By Eromosele Abiodun
Last week’s suspension of Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Ms. Hadiza Bala-Usman, at the request of the Minister of Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, was the culmination of a two-year war of attrition between the duo, triggered by disagreement in 2019 over whether or not to renew the channel management contracts, THISDAY findings have shown.
It was learnt that the NPA had in 2019 placed advertisement in newspapers calling for expression of interest and bids.
Sources said three bid rounds were cancelled on the orders of the minister over disagreements on the selective bids and open bids.
EXCLUSIVE: How Amaechi, Hadiza Usman clashed over multibillion naira NPA contracts
The minister at least once ordered the cancellation of an invitation for bids for a contract in favour of the incumbent contractor.
Months before her suspension last week, the Managing Director of the
Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Hadiza Usman, repeatedly faced off with her supervisor, the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, over the award of contracts, and Mr Amaechi at least once directed a procurement process be suspended in favour of an incumbent contractor, documents seen by PREMIUM TIMES have shown.
The disagreements drew in the Bureau of Public Procurement, the Attorney General of the Federation and the Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, Ibrahim Gambari, who reported directives from the president to both parties and sought external advice to resolve the issues.
Last week’s suspension of Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Ms. Hadiza Bala-Usman, at the request of the Minister of Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, was the culmination of a two-year war of attrition between the duo, triggered by disagreement in 2019 over whether or not to renew the channel management contracts, THISDAY findings have shown.
It was learnt that the NPA had in 2019 placed advertisement in newspapers calling for expression of interest and bids.
Sources said three bid rounds were cancelled on the orders of the minister over disagreements on the selective bids and open bids.
The process was suspended till May 11, 2020, when the NPA placed advertisements calling for expression of interest, which was again moved to October 2020 because participants protested that they could not participate because of COVID-19 restrictions.
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From Sita to Arlington Resa – Is FAAN “Born Again”?
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The Federal Airports Authority (FAAN) Tennis Club, Ikeja has called on the sports authorities to upgrade of all sporting facilities in the country to enhance sports development
By Chris Aligbe
Recently, the news of the divorce between Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and its long-standing business partner in airport management solution – SITA, a global brand of great repute, filtered into the industry. Since the news, many a stakeholder have engaged interrogating what they consider vital aspects in the relationship. Opinions varied and wandered from cost of FAAN’s move to the question of propriety of the move in the face of proposed concession of airports.
Group Braces to Promote Good Governance, Anti-corruption
Group Braces to Promote Good Governance, Anti-corruption
Burdened by the decaying Nigeria’s governance and worsening corruption, Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice, (ANEEJ) says it is now poised to foster initiatives and activities to advance good governance and anti-corruption in Edo State and Nigeria at large.
Executive Director of ANEEJ, Rev. David Ugolor, said at a town hall meeting on issues around Open Government Partnership, the Edo State Integrity and Accountability Strategy (EDSIAS) and the Civil Society Advocacy to Support Anti-corruption and Rule of Law in Nigeria (CASARN) project close-out
The group has been implementing the Civil Society Advocacy to Support Anti-corruption and Rule of Law in Nigeria (CASARN) project since December 2019 and it is expected to end by April 2021.