Few days after last week’s shake-up in both the Nigerian Ports Authourity (NPA) and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) which led to the exit of the former’s chief executive and the removal of the executive directors of the two agencies, revelations have emerged as to how the ‘coup’ was hatched and executed.
Sources at the supervisory ministry of transport confirmed to Shipping Position Daily after the shake-up was announced that, it was entirely beyond the minster and the ministry.
Few days after last week’s shake-up in both the Nigerian Ports Authourity (NPA) and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) which led to the exit of the former’s chief executive and the removal of the executive directors of the two agencies, revelations have emerged as to how the ‘coup’ was hatched and executed.
Sources at the supervisory ministry of transport confirmed to Shipping Position Daily after the shake-up was announced that, it was entirely beyond the minster and the ministry.
In fact, unlike the usual practice whereby senior personnel in the ministry would have been in the know, no top official was categorical about what was going on.
A very senior official told our correspondent a few hours after the removal of Engr Omar Suleiman and his executive directors and the removal of the executive directors of NIMASA, that it was planned at the very topmost level.
“I can tell you that the minister was only told, for his information and he didn’t have any major say”.
When asked why the director general of NIMASA, Mr Ziakede Akpobolokemi was not affected, the official pointedly told our correspondent that “that place is a no- go area for us”.
Another senior official whose responsibility covers the maritime agencies under the ministry also told our correspondent that left to the ministry; it is the NIMASA DG that would have been relieved of his appointment. “He has become untouchable and arrogant to the ministry since the former minster was redeployed, I am sure you know the story”, he added.
He however expressed disappointment with the frequent changes that have characterized maritime industry agencies, saying that even at the ministry, “we are not comfortable with it, but you know it is the dispensation of politics and there are many interests, as civil servants, we have to work with anyone who is there”.
He confirmed that in the case of last week’s shake-up, no one in the ministry could confirm anything until the picture became clearer from the presidency. “You will also notice that previously, it’s the ministry that issued press statements, but that wasn’t the case with this one”, he recalled.
The new teams are expected to begin to settle down this week.
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