By Ngozi Onyeakusi—-Hadiza Bala Usman has been suspended As Managing Director/CEO of Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) with Mohammed Koko taking Over In Acting Capacity.

Usman was first appointed as the Managing Director of the NPA in 2016.

President Muhammadu Buhari had inJanuary reappointed Hadiza Bala Usman as Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority, for another five years.

She is one of the co-founders of the Bring Back Our Girls campaign, and is also a founding member of the ruling All Progressives Congress.

She was the Chief of Staff to the Governor of Kaduna State from 2015 to 2016.

Senior Special Assistant to the President, Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, in a statement said Usman has been asked to step aside following Panel of enquiry to investigate the management of the NPA.

He noted that the investigation was at the instance of the Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi.

The statement read:

“President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the recommendation of the Ministry of Transportation under Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi for the setting up of an Administrative Panel of Inquiry to investigate the Management of the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA.

“The President has also approved that the Managing Director, Hadiza Bala Usman step aside while the investigation is carried out, while Mr Mohammed Koko will act in that position.

“The panel is to be headed by the Director, Maritime Services of the Ministry and the Deputy Director, Legal of the same ministry will serve as Secretary.

“Other members of the panel will be appointed by the Minister.”