Over 30 die in Port Harcourt vessel explosion

 

Vessel explosion

•Three escape with injuries •Other boats badly burnt •JTF sets five fuel tankers ablaze

A fresh tragedy hit Rivers State yesterday, barely a week after the tanker explosion claimed close to 200 lives. 
The latest incident is the explosion of a vessel leaving 30 passengers dead. 
Three persons were injured and three other vessels were badly burnt. 
The tragic scene was the Abuloma Jetty, Port Harcourt. 
The ill-fated vessel, according to a source, belonged to a private company contracted to supply food and sundry items to off-shore employees of an oil company. 
It was found to be leaking and a group of welders was engaged to seal the leaking points. 
It was gathered that the welders were on the job when the explosion occurred. 
An eye witness said: “One of the welders was blown off by the explosion. He landed in the fire and died on the spot.” 
In the ensuing confusion, three of those in the vessel jumped into the river, despite their injuries, in a bid to swim to safety. They were rescued by sympathisers and rushed to the hospital, although two of them were said to be in critical conditions. 
There are fears that no other persons escaped. 
Most of the dead, a source said, were girls whose mission in the vessel was not immediately known. 
The owner of the vessel also could not be ascertained at press time. 
The Rivers State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Dr. Kayode Olagunju, said of the accident: “An oil vessel, at about 9.45 hours caught fire and exploded at the Abuloma Waterfront in Port Harcourt. The fire was still restricted to water area. FRSC, NEMA, Police, Fire Service and others were the rescue agencies on the ground. Casualty figures not yet known.” 
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, Deputy Superintendent Ben Ugwuegbulam, did not respond to telephone calls when The Nation on Saturday called. 
Three other vessels anchored near the burning vessel and other facilities were badly burnt by the raging fire, which could not immediately be confronted in view of the intensity of the heat. 
As the fire raged, men of the Joint Task Force (JTF), code-named Operation Pulo Shield, set ablaze five tankers used by illegal bunkerers for transporting petroleum products. Spokesman for the JTF’s Sector 2, Captain Sunny Samuel confirmed the burning.

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Horror: 95 die in Rivers petrol tanker fire

By The Nation: Bisi Olaniyi 

 

The scene of the petrol tanker accident at Okogbe, in Ahoada East Local Government Area, on East-West Road in Rivers State…yesterday

It was like a scene from hell – piles of burnt bodies, smouldering vehicles and all-green plants darkened by fire. 
A crowd of sympathiser watching helplessly; some holding their heads in their hands and others simply standing by, crying over the calamity that befell Okogbe, a village in Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State.
No fewer than 95 persons died in a petrol tanker fire while scooping fuel. In hospital, over 100  are in critical conditions.
The incident happened at 6:30 am, beside Oando filling station at Okogbe, between Ahoada and Mbiama on the ever-busy East-West Road, which is being dualised by the Federal Government. A terrible traffic seized the road yesterday.
A tanker with registration number: Delta: XA 340 TDU, laden with petrol, crashed with three other vehicles: a Toyota Corolla saloon car, with registration number: Lagos: RQ 218 AAA; a Toyota Hiace Hummer bus (XZ613AGL) and a Mazda bus. Also burnt were 34 motorcycles. 
All the victims were given mass burial at the scene.
A senior official of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), who declined to give his name, said the fire was caused by one of the victims, who telephoned others to come and scoop fuel. Many victims were still in the bush, he said.
The NSCDC official said many of the victims were being treated locally, adding that some of the bodies had been removed by relatives.
Governor Rotimi Amaechi, who cancelled all his engagements in Abuja and rushed to the scene, was devastated.
There was inadequate bed space at the Ahoada General Hospital, Ahoada in Ahoada East Local Government Area, where most of the badly burnt victims were rushed to. Some of them laid on bare floor. Many were moved to hospitals in Port Harcourt, the state capital
One of the badly burnt victims on bare floor, Mr. Victor Ezekiel, an indigene of Okogbe in Rivers State, who was writhing in pains at 1:39 pm, said: “Please doctor, save me. My stomach is paining me.”  
Two of the victims rushed to Ahoada General Hospital died. Victims’ apprehensive relatives, in their hundreds, storm the hospital premises, making crowd control very difficult.
Health Commissioner Dr. Sampson Parker, who was at the scene and later at the Ahoada General Hospital, described the incident as cremation, a national disaster and the worst since the Civil War.
Parker, who cried at the hospital, said: “I think this is the worst single disaster that has happened in Nigeria. The corpses I counted there (at the scene) alone, in fact, 200 and they have not finished counting. It is cremation. The corpses were burnt to ashes. So, how many can you count? It is a sad situation. Quite a pity!
“Most of the victims have over 70 per cent burns. Bad cases. In best centres, it will be difficult to save them. If they did not go to scoop the fuel, the situation would have been saved. We heard that over 50 victims were taken to hospitals. Fire fighters’ response should not be blamed.
“Those running in the bush were affected by the fire. People should be disaster conscious. A tanker with fuel is a bomb waiting to explode. Our people should understand the danger they are exposed to.”
Before the commissioner could speak with reporters at the hospital, he excused himself for five minutes to regian his composure. His eyes red with tears, Parker said the fire was worse than the Sosoliso plane crash of 2005 at the Port Harcourt International Airport.
Commissioner for Special Duties Emeka Nwogu, who was also at the Ahoada General Hospital, described the incident as “very sad and quite unfortunate”.
Nwogu said: “What level of poverty will make people to scoop fuel from a tanker carrying 33,000 litres of petrol? Our people will never learn. This is not the first time, but the magnitude is very high. Our people are not safety and security conscious. They play with their lives.
“During the recent Igwuruta tanker fire in Port Harcourt (in Ikwerre Local Governement Area of Rivers State, on the dualised road to Port Harcourt International Airport), six persons died, with many people injured; houses and other valuable property were burnt in the morning, but I got calls in the evening of the same day that some people still went into the burnt tanker to scoop fuel.
“Vehicle owners, especially tanker owners, should start using educated drivers. Most of the tanker drivers are stark illiterates, who take drugs, alcohol and sleep in brothels, but will still drive in the morning.
“Educated drivers, who are well paid, will know the implications of taking drugs, alcohol and sleeping in brothels and will know traffic signs. If the road is bad, can’t they slow down? It is a pity that Rivers State lost many people. I sympathise with their families.”
An okada rider, Mr. Godbless Shadrack, who hails from Ubramo in Ahoada Weat Local Government Area and was at the scene when the fire started, said the petrol tanker, with registration number: Delta: XA 340 TDU, was moving the petrol from Port Harcourt to Warri.
Shadrack said a Toyota Corolla saloon car, with registration number Lagos: RQ 218 AAA  that was heading for Port Harcourt, had a head-on collision with a Mazda bus moving towards Warri in Delta State. The registration number of the bus had either been removed or badly burnt, as at time The Nation got to the scene.
The witness noted that the Toyota Corolla was moving towards the tanker, after colliding with the bus, with the tanker driver attempting to avoid it, to reduce the fatality, thereby falling on its side, just beside the filling station.
A business man, Mr. Segun Oluwatuyi, who lives in Ahoada, rushed to the scene of the accident. He said the tanker was still steaming, as at the time of the fire.
Oluwatuyi said: “After the accident, the driver came out of the tanker and told the villagers and other people around not to move near the tanker, to avoid a disaster, and he immediately escaped.”
It was also gathered that after about 30 minutes, the villagers, comprising women, children, youths and elderly persons, came out and began to scoop the fuel, but within 10 minutes of scooping the petrol, fire started and burnt most of them. One of the dead was Fatai, who was selling phones at Okogbe.
The Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) in Rivers State, Dr. Kayode Olagunju, who confirmed the incident, described it as very sad.
Olagunju, between 11:08 am and 2:38 pm, said: “There is a major fatal crash at Okogbe, about 11 kilometres from Ahoada-Mbiama, on East-West Road in Rivers State. The accident occurred around 06.30 hours.
“A tanker laden with petrol crashed with three other vehicles: a Toyota Corolla, Hummer Toyota bus and a Mitsibushi bus. 34 motorcycles also got burnt.  People were scooping fuel from the tanker when it exploded.
“FRSC, police, Fire Service, Joint Task Force (JTF) opertaives are at the scene. Final casualty figures on the Okogbe tanker crash incident: 93 died on the spot (burnt), two died in hospital. 18 persons were injured.
“Rivers Health commissioner is not correct. The bodies are still at the scene. They were jointly counted by all the agencies, FRSC, NEMA, JTF, Police, Civil Defence and others involved in the rescue.
“Rivers Health commissioner was not there when the counting was being done. He only got to the scene and said they (corpses) could be up to 200 and he left. He did not wait for physical counting that we did.”
At 7:02 pm, the Rivers commander of FRSC, said: “Eighty seven corpses burnt beyond recognition, as a result of the crash involving a tanker and 3 other vehicles, were given mass burial at the scene of the crash at Okogbe along Ahoada-Mbiama on the East-West Road in Rivers State.
“Six of the bodies of the victims that died on the spot had earlier been identified and released to the families.  Two of the 20 injured taken to the hospitals also died.  A total of 95 persons died in the crash, with 18 others injured.”
Amaechi’s spokesman, David Iyofor, said: “The governor is utterly devastated and shattered by the tragic incident and the unfortunate loss of lives. Governor Amaechi had to cancel his official engagements in Abuja, to rush down to the scene of the incident.
“As we speak, the governor is waiting to board a flight to Port Harcout, so that he can visit the scene of this very tragic accident and console the families of the victims.”
Fire fighters from Port Harcourt arrived the scene at 12:02 pm, in an unmarked Mercedes Benz truck, with Ateco 1325 inscribed on it. They put out the fire.
Ahoada West Local Government Chairman Awori Miller, who rushed from a function in Port Harcourt, described the accident as “sad”, adding that lessons must be learnt from it.
The Chief Medical Director of Ahoada General Hospital, Dr. E. G. Kiri, was busy treating the victims.The Chief Nursing Officer, Mrs. E. Ebeku, said the first batch of 11 persons brought to the hospital had 100 degree burns, but were given first aid and moved to an undisclosed hospital in Port Harcourt.
The second batch of eight victims were also given first aid and moved to Port Harcourt. The third batch of 16 victims were being treated as at press time. They may be moved to Port Harcourt because of space constraint. In all, there were 35 persons, but more victims were being brought in. Two of the victims at the hospital died.
Personnel from neighbouring government hospitals were mobilised to Ahoada hospital to join the battle to save as many lives as possible.
The traditional ruler of Igbuya in Ekpeye Kingdom, near the scene of the accident, King Joshua Eziba, noted that if Fire Service men had arrived earlier, the casualty figure would have been less. Besides, he said, if the road had been fully dualised, the accident would not have happened.
The Councillor representing Ward 5 in Ahoada West Legislative Arm, Mr. Thompson Otobo, at the scene, said fire service stations should be located in all the Local Government Areas or senatorial districts.
Otobo said the people were not happy with the Federal Government over the slow pace of the dualisation of the East-West Road. The bad and narrow road caused the accident, according to him.
Another witness, Mr. Ede Christmas, an indigene of Okogbe, also said the bad road caused the accident.

