Atiku Abubakar, the Peoples Democratic Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, has clarified that he is not among the beneficiaries of the Federal Government’s reinstatement of Integrated Logistic Services Nigeria Limited (Intels) in the boat pilotage monitoring business.
In a letter dated November 30, addressed to all shipping companies and signed by Port Manager Charles Okaga, the Nigerian Ports Authority announced the reinstatement of Intels as the monitoring provider for the Authority’s service boat operation in the pilotage districts.
The letter read in part, “This is to kindly inform you that sequel to the Presidential Directives dated 18th August 2023 and the consent Judgment of the Federal High Court, Lagos dated 21st of September 2023, the Authority has extended the Service Boat Operation Contract between it and Intels Nigeria Limited.
“Further to the above and to support the Authority’s and Federal Government’s drive to increase revenue generation from the Service Boat Operations, Messrs. Intels Nigeria Limited has been directed to resume services immediately. This is in line with the terms of the extended contract contained in the Managing Agency Agreement conveying the scope of Services, in addition to the obligations of the Agent.”
A few Nigerians alleged that President Bola Tinubu had reinstated the Former Vice President’s business in Intel.
Atiku, who debunked this in a statement via his official Facebook page on Sunday, explained that he sold his shares in Intel in January 2021 to Orlean Investment Group, the parent company of Intels.
The former vice president added, “The phased sale of those shares that commenced in 2018 peaked in December 2020. Intels also made public my exit from the oil and gas logistics company, meaning that a different entity now owns those shares I sold.
He revealed, “My divestment from the company that I co-founded has not been reversed. Consequently, I cannot, by any stretch of the imagination, be a beneficiary of the reinstatement of the boat pilotage monitoring business that was taken away from Intels by the Federal Government.
Atiku described the insinuation that his a beneficiary of the decision to rescind the cancellation of the contract between Intels and the Federal Government as untrue and mischievous.
