News
Igwuruta Tanker Fire Amaechi Consoles Victims’ Families, Promises Assistance
Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State has expressed sympathy to the victims of Saturday morning accident at Igwuruta in Ikwerre Local Government Area involving a tanker laden with petrol, in which six people were feared dead.
Rt Hon Chibuike Amaechi who visited the scene of the accident accompanied by his wife, Dame Judith Amaechi, Deputy Governor Engr. Tele Ikuru and Commissioner for Health, Dr. Sampson Parker, expressed shock and sadness at the loss of lives.
“It is so disastrous. I hear an entire family is gone, husband, wife and their children. Now look at the level of damage…”, Governor Amaechi lamented.
The Rivers State Chief Executive who was close to tears as he inspected the scene of the accident, pledged his administration’s readiness to provide necessary assistance to the families of those affected by the fire.
He also expressed his government’s determination to reduce drivers’ recklessness on the roads.
Governor Amaechi further said, “We must reduce the level of irresponsibility of some road users. I have just directed the Commissioner for Special Duties to identify the families and let us see how much we can assist them.”
He also promised to reconstruct the road around the Igwuruta roundabout, which is a federal road to ensure free flow of traffic and avert similar tragic accidents in future.
According to reports, the petrol tanker was carrying over 33,000 litres of fuel when it fell over and burst into flames killing a total of seven persons, including a pregnant woman, her husband and three children, while about 15 houses were razed.
Eye-witnesses said the death toll might be higher as scores of people sustained first degree burns and were rushed to hospitals.
According to the sources, the accident which occurred at 4.30am on the fateful day when most residents were still sleeping roasted the victims who died on the spot while sleeping.
The driver of the tanker who however was said to have survived, reportedly suffered serious burns and escaped when he saw the damage from the incident.
An eye-witness who gave his name simply as Chijioke said there was timely intervention by people around who helped to reduce the damage caused by the fire, adding that people mobilized with buckets of water and detergent to quell the fire, which was later brought under control.
A female resident who did not disclose her name expressed disappointment at the failure of the fire service at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, close to the scene to help as they complained of not having enough capacity to respond immediately to the situation.
She said it took two fire fighting vehicles more than two hours to come from the state government fire service, which provoked those around. Four vehicles packed around the area were said to be among items lost to the accident.
Rivers State Commissioner for Special Duties, Mr Emeka Worgu who sped to the place on getting the sad news, described the incident as very painful.
He said he was unhappy with the attack on the fire fighters that tried to rescue the situation.
While the chairman of Ikwerre Local Government, Hon Welendu Amadi lamented the said development, he noted that the government would assist the victims and their families.
Some resident who spoke to The Tide called for the expansion of the round about to avert further occurrences.
Meanwhile, the Public Relations Officer of the Rivers state Police Command, Mr Ben Ugwuegbulam who confirmed the incident to newsmen said details were expected from the Divisional Police Officers in charge of the area.
Shedie Okpara
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) says it has not commenced recruitment for the 2025/2026 Basic Military Training Course (BMTC) and Direct Short Service Commission (DSSC).
The Director, Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, in a statement yesterday, described the advertisement as fraudulent.
Ejodame said that no such recruitment exercise is currently ongoing, urging the public to disregard those messages in their entirety.
“We wish to remind the general public that the Nigerian Air Force recruitment and enlistment processes are free, transparent, and merit-based.
“The NAF does not charge any fee at any stage of its recruitment exercise, and does not engage third parties or agents for enlistment.
“Whenever a recruitment exercise is to be conducted, it will be officially announced and widely publicised through credible national dailies, the NAF official website, and its verified social media platforms.
“We therefore urge members of the public to be wary of online scams and exercise extreme caution when coming across unofficial recruitment advertisements,” he said.
Ejodame also advised the public to always rely on NAF’s official social media handles for accurate and up-to-date information regarding its activities.
According to him, official NAF communication channels are: https://www.facebook.com/share/1735SmRdMo/ https://x.com/NigAirForce?t=1263ETdBwkuqewt-rSuyIg&s=09 https://www.instagram.com/NigerianAirForce https://youtube.com/@nigerianairforcehq?feature=shared
https://www.airforce.mil.ng/ “The Nigerian Air Force is committed to integrity, transparency, and efficient service delivery to the nation while projecting air power to save lives and properties of all Nigerians,” he added.
No fewer than 9,469 admissions across 20 tertiary institutions nationwide have been flagged as fake by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) for the 2024 academic session.
According to the board, the admissions were conducted outside the popular Central Admission Processing System, popularly known as CAPS.
According to the list obtained from JAMB, Kano State University of Science and Technology led the pack with 2,215 fake admissions, with Ladoke Akintola University of Technology following with 1,215.
Others are Gombe state University, 1,164; Emmanuel Alayande University of Education, 761; Federal University of Technology, Owerri, 534; Ambrose Alli University, 514; Igbinedion University, 365; Akwa-Ibom Polytechnic, 340 and College of Nursing, National Orthopedic Hospital, Igbobi, 281.
