The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has given Intels Nigeria Limited three months to quit.
NPA gave this marching order barely a week after terminating boats pilotage monitoring and supervision agreement with Intels, owned by former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar.
The NPA had terminated the agreement with Intels based on the decision of the federal government that it violated the Nigerian Constitution.
The NPA boss blamed Intels for refusing to pay revenue into the Treasury Single Account (TSA) of the federal government.
She said all efforts to get the company to obey the directive was met with various excuses until the NPA wrote to seek the AGF’s legal advice on how to proceed with the NPA/Intels relationship in a letter dated May 31, 2017.
“In the premise of the above, the conflict between the agreement and the TSA policy presents a force majeure event under the agreement, and NPA should forthwith commence the process of issuing the relevant notices to Intels exiting the agreement which indeed was void ab initio.”
She further stated that as a responsible agency, the NPA has proceeded to act as advised, stressing that it was now determined more than ever to terminate the contract forthwith.
“The Authority has taken note of threats by Intels to withdraw its investment plans in Nigeria and must point that business thrives in favour of everyone involved only when the laws of the country of operation are adhered to. No organization is above the Nigerian constitution and it is only when all corporate entities obey the laws of the country that everyone benefits. There must be a level playing field for all players in the sector and this is the commitment of the Authority,” she said.