“Hadiza Bala Usman Was Like a Daughter to Buhari, But He Approved Her Removal After Amaechi’s Recommendation” — Garba Shehu

Garba Shehu, former presidential spokesperson, has disclosed that President Muhammadu Buhari approved the removal of Hadiza Bala Usman as managing director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) despite a close personal relationship with her, acting on a formal recommendation by Rotimi Amaechi, then minister of transportation.

Shehu made the disclosure in Abuja on Thursday while speaking about his new book, *According to the President*, which examines Buhari’s leadership style and decision-making process while in office.

According to Shehu, the dispute that led to Bala Usman’s exit arose from ongoing disagreements between her and Amaechi, whose ministry supervised the NPA from 2015 to 2022.

“Hadiza was to Buhari like a daughter,” Shehu said. “And they had an ongoing disagreement with the minister. The minister wrote to say, ‘Mr President, I recommend that she should be suspended from office.’”

Amaechi had accused the NPA under Bala Usman’s leadership of failing to remit about N165 billion in operating surplus to the federal government. Based on this allegation, he recommended her suspension.

Shehu said Buhari approved the recommendation despite internal objections.

“When the president looked at it, the chief of staff came to him and said, ‘President, we can’t do this,’” Shehu said. “Buhari looked at him and said, ‘This is my approval. Go and carry it out because the minister is her supervising boss, and he has determined that she’s not worthy of the office she’s keeping.’”

Bala Usman was subsequently removed from office. However, she was later cleared by an administrative panel of inquiry set up to investigate the allegations of mismanagement.

In her book, *Stepping on Toes: My Odyssey at the Nigerian Ports Authority*, Bala Usman offered a different account of the circumstances surrounding her removal. She said Amaechi wanted her out because two major contracts at the NPA were due for renewal.

She accused the former minister of pushing for extensions of contracts awarded to companies providing capital dredging services without following due process. Amaechi has denied the allegations.

Bala Usman currently serves as special adviser to President Bola Tinubu on policy and coordination.

Shehu said Buhari’s handling of the matter reflected his approach to governance, particularly his insistence on separating personal relationships from official decisions.

“That’s the kind of person Buhari was,” Shehu said. “He was completely detached from personal interest when it came to matters of state.”