The last-minute change of guard in the leadership of the Nigerian Ports Authority by the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan was yesterday reversed.
President Muhammadu Buhari sacked the Managing Director, Alhaji Sanusi Ado Bayero and reinstated the man who handed over to him, Mallam Habib Abdullahi.
The termination of Alhaji Bayero’s appointment, according to a statement issued by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President, Mr. Femi Adesina, was with immediate effect.
Bayero was directed to hand over the management of the NPA and all government property in his care to Abdullahi, who was sacked by the former President Goodluck Jonathan without given any reason.
Jonathan appointed Abdullahi in 2012 to replace Mr Omar Suleiman as NPA’s chief executive.
Reacting to the reinstatement of Abdullahi by President Buhari yesterday, the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents ( ANLCA), described the development as a good omen for the industry.
Its President, Prince Olayiwola Shittu said Abdullahi deserved the reinstatement because of his pedigree. He praised President Buhari for taking the right decision.
Shittu said: “It was unfortunate that the decision to sack Abdullahi by Dr. Jonathan was political rather than being in the interest of the nation’s sea port and NPA establishment. The fact that the sack came at the tail end of the last administration speaks volumes for itself. There were claims and counter claims that Abdullahi was sacked becaused he refused to release NPA funds for political campaign and jamborees.
“If that is true, it shows that Abdullahi deserves to be reinstated because he has the interest of the nation rather than his own interest or the interest of the few political jobbers at heart.
“We thank God that He gave us President Buhari as our leader and I pray Nigerians will give him time and the support to reposition our country for the benefit of all rather than serving the interest of the privileged few who mistakenly find themselves in the position of authority.”
Some of the NPA workers’ who also spoke with The Nation under the condition of anonymity, said they were happy over Abdulahi’s reinstatement.
They alleged that the sacked managing director lacked experience in port administration and wondered why he was appointed by Jonathan as their head.
“Alhaji Bayero had no experience in port administration before he was appointed by former President Jonathan. He had never served in NPA before he was appointed. Many of us saw his appointment as political and we are now happy that another political instrument of politics has been employed to remove him.
“Before his sudden removal, Abdullahi’s efforts were anchored on the need to deliver an efficient port service in a safe, secure and customer -friendly environment in accordance with international practices.
“As reporters covering the maritime sector, you are all aware that the biggest vessel to call at the port in West Africa (WAFMAX) with a length overall of 232.33 metres and capacity of 4,500 TEUS requiring draught of 13.5 metres first visited our ports due to Abdullahi’s consistent dredging campaign. The weekly call of the WAFMAX vessel to Lagos and Onne ports before he was suddenly sacked by Jonathan was a great achievement to those of us working in NPA,” one of the workers said.
Other stakeholders said they were happy that Buhari reinstated a seasoned administrator and wished Bayero well in his future endeavours.
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