Garba Shehu, former presidential spokesperson, has revealed that President Muhammadu Buhari approved the removal of Hadiza Bala Usman as Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) despite having a close personal relationship with her.
Shehu made the disclosure on Thursday in Abuja while speaking about his new book, According to the President, which explores Buhari’s leadership style and decision-making process during his time in office.
According to Shehu, Bala Usman’s removal followed prolonged disagreements between her and Rotimi Amaechi, then Minister of Transportation, whose ministry supervised the NPA between 2015 and 2022.
“Hadiza was to Buhari like a daughter,” Shehu said. “But there was an ongoing disagreement between her and the minister. The minister wrote to say, ‘Mr President, I recommend that she should be suspended from office.’”
Amaechi had accused the NPA under Bala Usman’s leadership of failing to remit about ₦165 billion in operating surplus to the federal government and subsequently recommended her suspension.
Shehu said Buhari approved the recommendation despite objections from within the presidency.
“When the president reviewed it, the chief of staff came to him and said, ‘President, we can’t do this,’” Shehu recalled. “But Buhari replied, ‘This is my approval. Go and carry it out because the minister is her supervising boss, and he has determined that she’s not worthy of the office she’s holding.’”
Bala Usman was subsequently removed from office but was later cleared of wrongdoing by an administrative panel of inquiry set up to investigate the allegations of mismanagement.
Shehu said Buhari’s handling of the matter illustrated his governing philosophy, particularly his determination to separate personal relationships from official duties.
“That’s the kind of person Buhari was,” Shehu said. “He was completely detached from personal interest when it came to matters of state.”