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Plane crash lands in Benin airport

By The Nation: Kelvin Osa- Okunbor 

 

Minister of Aviation, Stella Odua Ogiemwonyi

The Accident Investigation Bureau on Thursday confirmed the belly landing of a small aircraft at the Benin Airport, the Edo State capital.

In a short message service, the Spokesperson of AIB, Mr. Tunji Oketunbi, said, “A Diamond DA 2 MPP aircraft marked with 5N-BKS, belonging to PICOMMS   today around 11 am was involved in a serious incident of belly-landing at Benin Airport. No casualty was recorded." 

Oketunbi added that the aircraft belongs to the Federal Government.

According to a maritime source, PICOMMS means presidential committee on maritime.

An industry source also confirmed that the pilot and a colleague in training were the only occupants of the aircraft, which was forced to belly land following the failure of the nose wheel or landing gear to retract.

After the incident, personnel on ground reportedly cleared the aircraft from the runway, so as not to disrupt operation at the airport.

The aircraft has been towed to the hangar belonging to Okada Air, near the Nigeria Air Force facility at the Benin Airport.

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Disappointment as burial of plane crash victim is cancelled

By Kunle Akinrinade

THe hope of many sympathisers who had thronged the Vaults and Gardens cemetery, Ikoyi  for the burial of Mrs Temitope Ariyibi, one of the victims of the Dana plane mishap, was dashed when the ceremony could not hold. 

The ceremony scheduled to commence at 10 am, according to the management of the cemetery, was cancelled because "her body has yet to be identified".

Sympathisers and journalists at the cemetery were told at about 12.30 pm by a female employee of the undertaking outfit who did not want her name mentioned: "We are sorry to inform you that the interment of one Mrs Temitope Ariyibi has been cancelled. This is because her body is yet to be released to her family because it has not yet been identified."

The announcement shocked not a few sympathisers who berated the employers of the late 35-year-old deceased for announcing unconfirmed burial plan.

 Ariyibi's employers, ConocoPhilips, had earlier announced that her interment would hold at the private cemetery after a service of songs at the Christian Day Centre, Oregun, Ikeja, Lagos.

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Plane crash: Lagos declares six missing

By The Nation: Miriam Ndikanwu 

 

Fashola

… 38 displaced

Lagos State Government has confirmed six people missing from the buildings where the ill -fated Dana aircraft crashed on Sunday.

At least 38 others have been displaced from their residents.

The General Manager of Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, who disclosed this to journalists on Thursday, said of the five casualties affected on ground by the crash, four have been discharged while one is still on admission.

He reiterated government’s commitment to address the sufferings of the victims’ families, adding that necessary supports will be given to ameliorate the suffering, trauma and destruction caused by any form of disaster in the state.

Oke-Osanyintolu, who led the state government emergency response team to assist in the rescue and evacuation works at the crash scene, said the ill- fated Boeing McDonnell Douglas (MD-83) with registration number 5N-RAM crashed into five houses, leaving three houses severely affected on Akande Street, Iju-Ishaga in Ifako-Ijaye Local Government Area of the state.

