MARITIME-Buhari Reinstates NPA Sacked Chairman

President Buhari

(50-REPORT NEWS)--President Muhammadu Buhari has announced the reconstitution of the Board of Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA), with the reinstatement of Emmanuel Olajide Adesoye from the South West as chairman.

Adesoye, who is former NPA board chairman, replaces Akinwunmi Recketts, a former Commissioner for Information in Cross River State under former Governor Liyel Imoke and an ally of the Minister of Transportation, Rt Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi.
Recketts was, however, retained on the board to serve as non-executive member under the new chairman.

The appointments were contained in a statement  issued by the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina,

The statement also announced the re-appointment of Hadiza Bala Usman as Managing Director of the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) for the second term.
Adesina wrote, “President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the re-appointment of Hadiza Bala Usman as Managing Director, NPA for another five-year tenure.
“Other members of the board are : Prince Ekenyem Nwafor-Orizu (South East zone), Akinwunmi Ricketts (South South zone), Ghazali Mohammed Mijinyawa (North East zone),  Mustapha Amin Dutse (North West zone), and Abdulwahab Adesina (North Central zone)”.

50 REPORT, as at the time of filing this report could not ascertain if Ricketts demotion was connected with divergent opinion he expressed with the NPA Managing Director during the #EndSARS protests.
It would be recalled that Amaechi’s recommended candidates for the position of Director General and Board Chairman of Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) were also turned down for other persons in a last minute power play in March 2020.

Industry observers are, however, worried about the rush by the Federal Government in handing out another five-year term to Hadiza when her first tenure expires in June, this year.
According to an observer who pleaded anonymity, Hadiza’s tenure has been extended twice in less than 12 months. Her five-year tenure expires in June 2021. Why then the rush in re-appointing her for another term?
He also described the power play at the NPA as strange.

“There is more to this. This is the first time in the history of this country that the chairman of the board of government corporation would be demoted and replaced with a man”, he said.

By: Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos