By Uzor Odigbo
There are strong indications that crisis is currently brewing at the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) over misinformation between management and the agency’s board chairman on the recent destruction of corporate head office by suspected hoodlums.
The disagreement has created tension and apprehension among staff of the agency, as both the Managing Director of the Ports Authority, Ms Hadiza Bala-Usman, and the Chairman, Chief George Rickets, are not on the same page based on the damaged facility.
The MD and the chairman also disagreed on how the destruction of some parts of the NPA headquarters and that of Tin Can Island Port would effect the operations of the Ports Authority and the port economy in general.
Apparently reacting to a statement credited to Chief George Rickets that the attack on the NPA House and its facilities in Tin Can Island Port, could disrupt the ports operations and that of the entire port economy, Hadiza on Sunday, in her first ever public comment more than one week after the incident, said: “The situation has not affected operations of the authority in any way as we have continued to render our services unhindered.”
Industry watchers also queried the MD for the comments, seeking response on the need on why staff should work from home when everything was intact.
Reports also have it that though the MD’s belated assurances had doused the fears of possible disruptions of port activities, it has also challenged the audacity of the chairman to speak on the matter before the managing director, even though she may have gone missing for over a week since the attack took place.
Analysts say the Hadiza’s clarifications have also raised other fundamental issues, such as who carried out the attack, as she had reportedly linked the attack to both unknown persons and hoodlums.
A statement that has lent credence to allegations that the arson may have been an insider’s orchestration, presumably undertaken to conveniently pass the blame on the hoodlums that went on a destruction and looting spree during the EndSARS protests by Nigerian youths.
The Ports Authority had also in a statement by its General Manager Corporate and Startegic Communications, Engr. Adams Jato, blamed the attacks on the NPA’s Tin Can Island facilities and the NPA House on unknown persons and hoodlums.
