Abuja, Nigeria
President Bola Tinubu has sacked the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mohammed Bello-Koko and appointed Abubakar Dantsoho to replace him.
Bello-Koko was first appointed in an acting capacity in May 2021 by President Muhammadu Buhari before his appointment was confirmed in February 2022.
The Act that establishes NPA provides for a tenure of five years for the MD.
In a statement issued on Friday, Ajuri Ngelale, special adviser to the president on media and publicity, said the President equally appointed a former senator from Ekiti State, Adedayo Adeyeye as chairman of the NPA board.
Ngelale said the new NPA MD, Dantsoho holds “a Doctorate in Maritime Technology from Liverpool John Moores University, United Kingdom, and a Master’s degree in International Transport from Cardiff University of Wales, United Kingdom”.
“Before his appointment, he had served in various roles in the Nigerian Ports Authority as Assistant General Manager; Technical Assistant to the Managing Director; Port Manager, Onne Port; and Principal Manager, Tariff & Billing,” Ngelale said in the statement.
He said Adeyeye is a seasoned lawyer, journalist, and politician.
“He is a former Minister of State for Works and former Senator representing Ekiti South Senatorial District,” he added.
According to the presidential spokesperson, Tinubu expects NPA’s new leadership to deploy excellence in the discharge of their duties to enable efficient port services and improved industry outcomes.