According to a statement released by presidential spokesperson, Garba Shehu, Her suspension followed a recommendation by Rotimi Amaechi, minister of transportation, to set up an administrative panel of inquiry to investigate the Hadiza-led management of the NPA.

‘Shehu’s statement read “President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the recommendation of the Ministry of Transportation under Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi for the setting up of an Administrative Panel of Inquiry to investigate the Management of the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA. The President has also approved that the Managing Director, Hadiza Bala Usman step aside while the investigation is carried out. Mr Mohammed Koko will act in that position. The panel is to be headed by the Director, Maritime Services of the Ministry while the Deputy Director, Legal of the same ministry will serve as Secretary. Other members of the panel will be appointed by the Minister”.

Speaking in an interview on Radio Now 95.3 FM, Hadiza said the new directive which became necessary to preventing parking on port access roads, is effective from Monday March 22.

She said “All export cargoes for two weeks will not be allowed access into the port. We have a backlog of over 600 trucks that have approached the port coming out of their truck parks and are currently in that location within the port corridors, within the Lilypond. So we are suspending all export cargoes. This has been a challenge for us, the documentation, in terms of readiness of the terminal operators to receive them, some of the certifications they require from supervisory agencies based on the type of exports that they carry. They also have several custom certifications and CBN documents that they need to complete. Recognising that as a problem, we have invited the export promotion council to join us this week to meet with the large exporters to make them understand the procedures as it relates to documentation. If any of your documents are not ready, you must remain within your location. Actually, you shouldn’t even start your journey to the ports.”