The NPA has given Intels Nigeria a two-week ultimatum to remit an outstanding $48 million that ought to have been paid into the maritime agency’s treasury single account in 2017. Speaking during an interview with CNBC Africa, Hadiza Bala Usman, the agency’s managing director, said Intels’ notice of termination will stand if the company failed to settle its debt. “I am giving Intels a possible two-week window to provide payment, two weeks from now, following which the notice of termination will not be withdrawn,” she said. “One of the issues we have had with Intels is their non-compliance with the TSA. As you are aware, the Nigerian Government instituted the treasury single account which is the account that all revenues of government need to be paid into,” she added.

Hadiza Bala Usman

In September, Justice Minister, Abubakar Malami asked the NPA to void the boats’ pilotage agreement it has with Intels. Intels, a logistics and facilities services provider in the maritime and oil and gas sectors, was co-founded by Gabriele Volpi, an Italian national, and former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar. Malami said the agreement, which has allowed Intels to receive revenue on behalf of NPA for 17 years, violates sections 80(1) and 162(1) and (10) of the Constitution.

After last year’s incident where the NPA pronounced the Intels contract void, Intels reached out to the NPA, and we assumed the negotiations led to an agreement on how it would comply with the TSA to settle whatever backlog existed. The public is not privy to such an agreement if it exists. However, as the management of the NPA has come out to request a final settlement of outstanding amounts, Intels will have to comply or produce counter facts that will show that the agreement was different from this settlement option.

It is advisable for all interested parties to await this before making further comments and decisions on the issue.