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Dana Crash: Ojikutu Faults Air Traffic Controller

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13 years ago

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Retired Group Capt. John Ojikutu, has faulted the Air
Traffic Controller (ATC) on duty at the Lagos Airport for failing to take
control of the ill-fated Dana Air plane before it crashed at Iju-Ishaga on June
3.

Ojikutu, who was giving evidence at the inquest into the
crash, also faulted the nation’s emergency plan on air crashes.

The retired group captain, who has 26 years experience as an
air traffic controller, wondered why the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB)
report was silent on the communication between the aircraft and the control
tower in Kano.

He said from the transcripts of the conversation between the
control tower in Lagos and the pilot of the iplane, there were gaps in what
transpired.

“The court was only given 13 minutes excerpt of what was supposed
to be about 44 minutes of conversation between the towers and the pilot,” he
told the coroner, Magistrate Komolafe Oyetade.

According to him, the missing 21 minutes recording will have
provided more clues into what happened before the plane lost its two engines.

Ojikutu said that the ATC on duty did not respond
immediately he got a distress call from the pilot.

“And when he ought to have taken charge of the emergency
response, he handed over to a subordinate,” he said, noting that he should have
handed over to a superior authority.

He alleged that emergency operation in the case of the Dana
crash clearly showed that the ATC did not respond until it was too late.

Ojikutu also said that the Nigerian Airspace Management
Agency (NAMA) did not have sufficient manpower and the last time it trained its
staff was more than 15 years ago.

He faulted the safety and emergency management operation
plan on air crashes in the aviation industry.

The retired group captain said that there was a need to
empower all local governments to be equipped to cater for emergencies of such
magnitude before the arrival of state and federal agencies.

According to him, virtually all emergency units that
responded to the Dana crash were clueless on how to put out an air plane fire.

“We don’t fight aircraft fire with water, but from the video
footages of that day, I noticed they were using water and that didn’t help a
bit,” he said.

Ojikutu told the coroner that a substance called foam
chemical should have been used.

He also observed that too many residential buildings were
close to the airport and they endangered safe landing of aircraft.

Ojikutu suggested that the government should demolish all
such buildings and compensate the owners in order to make the Ikeja airport
safer for landing.

The inquest continues.

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NPA Assures On Staff Welfare 

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2 weeks ago

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June 27, 2025

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The Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, has said the management will continue to accompany its port infrastructure  and equipment  modernization drive  with the development of the welfare of its personnel.
Dantsoho made the disclosure recently while responding to the commendation by the Maritime Workers Union (MWUN) and the senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations and Government-Owned Companies (SSASGOC) on the  clearing  of the age-long problem of employee stagnation, when the union paid him a courtesy visit at the Authority’s headquarters in Lagos.
A Statement by NPA’s General Manager Corporate & Strategic Communications, Mr. Ikechukwu Onyemekara, quoted Dantsoho as saying,  “our Port infrastructure and equipment modernization drive will go hand-in-hand with continuous staff welfare improvement”.
The NPA MD disclosed that human capital development constitutes the key strategy for creating and sustaining superior performance under his watch, adding that “talent development constitutes a critical success factor for the actualization of the big hairy audacious goals we have set for ourselves especially in the area of Port competitiveness.
“The only way we can meet and indeed exceed stakeholders’ expectations is to deepen the competencies of our human resources assets and boosting their morale.”
Speaking further, Dantsoho commended the Honourable Minister of Marine & Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, for approving the strategic proposal of the Dantsoho-led Management team that solved the over a decade-long problem of lack of promotion that had fuelled industrial disharmony.
“I must specially appreciate our amiable Minister for graciously approving the multi-pronged stratagem we deployed that cleared all outstanding cases of employee stagnation by conducting examinations in one fell swoop and instituted timelines to forestall a recurrence of such anomaly”, he sad.
Speaking on behalf of the joint maritime labour unions, the President  of Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations & Government-Owned Companies (SSASCGOC), Comrade Bodunde stated, “In addition to clearance of the backlog of stagnated promotions, we also wish to express our appreciation for the increase in productivity bonuses, provision of end-of-year welfare packages for staff, and the revision of the Financial Guide to the Condition of Service, which now addresses our members’ concerns about inflationary pressures.”
Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos
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ANLCA Chieftain Emerges FELCBA’s VP

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2 weeks ago

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June 27, 2025

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National Secretary of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Elder Olumide Fakanlu, has been elected Vice President of the Federation of ECOWAS Licensed Customs Brokers Association (FELCBA).
The election took place during the FELCBA Congress, held from Tuesday, June 17th to Thursday, June 19th, 2025, in Freetown, Sierra Leone.
Fakanlu’s emergence as Vice President marks a significant achievement for Nigeria within the regional customs brokerage community.
Apart from Fakanlu, Secretary of the Seme Chapter of ANLCA, Austin Nwosu, was also elected, securing the role of Secretary of Relations with Institutions.
The Nigerian delegation played an active role in the congress, with Michael Ebeatu nominated as a member of the electoral officer team, ensuring a fair and transparent election process.
The three-day congress concluded with delegates undertaking a visit to the Sierra Leone Port, offering insights into the host nation’s maritime operations, followed by a recreational trip to the Tokeh Beach.
The newly elected executives are expected to lead FELCBA in its efforts to harmonize customs brokerage practices, promote trade facilitation, and advocate for the interests of licensed customs brokers across the ECOWAS sub-region.
Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos
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NSC, Police Boost Partnership On Port Enforcement 

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2 weeks ago

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June 27, 2025

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In a bid to enhance more enforcement in the nation’s Port, the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has reaffirmed its commitment to stronger inter-agency collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).
The Council said the collaboration is aimed at enhancing stronger enforcement, compliance and improve operational efficiency across Nigeria’s ports.
Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of  NSC, Dr. Pius Akutah, made this known during a visit to the  Inspector-General of Police, Dr. Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.
The visit, which he said, focused on strengthening institutional synergy, comes in the wake of growing responsibilities for the NSC under the newly created Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.
Akutah emphasized the critical role of security agencies in supporting port operations and ensuring regulatory compliance.
He called for the posting of police officers to assist the Council’s monitoring and enforcement teams at key port locations including Lagos, Warri, Onne, Port Harcourt, and Calabar.
“The posting will complement the activities of our revived task teams and enhance our ability to enforce standards across the maritime logistics chain”, he said.
Earlier, the Inspector-General of Police, Dr. Egbetokun, assured the Council of the Force’s readiness to continue supporting the growth of the maritime sector.
The IGP acknowledged that compliance enforcement is essential to the successful implementation of Nigeria’s Blue Economy objectives.
“The NSC and NPF are expected to deepen collaboration in the months ahead, with a shared focus on building a secure, efficient, and competitive port environment”, to the IGP emphasized.
Chinedu Wosu
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