NO additional bodies have been found at the site of Thursday’s crash involving the Sikorsky SK76 helicopter in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. This is according to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL). In its latest update on Sunday, the NNPCL spokesman, Olufemi Soneye, said search and rescue operations by the relevant authorities at the site, continue. Soneye, NNPCL’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer, said about five bodies are still missing. “The NNPC Ltd wishes to announce that beyond the three bodies found in the ill-fated helicopter operated by East Winds Aviation that crashed on Thursday in Port Harcourt, no other…
Author: Eileen Peters
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GOVERNOR of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, has approved the sum of ₦80,000 as the new minimum wage for workers in the state’s civil service with effect from November 1, 2024. Governor Diri also approved an increase in the monthly pension of retired workers as well as ₦7 billion to reduce outstanding gratuity liabilities. His spokesperson, Daniel Alabrah, who disclosed these in a statement, said the Bayelsa governor acknowledged the challenging times workers face in the state due to the rise in the cost of living. The statement read: “To address the harsh times and in line with the National…
THE Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) says two more bodies have been recovered from the Sikorsky S-76 helicopter that crashed in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital. Three persons were confirmed dead following the crash on Thursday. Eight persons (six passengers and two crew members) were on board the aircraft when the incident happened. Barely a day after the crash, the NSIB said more bodies have been recovered while three more persons remain unaccounted for. “We have recovered two more bodies, making it a total of five. There are three more down there that hopefully will be recovered today,” NSIB…
PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has directed an intensification of search and rescue for passengers of the ill-fated helicopter that crashed into the Atlantic near Bonny Finima on Thursday in Port-Harcourt. The helicopter, operated by East Winds Aviation and registered as 5NBQG, was hired by NNPC Limited to ferry some contract staff to the NNPCL facility FPSO—NUIMS ANTAN. Three persons were confirmed dead in the crash. The accident occurred at 11:22 a.m. along the waterways in Port Harcourt when the helicopter, a Sikorsky SK76 with registration 5NBQG and operated by East Wind Aviation, took off from Port Harcourt Military Base (DNPM) to…
THREE persons have been confirmed dead in a helicopter crash that occurred in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, on Thursday. The accident occurred at 11:22 a.m. along the waterways in Port Harcourt when the helicopter, a Sikorsky SK76 with registration 5NBQG and operated by East Wind Aviation, was en route from Port Harcourt Military Base (DNPM) to the Nuimantan oil rig. A total of eight persons were confirmed on board, said a spokesperson for the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Odutayo Oluseyi. The aircraft ditched into the waters near Bonny Finima in the Atlantic Ocean, the authorities said…
A FORMER minister of Women Affairs Uju Kennedy Ohanenye has thanked President Bola Tinubu and Nigerians for the opportunity to serve the country. President Tinubu sacked her among other persons in his cabinet reshuffle on Wednesday. Hours after her ouster, the former minister described her over one-year service to the nation as a “privilege”. LETTER OF APPRECIATION I write to express my sincere gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the opportunity to serve as a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It has been an honor and a privilege to contribute to the development of our Nation. I…
THE NNPC Limited – Chevron Nigeria Limited Joint Venture (NNPC-CNL JV) has made a significant near-field oil discovery with the successful drilling of the Meji NW-1 well, located in Petroleum Mining Lease (PML) 49 within the shallow offshore area of the Western Niger Delta. The area, recently converted to the PIA 2021 terms, is a critical part of Nigeria’s energy production landscape. Chevron’s General Manager, Policy Government and Public Affairs, Olusoga Oduselu, disclosed this in a Friday statement titled, “NNPC-CNL Joint Venture successfully drills the Meji NW-1 Well.” According to the statement, the well was spud on September 2, 2024,…
THE Rivers State Government has approved a minimum wage of N85,000 for civil servants in the state. The Head of Service of the state, George Nwaeke, announced that the approval was granted by Governor Siminalayi Fubara during a closed-door meeting with labour leaders and senior government officials. Following the meeting, Nwaeke confirmed that the implementation of the new minimum wage will take effect immediately. On their part, the Chairman of the Joint Negotiation Team, Chukwu Emecheta praised Governor Fubara for meeting the expectations of Rivers State workers. He expressed appreciation for the Governor’s commitment to the workforce. Also speaking, the…
TRAGEDY struck Thursday morning in Benin City, the Edo State Capital following the explosion of a Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) powered vehicle at NIPCO filling station located at Aduwawa along the Benin-Auchi Expressway. In a viral video making round on social media, the vehicle was vividly scattered while people around the vicinity ran for dear lives as the loud sound from the explosion created panic among residents in the vicinity. Three persons were said to have sustained various degrees of injuries and have been rushed to a private hospital for medical attention. The explosion is coming on the heels of…
THE Martin Amaewhule-led Rivers State House of Assembly and the faction loyal to Governor Siminalayi Fubara have initiated a fresh round of crisis in the state. On Tuesday, the Amaewhule faction declared the seats of four of their colleagues loyal to Fubara vacant. The Appeal Court in Abuja recently granted legality to the Amaewhule leadership of the Assembly. In its reaction, the Victor Oko-Jumbo-led pro-Fubara lawmakers insisted Amaewhule and his group had ceased to be lawmakers in the state. The group called on the Independent National Electoral Commission to conduct a by-election to fill the vacant seats. The new power…
