City Crime
Dana Crash Report: NASS To FG: Sack NCAA DG, Inspector
The National Assembly has directed that the appointments of the Director General of Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Dr Harold Demuren and that of the Inspector, Engr Suleiman Akwuh be terminated for professional negligence and incompetence respectively
In spite of the fact that Dana Airline has restored its operations some months back, the National Assembly also directed that the airlines’ current AOC should be revoked on the ground that it was not originally issued in accordance with the NCAA regulations 2009.
The Senate at plenary on Tuesday, gave these directives following the findings of the joint committee (Senate and House of Reps) after its investigations on the remote causes of the June 03, 2012 crash of the ill fated Dana aircraft which claimed over 150 lives.
The joint Committee led by Senator Hope Uzodimma had in its report on November 29, 2012 indicted both the Dana Airline operators and the NCAA management.
The report as read and considered at the Senate chambers showed that the ill-fated aircraft had not been air worthy and had been involved in five out of 14 air returns due to system failures recorded in the airline between October, 2009 and May, 2012.
The actual age of the ill-fated aircraft according to the report was 22 years , an old generation air craft (MD83) “that has been decommissioned by the manufacturer and phased out by many airlines”.
Amongst anomalies that played out during the investigation , the lawmakers found out that Dana airline has no credible insurance certificate as there was no evidence to authenticate their claim to have been insured by the Lloyd of London while families of the aircrash victims petitioned the committee over the failure of the airline to pay due compensation on victims.
The poor condition of both the management of the NCAA, Accident Investigation Bureau(AIB) , Airport Fire fighting and search and rescue department of FAAN whose low capacity were said to have made way for such huge losses of lives as some could have been rescued if prompt action was taken .
While Dana failed to avail the committee of some useful documents, the committee also found out that the N200 billion Aviation Intervention Fund was only used to refinance existing facility with banks instead of improving the services of airlines in Nigeria.
Equipments and facilities in the airports were also found to be in abysmal conditions .
The committee therefore amongst others recommended that MD83 aircrafts be phased out and the AIB (FAAN) , NAMA be properly equipped.
The lawmakers demanded that the management and operations of NCAA remain autonomous and insists that every other investigation reports on air mishaps including Bellview, Sosoliso be revisited and made public.
During the consideration of the committee reports, the Senate was almost unanimous on the rot in the aviation sector as occasioned by notable corrupt practices .
Senator Chris Ngige noted that due to corruption , aircrafts which were not air worthy were certified to fly Nigerian air space
“We lost 153 persons on board the airline . This is a situation of culpable homicide , people went and brought an aircraft that is not worthy for any air space in the world to fly in Nigeria,” Ngige said
On the termination of the appointments of Dr Dumoren and Engr Akwuh , Senator Aidoko Attai Ali bluntly made it clear that all those indicted in the remote causes of the monumental loss by now should have resigned.
Briefing Senate correspondents after plenary , the chairman of the joint Committee on Aviation, Senator Hope Uzodimma, noted that there were attempts by some groups to scuttle the report of the committee but insisted that the committee’s insistence on the interest of Nigerians prevailed.
Nneka Amaechi-Nnadi, Abuja
Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has said that Europa League success will not “save our season”, but “could change a lot of things in our club”.
After a disappointing domestic campaign, the Old Trafford outfit visited Athletic Club in the first leg of their semi-final last night.
United are 14th in the Premier League, having managed just 39 points from 34 games, but they could still qualify for the Champions League if they win the Europa League.
“Everybody knows that it’s really important for our season,” said Amorim. “We know that nothing is going to save our season, but this can be huge.
“Winning a trophy and also to get in the Champions League, to have European games next year, could change a lot of things in our club, even in the summer.”
United produced a remarkable comeback to reach the semis when they scored two goals in the final minute of extra-time to beat Lyon 5-4 in the second leg of their last-eight tie to win 7-6 on aggregate.
Their form in Europe is in stark contrast to their Premier League struggles and Amorim, who replaced Erik ten Hag in November last year, knows “a lot of things we need to change” even if they lift the trophy.
“Europa League will not change anything in our problems, it’s going to help us to have Champions League next year, more money to spend, but the problems are still there,” added the United boss.
“We have to change the minds of our fans with consistency, good decisions, good recruitment, a good academy. This is what we need to change to take this club back to the top.
“This is more of a shortcut to go to European games. Nothing more.”
United forward Amad Diallo and centre-back Matthijs de Ligt were not ready to start against Athletic Club after returning from injury, while the Spanish side was without top scorer Oihan Sancet.
The Nigeria Football Federation has defended the recent quarter-finals draw for the 2025 President Federation Cup, saying it was conducted in line with best global practices.
A member of the NFF Executive Committee Board, George Aluo, stated that criticism over venues for the quarterfinals was unfortunate.
Going by the fixtures released on Saturday by the football body, Abakaliki FC will take on Nasarawa United in Benin, Wikki Tourists will clash with Ikorodu City in Bwari, Abuja, Akwa United and Kwara United will fight it out in Enugu, just as Area 3, Abuja, will host the encounter between Rangers International and Plateau United. All matches are scheduled for May 3rd for the emergence of semifinalists in a leg affair.
However, there have been criticisms over the Ikorodu United vs Wikki Tourist tie billed for Abuja, with a section of the press saying the venue is skewed in favour of the Bauchi team.
