NPA Raises the Alarm over Smear Campaign

Eromosele Abiodun

The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has raised the alarm over what it called a campaign of calumny against the organisation, saying the public should be wary of the development.

It particularly called on the media to avoid being used by those it said are out to discredit some personnel of its management.

A statement by its General Manager, Corporate and Strategic Communications, Josephine Moltok, said findings showed that the logo and seal of NPA letterheads were being superimposed to deceive the unsuspecting public of contracts allegedly awarded to some unknown companies and entities.

The statement read: “The management of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) wishes to alert the general public and security agencies to a calculated, well-funded, and oiled campaign of calumny, blackmail, and disinformation against the authority and some of its officials.

“Over the past few days, some nebulous, shadowy, and penny-for-hire groups without due registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) hiding under the toga of civil society groups have embarked on issuing distorted press statements, arranging press briefings in dingy motels and inducing phony online outlets to publish outright lies, absolute falsehoods and defamatory articles against the NPA and its management.

“These groups and individuals are also regurgitating dubious petitions and sending them to various government agencies and posting same on social media to discredit some personnel of the NPA management.

“Our latest finding shows that these desperate individuals have also added forgery to their devious act by superimposing the logo and seal of the NPA on letterheads to deceive the unsuspecting public of contracts allegedly awarded to some unknown companies and entities.

“The NPA has a defined bidding process in line with extant rules and regulations regarding procurement and contract awards. Over the years, the NPA, especially under the leadership of Mohammed Koko Bello, has as its watchword – transparency, accountability, and integrity.

“While we warn the peddlers of this godless campaign to desist forthwith, the management has alerted security agencies to this attempt to cause bad blood, create confusion, and possibly the breakdown of law and order at the ports.

“We further enjoin media organisations like the Nigeria Union of Journalists and Nigeria Guild of Editors to advise its members not to fall prey to these unscrupulous individuals and revert their minds to the ethical and professional demands of accuracy, balance, fairness, and social responsibility.

“At the NPA, the management remains committed to improved trade facilitation, revenue generation, and unprecedented remittances to the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) and is in tune with President Bola Tinubu’s FDI drive of which the ports are a key component.”