 He said the state Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), who was personally at the scene of the disaster, immediately directed that a camp be open to accommodate all the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

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How to prevent air disaster, by Tinubu

By The Nation:  Reporter 

 

Tinubu

National Leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has urged the Federal Government to provide the mandatory standard double runway at the nation’s airports and make the airspace safe.
Tinubu spoke on last Sunday’s crash of a Dana Air plane in Iju-Ishaga, a Lagos suburb.
He advised the government to tighten regulations and ensure compliance with safety standards.
Speaking on a three-day national mourning declared by President Goodluck Jonathan, the former Lagos State governor noted that thorough investigations into the Dana plane crash and the implementation of the recommendations of previous reports are the panacea to a recurrence.
According to him, though Nigeria is not Africa’s biggest aviation hub, it has recorded five deadly air disasters within 10 years.
In a statement by his media office in Lagos, Asiwaju Tinubu said: “Nigeria is not the biggest hub in Africa; yet, it has recorded some of the most preventable air disasters. In the past decade, we have had five deadly disasters.
“The only way Nigerians can be spared further heart-wrenching aircraft disasters is for the government to get to the root cause of the problem. As we come out of the three-day national mourning, the agonies and pains of those that lost loved ones continue. Nigeria also continues to suffer a haemorrhage in terms of the lives lost and the national reputation and economic attraction ruptured. 
“The only way to check similar mishaps is for the government to carry out thorough investigations into the Dana Air  crash and immediately make public all the previous panel reports on similar air disasters. This must not be a convenient excuse for making scape goats of some people. 
“The government must, of necessity, tighten regulations and ensure standards, revalidate the operational licences and aircraft worthiness of all operating aircraft and enforce compliance in all aspects of air operations. 
“Let me warn that we cannot afford to sleep at the switch this time. To go to sleep after a few weeks and return to our normal lives will be most tragic. “The present government most put on the front burner the issue of sanitising our aviation system and ensuring that aircraft are in good shape. 
“Also, we cannot afford to misplace our priorities in this matter. A case where billions of naira are being expended on airports’ arrival halls when all our airports lack the mandatory standard double runaways, when the runaway lights are dull and inadequate and the air control tower lacks latest equipment, is unacceptable. 
“It is a crash misjudgement. Nigerians would trade safety and comfort in the air and on the runways to white elephant projects all over our airports. 
“With the huge revenue coming to the government, there is no reason our airspace and runways should not be safe. Given the fact that for every N25 paid by a passenger, N11 goes to the Federal Government in one form or another, not to talk of the several billions of dollars accruing to the government coffers through the Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA).” 
The former governor condoled with the victims’ families and friends, saying the pains of the deaths would linger in the memories of those who lost their loved ones.
He prayed for the souls of the departed to rest in peace and God to grant unto their relatives the fortitude to bear the loss.
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Panic over age of aircraft

By The Nation: Yusuf Alli, Abuja 

WOULD-BE passengers were not enthusiastic to fly yesterday in Abuja, following revelations about the ages of aircraft used by domestic airlines. 
Some passengers changed their choice of airlines at the Nnamdi Azikwe Airport, Abuja. 
But the Minister of Aviation’s Special Adviser (Media), Mr. Joe Obi, said there was no basis for panic because age may not matter. 
At the airport, our correspondent met some passengers who were disillusioned about  the ages of aircraft. 
Of the eight airlines examined by palnespotters.net, the least age of aircraft in the country is about 11.3years. 
Some aircraft have average age of 25.6 years, 22.2 years and oldest age range of 30.2 years and 25.6 years. 
The age range accounted for the panic at the airport, with some passengers cancelling their flights. 
A passenger, Mr. Michael Adoga, told our correspondent: “I am just sick with what I read about the age range of the aircraft I had been flying. 
“All my choice airlines have old fleet and I am so psychologically terrified that I do not feel like going on this trip again. Definitely, I will cancel my flight to Lagos .” 
Another passenger, Mrs. Alaba Babatunde, said: “Oh God! I have been moving about in flying coffins. I cannot just come to terms with these revelations. I am really shocked. I am feeling bad. 
“In the last 30 years, I have been flying but I have never come across these frightening statistics.” 
Alhaji Ramalan Mohammed said: “I feel tempted to discontinue my journey with what I have read. I will discuss with my wife and children on the next step. 
“I could not believe that we have 30 years old aircraft in Nigeria . The government should assist us to sanitize this sector.” 
It was gathered that a reasonable number of passengers shelved their trips because of the aircraft age factor. 
A counter clerk with one of the airlines said: “I cannot understand why some passengers decided to cancel their flights. They have been complaining of age of the aircraft.” 
The Special Adviser on Media to the Aviation Minister, Mr. Joe Obi, however said: “Going by what some aviation experts said on AIT on Wednesday and the little I know, age has nothing to do so much with air worthiness. The real issue is about maintenance.  The Federal Government had taken proactive measures by banning aircraft above 22 years. The age does not have anything to do with worthiness of an aircraft, it is about maintenance. 
“There is no need for panic by air travelers, the Minister of Aviation, Mrs. Stella Oduah, has been up and doing in ensuring that all relevant regulators live up to expectations before any aircraft takes off. Our airspace is safe.” 
Asked if the ministry is issuing fresh directives to airlines on safety, Obi said: “There are standing regulations which the NCAA and others have been enforcing. It is incumbent on the airlines to comply with these regulations and to look inward.” 
On the AIB team going to the US for the analysis of the Black Box of the ill-fated aircraft of Dana Air, Obi said: “The team will leave Nigeria on Thursday night and we expect that within a reasonable time, they will be back with the cause of the crash.” 
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Dana Air: engine failure not responsible

By The Nation: Mrs. Oduah

 

 Mrs. Oduah

WHAT caused last Sunday’s Dana Air plane crash in Iju-Ishaga on the outskirts of Lagos?

