NPA Warri Host Communities protest alleged shut-out by INTELS

Over five hundred indigenous youths from host communities to Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, New Port, Warri Monday January 20 staged a peaceful protest over alleged monopolization of terminal operations by Integrated Logistics Services (INTELS) from loading and off- loading any oil and gas related equipment in Warri Port.

The protesters who had in an open letter to President Goodluck Jonathan dated December 5, 2013 accused INTELS of deliberately marginalizing people of NPA Warri host communities in terms of employment, human capital development, youth empowerment and shutting-out of indigenous contractors from the Port Operations against the local content act, stormed the New Port gate as early as 6:45am, chanting songs of marginalization with placards.

Some of the placards carried inscriptions like “Warri Port is our source of living”, “equal right and justice for all terminal operations in Warri Port”, “Mr. President make Warri Port part of your reform agenda”, “INTELS, Warri Port is not your property”, INTELS no MoU, no operation” and “FG revive Warri Port now”.

Our Correspondent reports that three big buses conveying staff of INTELS as well as some other staff of the company in their private vehicles were prevented from entering the Warri Port, while security officials were on hand to forestall any breakdown of law and order.

Some INTELS’ buses being diverted by the protesters from entering the NPA New Port, Warri Photos: Celestine Ukah 

No official of INTEL was on ground to comment on the development, but the Manager, Delta Ports, Mr. Obumneme Onuenyenwa who spoke to Newsmen during the protest promised that the port authorities will intervene on the issue with a view to reaching a compromise between INTELS and the host communities.

The host communities had also in the open letter addressed to President Goodluck Jonathan blamed “the infrastructural decay of Warri Port” on INTELS monopolization of activities at the Warri Port and sought to know “the political heavy weight that is behind INTELS Nigeria Limited”.

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