Recession: Intels, Eastern seaports operator sacks image maker, 350 others

The terminal concessionaire operating the Onne and Warri ports at Nigeria’s Eastern seaports have sacked another 350 of its workforce, including the company’s Public Relations Manager, Isidore Sambo. This is even as tension is currently mounting among other unaffected workers due to rumours of another impending sack.

When the Nigerian Tribune contacted the sacked spokesperson of the company; Isidore Sambo to confirm the report, he not only confirmed it, but he also added that he was among those who were laid-off about two weeks ago.

According to the former Intels spokesman, “As I am speaking to you, I am in my house. I have been sacked. The company is downsising due to the current state of the nations economy.”

He however lamented that having served Intels for 11 years, his sack negates the ‘last-in-first-out’ proviso.

“They have been sacking for the past two weeks. How could they just remove their Public Relations Manager and the Nigerian Content Management department that have worked with them for over 10 years?

“I have worked at INTELS for 11 years. I don’t know the latest number that was sacked, but I know that it’s quite a number of us. I am no longer their Public Relations Officer.

“The company is facing a lot of challenges, it is because of the economic challenges and it has

nothing to do with LADOL. The situation is biting hard on everyone” he said.

When asked if the firm has appointed another person has the spokesperson, Isidore replied that, “I don’t know anything about INTELS again please.”

This is the second time this year that the wave of mass sack is sweeping through INTELS.  It was reported in April that the company had approved the sack of 500 workers comprising both Nigerian and expatriates workers. The sacked spokesperson; Sambo had at that time confirmed to our correspondent that the sack was due to lull in shipping activities.

A staff of the company who preferred not to have his name in print expressed shock at the sack of the company’s Spokesman.

“We were all shocked when news filtered in that the Company’s spokesman has been affected. What that simply implies is that nobody is safe around here. Everyday i come to the office; i see it as my last because INTELS is really going through hard times right now.

“The sack letters are flying and i just hope somebody does not die of high blood pressure in the office these days,” he stated.