Rotimi Amaechi, Minister of Transportation, has written President Muhammadu Buhari demanding that “the financial account of the activities of the Nigerian Ports Authority be investigated for the period 2016 to 2020”.
In a letter dated March 4, Amaechi stated that “from the records submitted by the Budget Office of the Federation that the yearly remittance of operating surpluses by the Nigerian Ports Authority from the year 2016 to 2020 has been far short of the amount due for actual remittance.”
Amaechi’s letter, which surfaced on social media on Friday via the Twitter handle of a known All Progressives Congress (APC) insider, was received by Buhari’s Chief of Staff, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari on March 30.
On Friday, President Buhari suspended Hadiza Bala as the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority to allow for investigation into the allegation put to her and appointed Mohammed Koko as acting Managing Director.
“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,” presidential spokesman Garba Shehu said.
“The panel is to be headed by the Director, Maritime Services of the Ministry while the Deputy Director, Legal of the same ministry will serve as Secretary.
