EXCLUSIVE: How Bala Usman Influenced Appointment Of Dantsoho As Managing Director Of NPA

By Roland Ekama

Indications have emerged that the ex – Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Ms Hadiza Bala Usman was the brain behind the appointment of Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho as the new helmsman of the agency.

President Bola Tinubu on the 19th of June, 2023 appointed the former Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Hadiza Bala Usman, as the Special Adviser on Policy Coordination.

Bala Usman it was gathered, recommended Dantsoho to President Bola Tinubu who saw reasons for an insider to oversee the affairs of NPA based on his educational background and experience.

Recall that the new MD of NPA also served under the immediate past Minister of Transportation Muazu Jaji Sambo as Chief of Staff.

Dantsoho also served Bala Usman as Technical Assistant before his deployment to Onne seaport as Port Manager.

But Mallam Mohammed Koko Bello upon assuming duty as acting Managing Director of NPA , suspended Dantsoho after two months of that appointment because of his alleged relationship with Bala Usman.

DAILY FOCUS NIGERIA gathered that Dantsoho and the elder brother of Hadiza Bala Usman are good friends back in the day.

Our reliable source stated that “Hadiza was deeply involved in this appointment of the new MD NPA. I can tell you that she was 85% instrumental for the appointment.

“Based on Dantsoho CV and experience in the maritime industry, Hadiza was able to convince the president that (Dantsoho) will be able to change the narrative in NPA.”

Meanwhile reactions have continued to trail the appointment of the new MD from staff of the NPA.

A cross section of workers of the agency expressed satisfaction over the appointment of an insider to run the affairs of NPA.