The Nigerian Ports Authority is yet to be notified of the readiness
of Intels Nigeria Limited to comply with the Treasury Single Account
policy of the government, the Managing Director of the NPA, Hadiza
Bala-Usman said.
Intels chief, Gabrielle Volpi, had on Thursday hinted at the
logistics company’s readiness to comply with the NPA’s directive on TSA,
after the company lost its lucrative pilotage contract over refusal to
enrol.
Since June 2016, NPA and Intels have had disagreement over the TSA,
which climaxed in the former finally terminating the latter’s contract
on October 10. Intels, in various letters seen by PREMIUM TIMES, said
it was unable to comply with the TSA policy because it had loan
commitments with some commercial banks guaranteed by the deposits that
NPA directed should first go to TSA.
“We want to apologise to the federal government and NPA over this
disagreement with Intels. I was not personally involved in the
negotiations with NPA, but we apologise for what has happened.
“We intend to comply with the directive of government and transfer
all the revenue to the TSA because we are a law-abiding company,” Mr.
Volpi was quoted as saying by ThisDay.
A top source in the company also told PREMIUM TIMES during the
weekend that negotiation was underway between Intels and NPA and the
conflict between the sides could be resolved in the coming week.
The logistics is ready to comply with the TSA directive to gain back
its lucrative contract, the source added, seeking not to be identified.
But Mrs. Bala-Usman told PREMIUM TIMES on Sunday the NPA had not
received any notice of readiness to comply with its directive from
Intels.
“We are yet to receive a formal letter from them conveying their
acceptance to comply with TSA,” said Mrs. Bala-Usman. “So no negotiation
has started.”
She also disclosed to this newspaper that the NPA was yet to receive
formal letter of notification on the resolution of the House of
Representatives asking the agency to reverse termination of contract
with Intels.
The lawmakers had on Wednesday urged the government to reverse the
termination of the pilotage contract, even before an investigation.
Intels had earlier faulted the termination of the contract, shortly
after NPA announced the development, saying it would be challenged in
court.
Apart from the conflict over TSA, Intels also has another round of
conflict with NPA over the monopoly enjoyed by the logistics company in
handling oil and gas cargoes.