The question remained unresolved yesterday, even as the troubled airline faulted the claim by Aviation Minister Mrs. Stella Oduah that its crashed plane lost its two engines before the fatality.

It described the assertion as premature and urged Nigerians to await the analyses of the culprit voice recorder (Black Box) on the flight.

The airline said it was imperative to set the records straight as experts in the industry have continued to adduce reasons for the crash of the MD 83 aircraft following the transcription of the control  tower  conversation with the pilot.

Mrs. Oduah informed the President in a preliminary report that the loss of two engines caused the crash.

But Dana Air Director of Flight Operations Captain Oscar Wason, who spoke at a news conference in Lagos, explained that though the pilot reportedly declared failing engine during his emergency report to the air traffic controllers, it was unprofessional to reach such conclusions.

Wason said there could be regulatory approval for a pilot to fly an aircraft with a single engine, so long as it has the capacity to take the aircraft to the next airport for an emergency landing.

He affirmed that as much as Dana Air is set to fully cooperate with investigators, it is totally unacceptable for people to speculate on the cause of the crash as doing that could jeopardise the outcome of the investigation.

Wason denied that the ill- fated aircraft was carrying out a “ ferry” or test flight when it crashed. It is against regulatory approval for any airline to carry passengers with an aircraft on a test flight.

He said : “ We cannot, at the moment, determine the cause of the crash, as people have been engaged in speculations that the failure of the two engines caused the crash. That is not true; those are mere speculations. Even an aircraft could fly with one engine , in the event that the alternate engine packs up, to fly it to the next airport for an emergency landing. From what we heard, the pilot reported engine failure to the control  tower, while he was declaring emergency. It is not clear that the pilot said it was the two engines, whether the engine on the left or right side. That is only one account. 

“We need to wait for the parameters of the black boxes to tell us what happened to the aircraft,” Wason said.

He debunked the rumour that the pilot tried to jump out of the aircraft, saying:

“ It is wrong that the two engines packed up. Everybody on board died at the point of impact; even the pilot was burnt beyond recognition. Thus, it is wrong for anybody to say that the pilot tried to jump out of the aircraft.” 

All passengers, including those whose names were not on the manifest, will be compensated as long as their familiy members can identify the bodies and fulfill all the conditions of documentation for insurance,” he said.

Wason gave the nationality of the passengers and crew members on board as: Four Americans, including three children of the Anyene family, that were born in the United States, and the pilot.

Others are Lebanese, French Canadian and Chinese citizens.

Wason siad Dana Air has been sourcing its spare parts for all its MD 83 aircraft for major repairs at a maintenance repair and overhaul facility at Mytechnic Engineering in Istanbul Turkey, where Turkish Airlines carries out its checks, in addition to a facility in Madrid, where Iberia Airlines carries out its checks.

He added that nothing is wrong with the MD 83 aircraft that Dana Air flies, as there are over 900 of the aircraft type older than the ones in its fleet flown by both American and Delta Airlines in the United States .

On the controversy over the manifest, Wason said: “ The gap that existed in the passenger manifest arose from booking issues, as some passengers that were booked to fly during the pre- flight stage did not turn up.

“We had another passenger manifest, which is the post flight manifest. The variation or gap in the list was due to booking issues. 

“The aircraft that crashed is not the same aircraft that had a technical problem in Uyo. And it was not on a ferry flight, as speculated.” 

He spoke of plans by Dana Air to send relief materials to the families that have been displaced as a result of the crash, adding that 35 persons have been slated to receive such assistance materials.

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U.S ready to assist FG investigate air disaster

By Agency Reporter 

 

U.S President, Barack Obama

The United States has stated its willingness to assist the Federal Government in the investigation of Sunday’s plane crash that killed 153 people in Lagos.

The U.S. in a statement by its Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, made available to the North America Correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria in New York, extended its condolences to those who lost family and loved ones in the crash.

``We stand with the people of Nigeria at this difficult time and we are prepared to assist the Nigerian Government in its investigation of this tragic accident,' 'NAN quoted Mrs. Clinton as saying in the statement on Tuesday.

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FG suspends DANA Air license

By Kelvin Osa-Okunbor

 

Rescue workers carry bodies at the site of a plane crash in Lagos, Nigeria, Monday. Photo: AP

The Federal Government on Tuesday suspended indefinitely the operating license of DANA Air, owner of the MD 83 aircraft which crashed into residential buildings in Iju- Ishaga area of Lagos on Sunday, killing all 153 people on board.

