As Mallam Habibu Abdullahi makes a strong and historic comeback to the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) as its Managing Director – two months after his ouster – some senior staff of the organisation are jittery over “their actions” following his unceremonious removal by former President Jonathan.
A usually reliable source at the NPA Headquarters, Marina, Lagos said that some of the jittery staff were those who openly celebrated Abdullahi’s ouster in April and those who “openly bad-mouthed him and his policies”.
“Some thought he was gone for good. Others took advantage of the inexperience of the former MD (Sanusi Ado Bayero) to commit all sorts of atrocities in the organisation. They fear that Habibu will fish them out and recommend them for appropriate punishments,” the source who does not want her name in print stated.
President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday terminated the appointment of Sanusi Ado Bayero as the Managing Director of NPA. The termination of Bayero’s appointment was with immediate effect.
A statement by the presidential spokesperson, Femi Adesina yesterday directed Bayero to hand over the management of the NPA and all government property in his possession to Mallam Habibu Abdullahi who was reinstated as the Managing Director. The President also wished Bayero well in his future endeavours.
Bayero was in office for only two months. He was appointed to succeed Mallam Habibu Abdullahi on April 29, 2015 -one month to the end of former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration. No reasons were given by the administration for the action, which was largely condemned by stakeholders as vindictive.
Ado Bayero has been in Abuja since Monday when he joined a team of the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Transport and other heads of maritime parastatals to brief President Muhammadu Buhari on the activities of the Ministry and its various agencies. Buhari reportedly refused to grant private audience to Bayero despite frantic efforts by the Kano prince for a brief one-on-one discussion with the President. Bayero was still in Abuja yesterday when the Presidency announced his sack.
“He won’t have to return to Lagos. He will probably head to Kano from Abuja,” another source at NPA told Ships & Ports.
Both Abdullahi and Ado Bayero hail from Kano State. Abdullahi was first appointed NPA Managing Director on 1st August 2012.
By Pita Ochai
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