DAILY TRUST, Wednesday, October 14, 2020 9 Like us on follow us on Twitter: Facebook.com/dailytrust @daily_trust 2020 1988 THIS IS INTELS - PROUDLY NIGERIAN! The history of INTELS in Nigeria is a long story which began in 1982 INTELS has enjoyed 35 years of partnership with the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and has actively and substantially contributed to the increase in Government revenue; INTELS has, by itself and in conjunction with its affiliates, built and developed over 7 km of equipped docks in different Nigerian port locations (Onne, Calabar, Warri and Lagos), more than 6 million square meters of industrial facilities and over 2.000 housing units; Through its substantial investments over the years, INTELS has played an indispensable role in facilitating and enhancing the operational activities of the major oil companies in the country, providing them with invaluable services and facilities based on efficiency and productivity; INTELS has always favoured, in the development of its business making extensive use of local suppliers and manpower, thus contributing to the country’s economic well-being as well as the local economy and the social fabric in which they operate; INTELS activities have created employment for over 10,000 personnel, including direct and indirect employees of third parties, utilising less than 100 expatriate staff members; INTELS periodically allocates resources to support widespread community projects by initiating the development of new entrepreneurial initiatives, promoting sports activities aimed at young people and implementing structural assistance, including non-routine maintenance where required; INTELS has made a significant contribution to the creation of the largest FREE ZONE in the world dedicated to oil & gas related activities. INTELS was heavily affected by the COVID-19: pandemic at global level during this period, nonetheless: • It has never interrupted its activities, thereby guaranteeing the continuity of the service provided to all OIL & GAS Companies; • INTELS and its affiliates have made a major real estate investment in the Lagos area worth over USD 1 BLN; • It has funded and built two COVID-19 clinics in the Onne area. OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE AUTHORITIES: regrets the constant attacks on it perpetrated through the media which do not reflect the truth and the purpose of which is not understood; INTELS is constrained to point out that such actions create significant economic and reputational damage, creating dismay and confusion among customers, with consequent inevitable damage to the NPA itself; INTELS has invested more than USD 1 BLN in the above-mentioned initiatives in Nigerian ports which no entity could have financed and which, once the remaining debt of USD 800M has been paid off, will be at the exclusive disposal of the NPA and the Nigerian Government; INTELS has made a significant contribution to capitalising the NPA by establishing an agreed mechanism for debt repayment through part of the proceeds from pilotage. It should be remembered that a substantial part of the proceeds of the pilotage activity, managed by Intels in its role as agent, then flow into the NPA coffers, to via the accounts indicated by the NPA, according to a mutually supportive mechanism tested and hitherto working smoothly; INTELS would be happy to enter into a constructive dialogue with the NPA in order to find suitable solutions to drastically reduce the indebtedness accrued up to now, also with the support of the banking system, but it would be necessary to re-establish a climate of serenity and dialogue, which has been interrupted. In recent months INTELS has implemented a new governance structure that has enabled it to include among its partners institutional stakeholders capable of strengthening the company's entrepreneurial profile and eliminating any political influence.