NPA saga: CSOs urge transparency in probe

Some civil society organisations on Tuesday called for transparency in the probe of infractions at the Nigerian Ports Authority NPA).

The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi,  had on Monday inaugurated an administrative panel to probe the suspended Managing Director of NPA, Hadiza Bala-Usman.

• Southern govs to Buhari: Convene national dialogue
• Bandits break into Katsina mosque, abduct ’40 worshippers’

Executive Director, Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education, Ibrahim Zikirullahi, said: “We’ve had so many probes like these in the past, but those who committed infractions continue to walk free. As far as we’re concerned, the government has since lost direction and traction with respect to transparency, accountability and probity.”

Chief Executive, Connected Development, Hamzat Lawal, said: “The panel must be transparent, fair and unbiased. They should ensure no one influence or interfere with their probe. Hadiza Bala Usman deserves fair hearing to address all the allegations.”

Executive Director, Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, urged the panel to be impartial in its assignment and discharge its duties without fear or favour, saying “Whenever there are allegations or reasonable suspicion, it’s not abnormal to have panels set up and we cannot determine the outcome at this point. However, we have an issue with the panel not having time limit according to reports quoting the minister of transport.

“This, for us, is concerning as it leaves room for the matter to be dragged indefinitely.”