Former Nigerian Vice President and 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has vehemently denied being a beneficiary of the Federal Government’s recent reinstatement of Integrated Logistic Services Nigeria Limited (Intels) boat pilotage monitoring business.
The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), through a letter dated November 30 and addressed to all shipping companies, announced the reinstatement of Intels as the monitoring provider for the Authority’s service boat operations in the pilotage districts.
Clarifying the situation, Atiku Abubakar took to his official Facebook page to set the record straight on Sunday. He explained that he sold his shares in Intel in January 2021 to Orlean Investment Group, the parent company of Intels.
Abubakar stated, “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.”
Addressing the insinuations linking him to the reinstatement decision, Atiku reaffirmed, “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 previously associated with Intels.”
He further dismissed claims alleging his involvement, terming them as untrue and mischievous.
Atiku stressed the importance of setting the record straight and dispelling any misconceptions surrounding his relationship with the reestablishment of the contract between Intels and the Federal Government.
This statement comes amid speculations circulating among some Nigerians suggesting that Atiku Abubakar was a beneficiary of the decision to restore the cancelled contract between Intels and the Federal Government, allegations which he strongly refutes.
