The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Transport, Muhammed Bashir, is reportedly in trouble over the recent leadership tussle in the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).
It would be recalled that in sacking Patrick Akpobolokemi as the agency’s Director-General on July 16, President Muhammadu Buhari had directed him to hand over the management of NIMASA and all government property in his possession to the most senior officer in the agency who will remain in charge until a new DG is appointed.
Following that directive, Akpobolokemi had on Tuesday last week handed over to the agency’s Executive Director, Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services, Barr. Calistus Nwabueze Obi.
Ships & Ports Online had reported exclusively on Friday that a mild drama played out at the agency’s Burma Road, Apapa, Lagos headquarters barely three days after when it became clear that Obi was not the most senior officer.
That discovery led to the elevation of the agency’s Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Haruna Baba Jauro, as the acting DG when he was discovered to be the most senior officer.
Jauro was said to have formally lodged a protest against Akpobolokemi at the Ministry of Transport and Office of the Head of Service of the Federation before the reversal was made.
But Sunday Punch newspaper reported that a source in the ministry informed its correspondent on Saturday that the Permanent Secretary was suspected to have played a role in the initial elevation of Obi as the acting DG.
The source said Obi had already been issued a query by the HOS, Danlandi Kifasi. Kifasi also gave Bashir a query.
He added that Kifasi issued the query on the orders of the President who was angry that his directive was not followed on the choice of the acting DG.
“I can confirm to you that the Permanent Secretary has been queried by the Head of Service due the embarrassment caused by that drama in the agency. He is expected to explain his role in the matter,” Punch newspaper reported the source as saying.
He said the reversal of role between the two top officials of NIMASA was a result of the investigation which revealed that although the two of them were appointed at the same time, Jauro resumed in the agency about three days ahead of Obi.
“The two of them were appointed the same day but their record of resumption showed that the new acting DG resumed about three days before Obi resumed,” the source added.
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