A DIVISIONAL Police Officer attached to Agbarho police division has been killed by gunmen suspected to be kidnappers in the Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State. A spokesman for the Delta State Police Command, Bright Edafe, confirmed the incident on Monday. He said the gunmen also shot at the DPO of Ororoekpe Division who sustained injury and was rushed to the hospital for treatment. Edafe said the two DPOs were on an operation with some officers when hoodlums laid ambush and shot at them, adding that the police are already on the trail of the hoodlums, promising that…
THE Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate in Edo State, Olumide Akpata, on Saturday said he won’t challenge the result of the September 21 gubernatorial election. Akpata emerged third with 22, 763 votes in the election. He lost to the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Monday Okpebholo, who raked in 291,667 votes to defeat PDP’s Asue Ighodalo, who came second with 247,274 votes. Three weeks after the contest, Akpata said he wouldn’t approach the Tribunal, despite citing irregularities and electoral malpractice in the exercise. “My decision not to contest the election results at the tribunal is not an indication of compromise;…
AS the world observes this year’s International Day of the Girl Child, a member of the International Association Of World Peace Advocates IAWPA has addressed the globe on the need to educate the Girl Child inorder to give girls the capacity to fulfill their potentials. In a video sited by our reporter, Amb. Miss Crystal Enato Sam-Ogbuku said every girl has a dream, voice and a talent that needs to be heard and recognized. She said the world should be bold enough to use the observance of the international day of the Girl Child to say enough is enough in…
THE All Progressives Congress (APC) executives in Ekeremor and Southern Ijaw Local Government Areas of Bayelsa State, have announced the suspension of key party members, including the Minister of State for Petroleum, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, and the 2019 governorship candidate of the state, David Lyon. Two serving commissioners in the People’s Democratic Party (PDP)-led Bayelsa State government, who are also APC members were among those suspended. The suspensions were reportedly due to anti-party activities and alleged factionalisation of the party at the state level. The Chairman of APC in Ekeremor Local Government Area, Mitin Eniekenemi, confirmed the suspension of Senator…
THE United Nations Association of Africa (UNAA) has appointed Amb. Sylvester Okafor as its new President General, marking a significant milestone in the organization’s history. The appointment which was made in Abuja Nigeria during the celebration of the 64th anniversary of Nigeria joining the United Nations, witnessed several dignitaries including tge World Peace President Amb Per Stafsen from the Kingdom of Denmark A statement by the Chairman Board of Directors of the association Amb Emmanuel Nkweke said this esteemed position is a testament to Amb. Okafor’s tireless efforts in promoting global peace, development, and humanitarian causes. He said as the…
A FORMER Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has expressed frustration with the general public’s apparent calmness amid severe economic hardship. Speaking during an interview with ABN TV, Amaechi questioned why Nigerians are not more vocal in their outrage, pointing to rising costs and the inability of many to afford basic necessities such as fuel. The former governor of Rivers said even he can no longer afford diesel. Amaechi said he expected youths to storm different streets and protest against the high cost of living. He said: “I’m angry with the citizens. I have said it several times. You can see…
THE All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State says the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has agreed to move the inspection of election materials to Thursday to allow the party prepare itself. The chairman of the APC in Edo State, Jarret Tenebe and the legal counsel, Victor Ohiosumwan, confirmed to journalists that they did not come with all the necessary materials because of a mix up in the inspection process. Tenebe said, “They are supposed to start with inspection of register and we were not aware of it. INEC had already given us register which we were supposed to compare…
THE Edo State Independent National Electoral Commission’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (INEC REC) Anubgum Onuoha, has denied complicity in the allegation against him by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), that he resisted request to gain access to the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) inspection before the just-concluded gubernatorial elections in the state. A statement issued by Onuoha on Tuesday described the PDP allegation as “baseless, misleading and devoid of the truth”. Onuoha said he never denied any political party, agents or representatives access to the BVAS ahead of the contestation in courts to inspect the BVAS. He acknowledged that it is…
THE newly elected Chairman of Ikwerre Local Government, Israel Abosi has taken over the council secretariat in Isiokpo. The takeover comes less than 24 hours after the secretariat was burnt by arsonists on Monday. On Tuesday morning, Abosi was seen accompanied by his deputy, the newly elected councillors, and a crowd of supporters including some vigilante members who were brandishing guns and firing gunshots in the air. They were chanting solidarity songs and daring their political opponents to come to the council secretariat. Both Ikwere and Emohua Local Government Council secretariats were set ablaze yesterday following the withdrawal of the…
GOVERNOR Siminalayi Fubara has urged his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, to let go of any grip he desire to have over Rivers State as the state is his now, therefore Wike should allow peace reign in the oil-rich state. Fubara, who stated this on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme on Monday monitored by News Point Nigeria, said he does not regret conducting local government election in the state last Saturday despite the resistance by Wike’s men in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC). “I have all the guts to do these things,” the governor said, asking…