Termination of Intels’ Contract: Niger Delta Youths Berate Bala Usman

Irked by the recent termination of the rewarding pilotage agreement contract between the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and oil and gas logistics giant, Intels Nigeria Limited, Niger Delta youths, under the aegis of Niger Delta Youths Coalition (NDYC) have urged the federal government to wade into the matter in order to save the jobs of thousands of youths in the area.

The youths alleged that given the same circumstance, but in a different location, the Managing Director of NPA, Hadiza Bala Usman would have acted differently.

“If Intels were located in Kaduna, providing jobs for more than 10,000 people, will Hadiza Bala Usman kill it the way she is trying to do now?” asked National Coordinator of NDYC, Chizi Amadike.

Amadike appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to urgently intervene in the NPA- Intels imbroglio to save the jobs of many Niger Delta indigenes, especially Rivers State youths.

“There is no job in Nigeria. Companies in the Niger Delta region are packing up yet the likes of Intels which have remained in the region are being persecuted for no just cause.

“We know President Buhari is being misled by the Cabal, so we are now calling on him to intervene to save these jobs.

“The persecution of Intels is not good for Rivers State, Niger Delta and Nigeria. Our leaders should work to promote peace and harmonious co-existence, not discord.

He stated that Intels has never had problem with NPA prior to Hadiza Bala Usman’s appointment in 2016.

He alleged that the NPA boss started attacking Intels immediately she assumed office.”

Meanwhile, the Ijaw Youth Council Worldwide (IYC) has called on NPA to peacefully resolve its differences with Intels.

IYC, in a statement by its spokesman, Daniel Dasimaka, said the decision of the NPA MD to terminate the pilotage agency agreement between NPA and Intels that allowed the oil and gas logistics firm to provide boat monitoring and supervision pilotage services on behalf of NPA for seven years and collect revenue on its behalf would have negative impact on the economy of Onne, Rivers State, the Niger Delta and Nigeria, as it would lead to job losses.

Dasimaka said: “We are calling on the management of NPA and the federal government to rethink their decision to give Intels Nigeria Limited, three months to round up and hand over the pilotage services to the NPA. As of today, thanks to Intels, the Onne Port is about the only Port in Nigeria outside Lagos that is viable, thus, any attempt to stifle it is considered an attempt to cripple the port at a time we are expecting the federal government, through Ms. Bala Usman’s office, to ensure the viability of seaports in Port Harcourt, Calabar, Burutu, Warri, etc to de-congest the heavily congested Lagos Ports.”

The House of Representatives, Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), the Maritime Energy Media Practitioners of Nigeria (MEMPON), the National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents (NCMDLCA), the Nigerian Importers Integrity Association (NIIA) and several other stakeholders and interest groups have condemned the cancellation of the Intels contract by NPA citing the negative impact of the action on jobs, foreign direct investment and the economy as a whole.