The federal government, according to the Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah, took the step as part of the safety precautionary measures, saying no responsible government will fold its hands while its citizens perish.

Speaking though, her Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Joe Obi, the minister explained that this is the first of series of steps to be taken by government to sanitize the aviation industry.

The indefinite suspension of DANA Air’s operating license comes just as anxiety heightens about a major shake- up in the industry regulatory body.

The shake- up, our correspondent gathered comes amid allegations that some officials of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority may have gone to sleep while the carrier allegedly operated a faulty aircraft without any oversight.

A source, who spoke on conditions of anonymity, wondered what calibre of inspectors would certify a faulty aircraft to embark on a trip, when the flight should be tested for airworthiness.

Apart from the banning of DANA Air operations, government it was learnt is also planning to ban the use of old aircraft in the Nigerian airspace, especially aircrafts that have been banned in other developed countries of the world.

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148 bodies recovered at Lagos plane crash site

By The Nation: Yinka Aderibigbe, Kelvin Osa-Okunbor and Wale Adepoju 

 

Some of the victims

-Jonathan: it’s setback for reforms -Black box recovered

All was calm and gloomy yesterday  in Iju-Ishaga on the outskirts of Lagos, where Dana Air flight 9J-922 went down on Sunday.
Rescue operations have given way to investigation – on how and why the aircraft crashed. 
It was, also, time for relatives of victims to begin the terrible but necessary task of identifying their loved ones among the piles of bodies – 148, as at 8.30pm- taken to the morgue.
All 153 people on board died in the crash. An unspecified number of people died on the ground as the plane crashed into buildings.
Family members of victims were at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) in Ikeja to identify the bodies of their relatives.
Federal Road Safety Commission spokesman Jonas Agwu gave the details of the recovered bodies as males 88, females 48 and children 12.
He said the recovery of  bodies would continue today.
DNA tests have begun on the retrieved bodies from the scene of the crash, especially those burnt beyond recognition, according to the General Manager of the Lagos State Emergency Management Authority (LASEMA) Dr Femi Oke-Osanyintolu. He said the tests were being carried out at LASUTH.
The bodies were taken to the morgues at  LASUTH and the Mainland General Hospital.
An official said the identified bodies were tagged. 
Another FRSC official Mr. Fatai Adesina Bakare added: “ We have also recovered a number of personal effects, like handbags, traveller’s bags, shoes, combs and cash. We have, for instance, an identity card of an employee of NNPC, and from his purse, we recovered some cash, and business cards, which have been lodged. We also recovered a woman’s a purse containing $114 and N4,000 cash.”
“We have created a desk where all those personal effects are been documented and officials who are in charge would do justice to them and ensure that it gets to family members of the victims safely,” he added.   
Two Indians were among the victims of the air crash. One was the co-pilot of the ill-fated plane. Rani Malik, the consular officer of the Indian High Commission in Lagos told PTI that the name of the Indian co-pilot was Mahendra Singh Rathore.
Rijo Eldos, a young computer engineer from Neriamangalam in the Idukki district of Kerala, was the other Indian. According to his family in Kochi, Eldos was travelling from Abuja to Lagos to take part in a company meeting. He was working with Reddington Nigeria.
According to the Chinese Consulate in Nigeria, six of its men died in the crash.
A representative of the Peoples Republic of China, who led a team to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) said their country was grieved at the unfortunate incident which he described as unfortunate.
He said the Chinese government would appreciate it if the hospital could help to identify the bodies of its citizens for onward repatriation back to China for burial.
One of the victims was the Deputy Managing Director (DMD), Chinese Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC) Nigeria Limited
The Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) has begun investigation into the crash. An official confirmed yesterday that the agency already has in its custody the Flight Data Recorder (FDR) and the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR), popularly known as the black box.
AIB spokesman Mr Tunji Oketumbi explained that investigators recovered the black box from the scene of the crash. He said preliminary work had begun on how to ascertain its contents.
Oketumbi said AIB officials, have started gathering the evidence needed for the investigation from the components of the aircraft, which will be taken to a laboratory for test and detailed examination.
The investigations will be carried out in collaboration with the the United States National Transportation Safety Board(NTSB), whose officials are expected in the country.
The NTSB team will be accompanied by representatives of the country of manufacture of the aircraft to assist in the investigation.
Oketumbi explained that nothing could be disclosed about the cause of the crash until the investigators have completed their assignment.
Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) spokesman Sam Adurogboye said the aircraft and its crew had a valid insurance cover - part of NCAA’s requirements for airlines.
DANA Air is expected to pay not less than one $100,000.00 as insurance claims for each of the 153 passengers - in line with the requirement of the International Civil Aviation Organisation ( ICAO).
The expected compensation regime is in line with the the standard set by the ICAO , Montreal Convention, which a few years ago raised the compensation to $100,000.00 from the $10,000.00 stipulated by ICAO, according to the Warsaw Convention.
For the two pilots, DANA Air is expected to pay $250,000.00 each. The six crew members’ will each be paid $150,000.00 each .

