Sambo’s ex-COS Abubakar Dantsoho Lands NPA Top Job

BY GBOGBOWA GBOWA

President Bola Tinubu has appointed Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho as new Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).

The appointment of Dantsoho a senior staff of the Authority has for once put paid to the long history of appointments of ‘outsiders’, raising hopes that President Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda is gradually but firmly taking root.

A release by the State House signed by Chief Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media & Publicity Friday also named Senator Adedayo Adeyeye as the new Chairman Board of NPA, noting that the appointment is with immediate effect.

Dantsoho’s appointment brings to an end the tenure of Mohammed Bello-Koko, who was believed to have laid out a functional blueprint for the Authority’s tasks especially in improved and efficient service delivery system, infrastructure evaluation and reconstruction, automation and interconnectivity, partnership engagement and capacity building.

The state house release captioned PRESIDENT TINUBU APPOINTS NEW MANAGING DIRECTOR AND BOARD CHAIRMAN FOR THE NIGERIAN PORTS AUTHORITY (NPA)reads:

“President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho as the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).

The President has also approved the appointment of Senator Adedayo Adeyeye as Chairman of the Board of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).

Dr. Dantsoho holds a Doctorate degree in Maritime Technology from Liverpool John Moores University, United Kingdom, and a Master’s degree in International Transport from Cardiff University of Wales, United Kingdom.

Before his appointment, he had served in various roles in the Nigerian Ports Authority as Assistant General Manager; Technical Assistant to the Managing Director; Port Manager, Onne Port; and Principal Manager, Tariff & Billing.”

Dantsoho also a graduate of the University of Maiduguri was the Chief of Staff to MuazuJaji Sambo, a former Minister of Transportation under the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

On the appointment of Adeyeye as the new NPA Board Chairman, the statement reads:

“Senator Adeyeye, the Board Chairman, is a seasoned lawyer, journalist, and politician. He is a former Minister of State for Works and former Senator representing Ekiti South Senatorial District.”

The statement adds that “The President expects the new leadership of this pivotal agency to deploy excellence in the discharge of their duties to enable efficient port services and improved industry outcomes.”