Group raises concern over new appointments in NPA

Stakeholders in the maritime industry have raised concerns about the competence of the new Managing Director of Nigerian Port Authority (NPA) and the need to review the operations of the Authority.

According to a group, Maritime Watchdog, the industry would not opposetribe as basis for to the appointment, but fight incompetence, noting that the contention is that the new appointments in the NPA are not based on competence but on an unknown private agenda by the presidency.

It will be recalled that President Buhari had recently appointed Ms Hadiza Usman as Managing Director of NPA, as well as Muhammed Bello-Koko, Executive Director, Finance and Administration; Professor Idris Abubakar ED, Engineering and Dr. Sekonte Davies, ED Marine Operation.

According to the statement: “Maritime Watchdog understands that the position of the Managing Director of the NPA may be a political appointment, but such political appointment should be done with a kind of savvy that would put the right people in the right places, not for political settlements; because when that is done, the result is more corruption as lack of industry knowledge would lead to more blunders in policy implementation, bureaucratic processes, systemic corruption, decayed industry and sharp practices that would never move the industry or the country forward.

“As an organization, we question the experience of the erudite Ms Hadiza Usman to be the Managing Director of the NPA as a major parastatal of government. We would like the government of Nigeria to justify the appointment of Ms Hadiza as MD of the NPA.

“The same challenge goes to the other three EDs; Muhammed Bello-Koko ED F&A, Professor Idris Abubakar ED Engineering, Dr. Sekonte Davies ED M&O, as we question their experience to lead the NPA in the various capacities that they have been appointed”.

Representative of the group, Macjohnson Odey Esq, said as an organization, the Maritime Watchdog Nigeria would keep on asking these questions until it gets answers.

“At this point, we can see how the perpetration of acts like operation of illegal jetties can successfully go on in the country and nothing would be done about it.

“The operation of the NPA like a government inside a government would successfully continue for years with humongous loss of revenue to the government and people of Nigeria and our beloved government would do nothing about it.

“The dock workers and on board security men have been sacked, which we have continuously raised alarm on the operation of illegal and private jetties by corporations and individuals who have assumed the status of demigods and nothing has been done about it by the government.

The same government has gone on to appoint outsiders to run a technical parastatal like the NPA because she wants to look good. Let it be known that there is no result that would arise from doing the right thing in a wrong way”, he added.