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Over 151 plus Levi Ajuonuma, Gen.,dies in plane crash

By The Nation: Yusuf Ali, Abuja, Kelvin Osa-Okunbor, Jude Isiguzo Eric Ikhilae, Yinka Aderibigbe, Precious Igbonwelundu and Damilola Owoyele 

 

The scene of the crash...yesterday

•Aikhomu’s son, family of five among victims •Jonathan declares three days of mourning

Charred human bodies, scattered metal pieces, burnt personal belongings and documents. That was all that remained of a  Dana Air plane that crashed yesterday in Iju-Ishaga on the outskirts of Lagos.
The McDonnel Douglas (MD) 82 aircraft coming from Abuja rammed into buildings, about two minutes to “emergency” landing at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, killing all the 153 persons on board.
The dead include Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) spokesman Levi Ajuonuma, Ehime Aikhomu, first son of the late Admiral Augustus Aikhomu and former Super Permanent Secretary Ibrahim Damcida.
There were also three military officers – a General, a Lt. Col. And a Major.
Besides, the figure of casualties on the ground could not be ascertained as at press time last night.
Flight 0992, which came down around 3:45pm, crashed into a warehouse and a storey building on Tolulope Street, off Popoola Street, Iju Ishaga, Ifako-Ijaye Local Government Area.
The aircraft was reported to have hovered in the air before eventually crashing into a mango tree, killing a cow instantly. It then crashed into a residential building adjoining a warehouse, bursting into flames a few minutes later. At least, three buildings were set on fire.
An eye witness said the loud bang of the fallen aircraft drew residents’ attention. Many ran for dear lives, some scampering to pick their belongings.
A lawyer, Mr. Wole Jones, said: “I was on top of my house when I saw the plane coming very low. The plane crashed at exactly 3:38pm when it rammed into a two-storey building.”
Before eventually falling on the two-storey building, it destroyed the roof of a bakery on Sadiq Close, off Olaore Street, Power Line.  
An eye witness, Pastor Patrick Akingbe of Mispem Bible Church, a bungalow located on 7 Popoola Street, said: “I just retired home. There was no one left in the church. I suddenly heard something fell on our roof. I raced out.And saw people, including children, running around. And then I heard a loud explosion and a huge smoke. The whole place was covered in huge smoke. Then there was another explosion. I heard about five explosions.”
Also affected were two other buildings, a three-storey building on 4, Olaniyi Street, a bungalow, which was levelled and an abandoned warehouse earlier occupied by a church, End Time Chapel Ministries.
A woman, whose name was not ascertained, was held by security personnel as she rushed towards her burning home. She was said to have left her new born baby with her parents to go and fix her hair before the crash. Neither her parents nor baby could be located.
Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) Managing Director Dr. Olufemi Osanyintolu said the plane crashed about 3:40pm. Three houses were affected.
“It landed on a two-storey building and reduced it to rubble. The number of casualties not yet ascertained. 
 “The plane landed on house number 9, Popoola Street, off Akande/Tolulope Streer, Toyin Bus Stop, Iju-Ishaga, Agege. Other affected buildings are 2 and 4 Olaniyi Street.”
He said four bodies had been retrieved from 4, Olaniyi Street, a green two-storey building.
President Goodluck Jonathan declared three days of mourning for the victims. He also cancelled all his engagements for today and directed that flags be flown at half mast during the mourning period.
According to a statement by presidential spokesman Dr. Reuben Abati, Dr. Jonathan directed Minister of Aviation Stella Oduah to leave for Lagos to oversee the crash investigations and present an interim report to the Federal Government as quickly as possible.
“The President joins all Nigerians in mourning all those who lost their lives in the plane crash, which has sadly plunged the nation into further sorrow on a day when Nigerians were already in grief over the loss of many other innocent lives in the church bombing in Bauchi State.
“President Jonathan assures air travellers in the country that every possible effort will be made to ensure that the right lessons are learnt from the tragic loss of valuable lives in today’s plane crash and that further measures will be put in place to boost aviation safety in the country. 
“He prays that God Almighty will grant the families of the victims of the plane crash the courage and fortitude to bear their irreparable loss.”
 About 5.00 pm when The Nation arrived at the scene of the crash, hundreds of sympathisers had blocked the roads leading to the crash site, making it difficult for rescue equipment and officials to reach the scene.
At about 6.00 pm, three helicopters hovered in the sky. A Nigeria Navy helicopter landed on one of the buildings to bring in rescue materials.
As hundreds of sympathisers thronged the crash scene, some of them picked up parts of the aircraft, as they struggled with fire fighting officials to put out the raging smoke.

