Buhari suspends NPA CEO, Hadiza Usman, appoints Koko as replacement

The Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Hadiza Bala- Usman, has been suspended by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The suspension was approved on Tuesday by Mr Buhari but that action remained undisclosed until Thursday evening amid high-level efforts to ensure the decision is reversed.

NPA’s executive director of finance and administration, Mohammed Bello-Koko, has been named to lead the organisation in acting capacity.

“The suspension has been approved by Mr President but it could be reversed in the days ahead because top personalities are making efforts to ensure she remains in office and the suspension is reversed,” a source disclosed.

It was learnt that the suspension was to allow a probe of allegations of improprieties against Ms Usman to take place unhindered.

The probe is at the instance of the supervising transport ministry, headed by Rotimi Amaechi.

Ms Usman was reappointed to continue heading the NPA in Janaury by Mr Buhari several months before the end of her first tenure.

Among individuals said to be working to save Ms Usman are the Chief of Staff to the President, Ibrahim Gambari; a former head of state and a former defence minister, who are said to working to resolve the stand-off between Ms Usman and the minister.

The ministry of transport did not officially confirm the development but an official there said a statement would be “issued in the coming moments.”

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If an official statement is made, Ms Usman may have lost the battle to reverse the suspension.