Thursday, 28th March 2024
To guardian.ng
Search
Breaking News:

Ado-Bayero: From Emirate To The Ports Authority

By Samson Ezea
09 May 2015   |   5:16 am
RECENTLY, there was a change of guard at the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) following President Goodluck Jonathan’s appointment of the prince of Kano Emirate, and great scion of Late Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Abdullahi Bayero, Alhaji Sanusi Lamido Ado-Bayero as the new helmsman. Ado Bayero, who is also Ciroman Kano, took over from Mallam Habib Abdullahi.
Copy

Copy

RECENTLY, there was a change of guard at the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) following President Goodluck Jonathan’s appointment of the prince of Kano Emirate, and great scion of Late Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Abdullahi Bayero, Alhaji Sanusi Lamido Ado-Bayero as the new helmsman. Ado Bayero, who is also Ciroman Kano, took over from Mallam Habib Abdullahi.

It would be recalled that following the demise of the immediate past Emir of Kano sometime last year, many Nigerians saw his eldest son, Sanusi Ado-Bayero as heir apparent or successor. But that never happen following the choice of former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi by the Kano State government as the new Emir of Kano.

Not disturbed or perturbed by the choice of the former CBN governor ahead of him, Ado-Bayero who is also a lawyer accepted the outcome of the emirate succession with equanimity and continued to support his father’s successor.

Ordinarily and typical of an average Nigerian that is always desirous of power, many had expected him to rock the boat or fight over the succession issue, but he never did that, due to his humble background, respect for the traditional institution, law and peace, coupled with his strong belief as a true Muslim that power belongs to Allah.

Meanwhile not many Nigerians were surprised with his recent appointment as the Managing Director of NPA considering the fact that apart from being a lawyer, and prince of the prestigious Kano emirate, he was a renowned public servant with track record like his late father.

Ado-Bayero who started his career as a lecturer in Kaduna State Polytechnic and later moved on to become State counsel in the Ministry of Justice, Gidan Murtala, Kano, is not at loss with the enormity of the job of a public servant, especially that of a ports authority that is one of the major economic hubs of the country.

His appointment at this critical period of the country’s economy is a clear testimony to government’s confidence in his ability to perform, especially when it matters most. It also means that there are more daunting tasks ahead of him. Apart from the dwindling government’s revenues, the ports authority is the second largest source of revenue for the government. So for this, much is expected from the agency, not only by the government but also by Nigerians.

For this obvious reason, the place is and will always be a cynosure of all Nigerians and international community. This is one important thing that will likely remain indelible in Ado-Bayero’s mind as he resumes work and ensures that there will be no lapses for failure.

Besides, having not been new to handling or taking responsibility, Ado-Bayero will likely bring to fore his administrative savvy and prowess in the day-to-day running of the ports. As a legal expert, the prince of Kano emirate is definitely familiar with the statutory duties and functions of the NPA, and how best it could be utilised in collaboration with other maritime agencies to achieve the desired economic goals in line with international best practice.

As a team player who proved his mettle as legal adviser, Kano State Investment and Properties; Director-General, Kano State Council of Chiefs, Director-General Special Duties in the Kano State Government, and District Head /Council member Kano Emirate Council, Ado-Bayero is expected to liaise with the Board, management, and Ministry of Transport in policy formulation and planning at national level of basic marine infrastructure, legislation and international relations.

Also expected of him is to work and monitor closely the activities of the private stakeholders at the ports, whom many Nigerians have always seen as a clog in the wheel of progress due to alleged malfeasance in their dealings with the governments and people in the industry.

Nigerians are of the view that close monitoring and regulation of their illicit activities at the ports in line with the maritime laws will help in plugging the loopholes in which government revenues are being fritted into private pockets often at the ports.

As the prince mounts the saddle at the ports authority, all eyes are on him to see how far he can turn things round for good in the days ahead. At the end of the day, his stewardship will go a long way to prove who he really is, and whether his appointment is a case of putting a square peg in a square hole or otherwise.

It could be recalled that before now, Ado-Bayero has worked as the permanent Secretary, Kano State Ministry of Information, Youths and Culture. He has equally served in private sector as the Chairman of City Walls & Gates, Director, Briscoe Nigeria Limited and International Energy Insurance Plc.

He attended Ecole International De La Langue Francoise, Paris where he obtained a diploma in French, and a diploma in Law from the Institute of Administration, Kongo, Zaria. He obtained an LL.B from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in 1983 and BL from the Nigerian Law School in 1984.

0 Comments