Aluo, also the Chairman of the Nigeria National League (NNL), said: “Some of our media men need better education, and newsmen should not be like the fans out there on the streets. In the English FA Cup, it is always a one-legged pairing that can see a club like Arsenal host Manchester United at home”.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has said that the other party to the Supreme Court judgment; Rivers State House of Assembly, needed to know that they are also to comply with the ruling, and do so with commitment that prioritises the interest of the State.
The Governor maintained that such resolve must engender collective action towards achieving peace in the State because it serves as the potent medium through which all the arms of Government can function properly while creating public goods that benefit everyone.
Governor Fubara, who spoke at the inauguaration of the 85-year-old Okrika Grammar School in Okrika Local Government Area on Thursday, emphasised that without an enduring peace, sustainable development will be hampered practically, while the sense of security, respect, tolerance, stability, and well-being to pursue goals will suffer.
The Governor said: “Let me thank everyone, and also say this, it is important at this stage that we all embrace peace. The Supreme Court has made its judgment, we don’t have any option than to abide by it.
“And, by the special grace of God, we have started the process. We are appealing to other parties, consider the interest of Rivers State, it is important. The only thing that we owe this State is peace and development. I am open any day, any time for total peace in our State, because if I have to govern well, there is need for peace to prevail.”
Commenting on the project, Governor Fubara recalled how the planning committee of the 20th Anniversary of the Diocese of Okrika Anglican Communion visited, and appealed to him to give the school, dilapidated for a long time, a facelift.
Governor Fubara said he considered their request on the premise of the place the school filled in history and the importance of quality education in addressing some social vices among idle and uneducated youths.
The Governor stated: “I felt the least, as a government, we can do is to uplift the standard of this school. And, it is not out of place, because it is part of our agenda. The key things in this administration’s agenda are healthcare, education and food sufficiency (agriculture).
“So, we immediately keyed into it, and to the glory of God, we are here today to unveil one of the things that we have done, even in the face of these situations confronting our administration, which we didn’t bring upon ourselves. But we give God all the glory.”
Governor Fubara assured the Anglican Church that whatever that is remaining, within the scope of what has been approved in the institution, will be completed, stressing that education has remained the bedrock of development in any society.
He added that if the key ingredients (facilities) to boost education are properly managed, crime will be reduced drastically, saying: “So, I believe that when all the facilities put in place in this school are put into full use, the level of crime, the level of criminality would definitely reduce, not just in Okrika but other neighbouring communities that will benefit from this school.
“I want to assure you that we will continue to do our best because the interest of our State is the most important thing to us. This school is being managed by the church. I believe the church would protect every facility that we have put in this place. The church should see the facility as its own. As a matter of fact, the school belongs to the church, it is not government anymore. What government is doing today is to compliment their effort.”
The Rivers State Governor assured the leadership of the Anglican Church in the area that he will send experts to assess the shore protection concerns expressed by the Bishop, and see what can be done to safeguard the surrounding land of the school from being washed away.
Governor Fubara also challenged the Old Boys of the school to be bold and courageous to take up some strategic projects, especially those they had listed in their address, including establishing a centre for computer-based examinations for external examinations.
Providing the project description, Rivers State Commissioner for Education, Dr Ovy Orluideye Chukwuma, pointed to the massive remodelling and reconstruction work achieved, which has restored the cherished glory of Okrika Grammar School to confirm the commitment of Governor Fubara to quality education of children.
He said, “The construction and equipping of Okrika Grammar School, Okrika in Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State was awarded in April, 2024 to various contractors, and was duly funded to completion by the Rivers State Government under the administration of Sir Siminalayi Fubara.
“The project consists of an Administrative Block, 24 Classroom Blocks, Laboratory, ICT Library Block, Assembly Hall, 100-bed Male Hostel, 100-bed Female Hostel, Kitchen and Dinning Hall, Matron’s Quarters and Sickbay, Principal’s Quarters, Senior Staff Quarters, Junior Staff Quarters, perimeter fencing, gate, generator house and power supply with extension of electricity, including solar-powered streetlights.
“There are also Vice Principal’s Quarters, sports facilities such as lawn tennis, basketball and school field. Revamping for facelift some of the old buildings such as the old dinning hall, repainting of various old structures and buildings within the premises.”
Dr Chukwuma also said: “There is road network and landscaping of about 1.8kilometers with 1.5kilometer drainage, interlocking connecting buildings, completed road pavements and parking lots, water supply to all the buildings within the compound.
“There is also furnishing and equipping of the entire 14 structures with standard students’ desks, hostel beds, quality and standard furniture, electronics such as 86 air conditioning, both inverter and 1.5 horsepower and 75 smart television sets, 60 computer sets and standard science laboratory.”
In her welcome address, Head of Local Government Administration, Okrika Local Government Area, Mrs Obianime Appollos, said the Okrika Grammar School in Okrika, established in 1940, had remained an iconic institution known for academic excellence, and thanked Governor Fubara for remodelling structures and restoring the status of the institution after years of neglect of all facilities, which demonstrates his commitment to providing quality education, investment in the future of Rivers children and improving the well-being of the people.
Speaking for the Old Boys Association, Mr Golden Iruayenama, said the years of neglect and dilapidation of structures at Okrika Grammar School were worrisome with promises to fix them never materialized until Governor Fubara changed the narrative.
Also speaking, Bishop of Diocese of Okrika Anglican Communion, Rt. Rev. Enoch Atuboyedia, said it will be remembered that it was when the school attained 85 years of existence that Governor Fubara, magnanimously remodelled and resuscitated Okrika Grammar School to help the shaping of the future of Rivers children, educationally.