Buhari Appoints Bello-Koko As Substantive NPA MD

President Muhammadu Buhari has appointed Mohammed Bello-Koko as the substantive Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).

Eric Ojiekwe, spokesman of Federal Ministry of Transportation disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, saying the appointment is with immediate effect.

The statement read, “The President and Commander in Chief of Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, has approved the appointment of Mr Mohammed Bello-Koko as the substantive Managing Director, Nigeria Ports Authority.

“Prior to this appointment, Mr Koko was the Executive Director, Finance and Administration of the Authority. This appointment takes immediate effect.”

Bello-Koko’s appointment followed the suspension of Hadiza Bala Usman, former NPA boss in May 2021 over the allegation of missing N165 billion.

Usman was suspended based on a recommendation by the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, to set up an administrative panel of inquiry to investigate the management of the NPA.

Bello-Koko had been appointed by the President to take over as acting head, pending the outcome of the investigation.