bala Usman.

The presidential spokesperson, Garba Shehu, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday night titled “President Buhari approves panel of inquiry on NPA, asks MD, Hadiza Usman to step aside.”

Her suspension comes as the Ministry of Transportation, headed by Rotimi Amaechi, sets up an Administrative Panel of Inquiry to investigate the NPA management.

Mr Mohammed Bello-Koko, an Executive Director at the NPA, will replace Hadiza for the duration of the investigation.

“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, while Mr Mohammed Koko will act in that position.

“The panel is to be headed by the Director, Maritime Services of the Ministry and 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 reads.

Hadiza Usman was first appointed Managing Director of the NPA in 2016. She was reappointed into the position in January 2021 for another five-year tenure.

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