AKOREDE FOGO
It’s now end of the road for Integrated Logistics Services (INTELS) as President Muhammadu Buhari finally terminates the pilotage contract between the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the company.
INTELS is a company partly owned by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar before he divested his shares after the company becomes a target from oponentsm
It was gathered that INTELS won the pilotage contract in January 2021 but, president Buhari reportedly cancelled the contract following legal advice from the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN).
The Director-General, Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), and Acting Director-General, Infrastructure Concession and Regulatory Commission (ICRC) were also reported to have advised the president on the matter.
In a letter dated January 7, 2022, and signed by the Chief of Staff to the President, Ibrahim Gambari, President Buhari directed the termination of Intels contract with the NPA.
Buhari’s letter addressed to Malami and the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, directed that the procurement process initiated by NPA be forwarded immediately to the BPP for action within 60 days to avoid further loss of revenue.
The President added that the Ministry of Transportation should present a memorandum on the procurement process to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for consideration.
He, however, directed the NPA to ensure that the sanctity of the agreements with respect to Onne 4 (Berths 9, 10 & 11) be maintained, as there is no subsisting contract with Intels for their utilisation.