Volpi, INTELS MD honoured by Wike for contributing to devt of Rivers

The Government of Rivers State on Saturday conferred the prestigious Distinguished Service Star of Rivers State (DSSRS) award on Gabriele Volpi, managing director of, INTELS Nigeria Limited, a leading oil and gas logistics free zone.

Volpi, who is also the founder/president of Orlean Invest Holdings Limited, was honoured alongside other prominent Nigerians including former President Goodluck Jonathan and 125 others as part of activities marking the Golden Jubilee of Rivers State, which was created in 1967.

He was honoured for his outstanding achievements and contributions to the development of Rivers State, the Niger-Delta and Nigeria.

Nyesom Wike, Governor of Rivers State said during the award event that the awardees are persons of exemplary character who have distinguished themselves in leadership and service to the people of the State.

Ferdinand Alabraba, chairman of the Golden Jubilee Celebrations Committee, described the awardees as “special individuals who have impacted greatly on the State since its creation in various fields of endeavour”.

Volpi pioneered and facilitated the creation and growth of no fewer than 20 corporate entities engaged in various lines of businesses in the oil and gas industry, providing direct or indirect jobs to over 200,000 Nigerians.

INTELS Nigeria Limited, which was established by Volpi and a few other Nigerian investors, is a multidimensional logistics company headquartered in Onne, Rivers State. Volpi’s INTELS has been a clear leader in the provision of cutting edge logistics solution to operators in the oil and gas industry.

Mike Epelle, general manager, Legal of INTELS, who received the award on behalf of Volpi, said the company remains fully committed to maximising, in a sustainable manner, the use of Nigerian human resources, materials, equipment and services in its operations without compromising the company’s values, quality, health, safety and environmental standards.

He said INTELS is the leading Oil and Gas Logistics Service provider and a maritime service provider in Nigeria. “INTELS has been a trusted partner to major Oil and Gas producing companies in Nigeria and a monumental logistic partner to the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) in the development of ports infrastructure and service delivery in Nigeria.

“In over 30 years, we have added substantial value to the Nigerian Oil and Gas service industry and the operators have found our services strategic to their operations. In the maritime sector, INTELS’ operation as a port infrastructure developer and maritime service provider reinvigorated and brought the needed momentum and life to Nigerian ports and the maritime industry.

Epelle stated that efforts put forward by INTELS have in turn boosted earnings and contributions of maritime including oil and gas sectors to the growth of the Nigerian economy while generating the much-needed employment for Nigerians.

“To achieve our vision of providing an integrated, efficient, reliable and cost effective logistics solution to the Oil and Gas industry, we introduced an innovative ‘one-stop-shop oil service centre concept’ designed to meet the growing specialised needs of oil producing companies in one location to provide an integrated, efficient, reliable and cost effective logistics solution to operators in the oil and gas industry in Nigeria.

“This innovative concept has enhanced service delivery and turnaround time for Oil and Gas industry projects and thus endeared INTELS to its partners,” Epelle added.

In 2006, INTELS was awarded concession by the Federal Government to operate Terminal A (Federal Ocean Terminal) and Terminal B (Federal Lighter Terminal) of the Onne Port Complex, which houses the Onne Oil and Gas Free Zone. It also operates terminals in Warri, Calabar and Apapa ports.