The Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority, Hadiza Bala Usman, said some Federal Government agencies operating at the ports disobeyed the directive and executive order signed by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo on ensuring 24-hour port operations and synergy among such agencies.
Usman said this during an interview on Channels Television’s ‘Sunrise Daily’ programme on Thursday which was monitored by our correspondent.
The NPA boss said Osinbajo, while serving as acting President in 2017, signed an executive order on the promotion of transparency and efficiency in the business environment and directed the resumption of 24-hour operations at the Apapa port and banned touting by officials or unofficial persons at any port; be it air, land and sea ports in Nigeria.
She, however, stated that apart from the NPA, other Federal Government agencies had refused to obey the executive order and no sanction had been handed down to them.
Usman said, “If you recall there is an executive order that was signed by the Vice-President which directed all agencies of government to conduct inspection (of containers) in one location and that executive order was signed in 2017.
“Certain agencies of government have not complied and one of the things we have said is sanctioning for non-compliance of an executive order that was released cannot be done by the Nigerian ports.
“If an agency of government violates an executive order signed by the Vice-President, I believe the Vice-President and indeed the Presidency should sanction that agency for non-compliance but that has not been done. The executive order sought to have all agencies do inspection in one location hence consignees don’t have to have multiple areas of inspection.”
The NPA boss said she had reported the matter to the Presidential Council on Ease of Doing Business chaired by Osinbajo but no sanction had been given to the errant agencies.
Usman argued that port operations would not run smoothly if it is only the NPA that is meeting its obligation.
She added, “There is an executive order to that extent. Some agencies have not complied. There have been several explanations and justifications for the non-compliance by these agencies. The NPA has raised it to the Presidential Council on Ease of Doing Business chaired by the VP to ensure sanctioning for non-compliance and as I keep saying, if a directive is given and agencies don’t comply, if there are no consequences for action and inaction that means I have not performed.
“We must be held accountable for not complying with a directive. For example, we have 24-hour port operation that has been directed. All agencies of government are required to deploy personnel to have 24-hour port operation. We deployed our personnel but the other legs were absent. And of course, we cannot sanction other agencies of government.
“We drew the attention to the Presidential Council on the Ease of Doing Business to ensure those agencies also participate in the 24-hour ports and that non-compliance has to be done by the Presidency arising from the executive order.”
Reacting to the incident, Wale Adetona @iSlimfit said, “The driver was completely at fault. Let’s not make excuses for him. I know the LASTMA guys can be so unruly too but the driver shouldn’t have resisted arrest.”
@iamdodo said, “It shouldn’t have escalated to this stage if the officers are provided with necessary tools. Training them on how to de-escalate tense situations would go a long way. However, the driver must face the law!”
Dami added, “Everybody at that scene should be charged. LASTMA and police need to learn how to behave. Send a ticket to him or run his plates, find the owner of the car, and fine the owner. When he wants to renew his license or collect his tax clearance, he will see he owes the government.”
Lawrenzi replying @Mr_JAGs said, “You don’t have the right to investigate this, let those saddled with the responsibility do their Job, you can ensure justice is served.”

By Eniola Akinkuotu