Also on the list are Achievers University, 267; Nigeria Police Academy, 263; Abia State Polytechnic, 256; Osun State University, 224; Federal University, Lafia, 189; Niger State Polytechnic, 182; Federal Polytechnic, Ida, 171 and Edo State Polytechnic,166.
Others are Anchor University, 133; Michael and Cecilia Ibru University, 116 and the Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology, 113.
CAPS was introduced to enhance transparency and efficiency, and serves as an online platform where prospective university students can monitor and manage their admission status.
By centralising the admission process, JAMB CAPS ensures that all candidates are given fair consideration based on merit and institutional requirements.
The primary purpose of JAMB CAPS is to streamline the admission process into tertiary institutions across Nigeria. It achieves this by ensuring transparency as candidates can easily track their admission status, and guarantees that all applicants are evaluated based on consistent criteria.
The system also enhances efficiency as institutions can process admissions swiftly, and candidates receive timely updates on their application status.
The board has, over time, warned institutions against backdoor admissions offered to candidates outside CAPS, as candidates offered admission outside CAPS were barred from the mandatory National Youth Service Corps scheme.
Recall that the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, reiterated a directive in Abuja at the 2025 policy meeting of JAMB last week, declaring all admissions conducted outside JAMB as illegal.
He said institutions and individuals involved in such practices would be prosecuted and severely sanctioned.
“Any admission conducted outside CAPS, regardless of its intentions, is illegal.
“Both institutions and the candidates involved in such practices will be held accountable.
“Sanctions may include withdrawal of institutional assets and prosecution of culpable officers or governing council members,” he said.
The National Orientation Agency (NOA) says it will soon unveil a National Values Charter (NVC) to serve as a social contract between the Nigerian government and its citizens.
The Director-General of the agency, Malam Lanre Issa-Onilu, disclosed this in Abuja, yesterday at a one-day workshop on “Civic Responsibility and National Values for Voluntary Organisations”.
Issa-Onilu was represented by Dr Olukemi Afolayan, Director of Civic Values and Democratic Education at the agency.
He said that the charter would articulate the responsibilities of both the government and citizens towards nation-building.
“We are at a pivotal moment as a country.
“The challenges facing Nigeria range from insecurity, corruption, poor civic engagement, moral decay, and apathy in democratic processes.
“These require, not just governmental intervention, but active citizen participation,”he said.
He said that voluntary organisations had historically played key roles in moral reawakening, youth mobilisation and community development, dating back to the colonial period.
According to him, the NOA under the current leadership, has intensified efforts to fulfill its core mandate of value reorientation.
He said that the agency did that with the launch of several campaigns, including the National Identity Project approved by the Federal Executive Council in 2024.
“President, Bola Tinubu, is expected to formally unveil the National Values Charter.
“It defines the ‘Nigerian Promise’, the government’s commitment to equality, democracy, entrepreneurship, peace, inclusivity, freedom and meritocracy,” he said.
The NOA D-G said that the Charter would also highlight a ‘Citizen’s Code’ calling on Nigerians to embrace discipline, duty of care, tolerance, leadership, accountability, environmental awareness and resilience.
He urged voluntary organisations to support the campaign and serve as role models in their communities to promote patriotism and public trust.
Also speaking, Mrs Rhoda Sadus, Deputy Director of Civic Values and Democracy at NOA, said that the Charter was a critical component of a broader National Identity Project aimed at global reputational management.
“This is the first time any Nigerian organisation is targeting global reputational management through strategic media engagement, including broadcasts on international channels like CNN,” she said.
Sadus said that NOA was engaging Nigerians in the diaspora and working closely with other agencies, including the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), to promote a unified national identity.
“When the Director-General assumed office, he emphasised the need for Nigeria to define and project its identity.
“The National Values Charter was conceived to outline the responsibilities of both the government and the citizens, a departure from past initiatives that only targeted citizens,” she added.
She said that the agency would soon begin training public office holders on national values as part of the post-appointment orientation process.
“We believe that when both the government and the people fulfill their obligations, national development will follow,” she said.
In his remarks, Dr Mohammed Dambo, Commander of the FCT Man ‘O’ War, said the initiative offered an opportunity for Nigerians to unite under a common agenda for national progress.
“If America became what it is today through collective agreement and commitment, Nigeria can do the same.
“We need to stop gaslighting our leaders and start promoting a culture of excellence, patriotism and civic responsibility.”
He called for the values to be transferred to the younger generation as part of efforts to restore hope and pride in the country.
The Tide source reports that the workshop attracted the presence of representatives form Boys Scout Association of Nigeria, Girls Guide Association of Nigeria and Man O’ War Nigeria.
Others were Red Cross Society of Nigeria, Boys Brigade Nigeria, National Cadet Corps (School-Based) and War Against Indiscipline (WAI) Brigade.
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