THE DEAD

•Otaru Saka
•Anjola Fatokun
•Olaoluwa Fatokun
•Ibukun Fatokun
•Ugabio Oyosoro
•Rajulie Oyosoro
•Adenike Ajani
•Aimanehi Onemolease
•Eyinojuoluwa
  Davidkolawole
•Fortune Davidkolawole
•Obiola Ikpoki
•Abraham Adijolola
•Iniobong Asuquo
•Udoh Patience Sunday
•Chinero Okafor
•Antonia Attuh
•Oluwadamilare Adeleke
•Jennifer Onita
•Josephine Onita
•Jones Ifekawa
•Kim Norris
•Roger Aouade
•Olusanmi Awodogan
•Adedunni Doherty
•Temitope Ariyibi
•Chinwe Dike
•Chukwuezugo Dike
•Shutao Zhai
•Idris bugaje Amina
•Maikudi Bukhari
•Huizhu Li
•Yu Wang
•Yi Kang
•Emmanuel Obot
•Farida Kaikai
•Ibrahim Nagidi
•Oluwakemi Somolu
•Onyeyiri Oluchi
•Myindadi Berkisu
•Anyene Onyeka
•Njoku Ogechi
•Anyene Maimuna
•Anyene Kamsiyonna
•Anyene Kayimarachi
•Anyene Noah
•Anyene Kayinetochi
•Ibrahm Yusuf
•Bassey Eyo
•Charles Ntuko
•Tosin Anibaba
•Femi Shobowale
•Christopher Okocha
•Falmata Mohammed
•Adebiyi Adekunbi
•Nosike Peter
•Sonny Ehioghae
•Chinwe Obi
•Memuna Shaibu
•Mahmud Dukawa
•Ehime Aikhomu
•Abiodun 
  Oluwasegunfunmi
•Abiodun Jonathan
•Arokoyu Olusola
•Ayoola Adekola
•Obianuju Erokwu
•Ochigbo Lt Col chumbo
•Ali Yusuf
•Jangana Ibrahim
•Nwaokoagbara  Anthony
•Eventus Mbong
•Banji Olukoya
•Adamu Bamaiyi
•Tatoru Abikalio
•Wale Eribake
•Aliyu Mahmud
•Lamidi Taiwo
•Chukwu-Buka Philip
•Oluwayomi Benson
•Okara Anthony
•Hadiza Otegbeye
•Okere Chukwuemeka
•Olugbenga Komolafe
•Amaka Ojugbana
•Christopher Ojugbana
•Olumide Coker
•Walter Hunna
•Istifanus Mutihir
•Istifanus Mutihir
•Garba Nabila
•Garba Nabila
•John Nnadi
•Abdu Garba
•Aisha Abdu
•Godwin Apochi
•Las Lilian
•Chimdinma Onyeagocha
•Ogechi Onyegocha
•Celestine Onwuliri
•Garba Nabil
•Raphael Nmiaka
•Sam Shaibu
•Abubakar Kaltum
•Priscilla Eleje
•Ruth Wasa
•Awyetu Wasa
•Jonathan Ekeledo
•Ahmadu John
•Moyosore Akisanya
•Eseoghene Okor
•Omonigho Akisanya
•Onyijuke Ijeoma
•Saad usman Shehu
•Abugu Ike
•Eke Mecha
•Eseoghene Okor
•Allison Joy
•Ochonogor Ike
•Moyo Akinsanya
•Omonigho Akinsanya
•Tunji Oloko
•Lawal Anakobe
•U. Anakobe Lawal
•Alvana Ojukwu
•Okwulehie Maria
•Ibe Echeidu
•Ibe Jennifer
•Umar Maj gen tahir
•Olumodeji Akinola
•Tibiebiowei Zuofa
•Priscilla Yinusa
•Lawal hurriya
•Elizabeth Akwaeze
•Patrick Okonji
•Olukayode Okikiolu
•Aderoju Osunbade

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14 die in Kaduna-Abuja highway crash

By The Nation Reporter

FOURTEEEN passengers involved yesterday in an early hour accident along the Kaduna-Abuja highway have died, the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) confirmed in Kaduna.
The Public Enlightenment Officer of the FRSC in Kaduna, Mr Olusogo Ogungbe, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the incident occurred at kilometre 32 in Kakau on the highway.
According to him, the incident involved a Toyota Hiace vehicle marked Zamfara XA 545 TMA.
Ogungbe said the vehicle was carrying 18 persons. Of the lot, 14, including nine men and five women, were killed.
He said that four others, including three males and one female sustained injuries and were currently receiving treatment at St. Gerald’s Hospital in Kaduna. 
Ogungbe attributed the accident to over-speeding, which he said made the driver to lose control of the vehicle.
He said the vehicle skidded off the road into the bush before it burst into flames.
An eye-witness, Salisu Ibrahim, said he saw six bodies burnt beyond recognition. Two others were lying at the scene of the incident.
Ibrahim said the vehicle was still on fire with other helpless victims in the vehicle before the arrival of the FRSC rescue team.