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Tag: Passengers

  • Arik Air clarifies on alleged abandonment of passengers

    Arik Air clarifies on alleged abandonment of passengers

    Arik Air on Thursday said its leaving of its passengers stranded at the Port Harcourt Airport on March 2 was unintentional and due to bad weather.

    This is contained in a statement signed by Mr Adebanji Ola, Public Relations/Communications Manager of the airline, on Thursday in Lagos.

    According to Ola, it is imperative that the airline provides clarity on the matter to avoid misconception.

    He said that on March 2 evening, the flight W3 744 (Lagos to Port Harcourt) was compelled to make air return due to adverse weather conditions, specifically heavy rainfall and thunderstorms in Port Harcourt.

    Ola said that  the airline eventually cancelled both the Lagos-Port Harcourt (W3 744) and Port Harcourt-Lagos (W3 745) flights.

    According to him, at the time of the cancellation,  banking facilities at the airport had  closed, making funds unfeasible.

    “However, passengers were promptly briefed on the situation and advised to return the following day for accommodation on available flights.

    “On Wednesday, March 3, all the affected passengers from both Lagos and Port Harcourt were successfully accommodated on available morning and evening flights.

    “No single passenger was left stranded at Port Harcourt Airport,” he said.

    Ola said that  safety remained a foremost priority of Arik Air.

    “We maintain a strict policy to avoid flying in inclement weather conditions, which necessitated  cancellation of the flights,” he said.

    Ola said that the airline regretted inconveniences caused  its passengers by  the travel plan  disruption.

    According to reports, some passengers of Arik Air were seen in a viral video complaining that they were left stranded at the Port Harcourt Airport on March 2.

  • Abducted passengers of GIG, ABC buses regain freedom

    Abducted passengers of GIG, ABC buses regain freedom

    All the 14 passengers of God Is Good (GIG) Motors and ABC Transport on Thursday finally regained freedom from their abductors in Kogi.

    SP Williams Ovye-Aya, Kogi Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, who confirmed their release to NAN via telephone in Lokoja, said they were released around 5.00 p.m. on Thursday.

    Some gunmen had on Saturday, hijacked GIG motors and ABC transport buses heading to Abuja from Kogi and abducted the passengers.

    The kidnappers were reported to have demanded for N15 million ransom on each of the passengers to secure their release.

    Ovye-Aya said: “I’m confirming to you now that all the 14 kidnapped passengers of both GIG and ABC Motors have finally regained their freedom.

    “The 14 of them are hale and hearty. They will soon meet their family members.

    “Among those released are 12 passengers of GIG motors and two of ABC.

    “I can’t tell you whether ransoms were paid or not, but what I can tell you is that they are free people now.”

    Again, the command’s spokesperson did not confirm whether arrests were made while securing the freedom of the victims.

  • Just in: Kidnappers reportedly abduct 45 passengers, demand N15m ransom for each

    Just in: Kidnappers reportedly abduct 45 passengers, demand N15m ransom for each

    45 passengers have been reportedly kidnapped in three loaded 15-seater commercial buses by suspected bandits in Orokam, along the Otukpo-Enugu Road in Ogbadigbo Local Government Area, LGA, of Benue state.

    It was gathered from an eyewitness and driver of one of the commercial transportation companies in Makurdi, who narrowly escaped the ambush with his passengers, that the incident occurred at about 3:30pm on Thursday.

    The heavily armed men were reported to have ambushed the ill-fated commercial vehicles when they sprang from the nearby forests in Orokam and forced their drivers at gunpoint to pull over.

    According to him, “it was easy for the armed men to stop the vehicles because that portion of the road is very bad.

    “The first person that came out of the bush was a heavily built young man who came out carrying an automatic rifle and a chain of bullets round his body. “I saw three of them come out of the bush with guns, this was at about 3:30pm on Thursday in broad daylight.

    “Their target was obviously commercial buses, maybe because of the number of passengers that could harvest ransom for them. In this particular instance, they took passengers in three-loaded buses that were heading toward Otukpo.

    “My saving grace was that a J-5 articulated vehicle was in my front.

    ” So when we were all stopped, before they got to my vehicle, I jumped out and ran into the bush, and all my passengers also followed.

    “Luckily, none of my passengers were caught by the armed men.

    “We ran into the bush, leaving our valuables, including phones, and they did not touch them.
    All they were looking for were the occupants of the bus.

    “They took all their victims into the forest. After hiding in the bush for close to 30 minutes, when we realised it was safe to come out, we started running back to our bus to flee.

    “At that point, we saw soldiers on motorbikes and a hilux van asking us where the armed went with the victims.

    “This happened in-between a police and army checkpoint in Orokam after the Trailer Park at the bad portion of the road. “Since I started driving, I used to hear stories of people being kidnapped on the road, I saw it happening live and I almost became a victim. I cannot thank God enough.”

    Meanwhile, it was gathered that the armed men have already opened negotiations with family members of the kidnapped passengers for the payment of ransom for their release.

    A manager in one of the commercial transportation companies at the busy Wurumum Park who spoke on condition of anonymity disclosed that the armed men initially asked for N15 million for each passenger, “but they negotiated and settled for N3million for each of the passengers.

    “Some of the family members came here to find out if we have any details or are in touch with the kidnappers, but we told them that our company was not involved.

    “They lamented that they had reached agreements with the kidnappers, and while trying to resolve how the N3 million they demanded would be sent to them, the phone line went off and they have not been able to reach the armed men anymore.

    “So it is like they have been moving from one park to the other to find out the companies that own the buses involved in the unfortunate incident. But from what we heard one of the vehicles has its head office in Gboko.”

    When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, Superintendent, SP, Catherine Anene, said, “I don’t have that report yet”.

  • Passengers stranded as aviation unions begin strike

    Passengers stranded as aviation unions begin strike

    Passengers were on Monday stranded in the Murtala Muhammad Airport (MMA) terminal as Aviation Unions began their two-day warning strike.

    Members of the union blocked the entrance of the MMA, leaving passengers stranded.

    Officials of various aviation agencies including owners of businesses and staff within the airport, didn’t have access to their offices.

    NAN correspondent who monitored the airport, noted that flight operations were grounded.

    Also, there was  heavy traffic around the airport and environs due to the strike.

    The passengers were seen trekking dragging their luggage due to the disruption caused by the strike.

    Some passengers lamented the situation, noting that the passengers were at the receiving end of the “crossfire”

    Mr John Thompson, who was visibly angry, expressed his frustration at the situation.

    “Everytime there is an issue and they decide to go on strike, it is the passengers who have absolutely no business in it, that suffers.

    “Like the daily problems in the country are not enough, they are adding theirs and I have nothing to do with it,” he said.

    Another passenger, Miss Tinuke Adeite voiced her frustration at the trend of agencies embarking on strike due to internal disputes.

    “What isn’t my business with the issues they have with the authorities and in all of these, I would miss my flight.

    “There are better ways to resolve issues that destabilizing the economy of the country by going on strike,” she said.

    The unions are demanding the immediate release of the reviewed Condition of Service, implementation of the minimum wage consequential adjustments and arrears for the Nigeria Meteorological Agency, NiMet since 2019

    They also demanded the halt of the planned demolition exercise of aviation’s agency buildings in Lagos by the Minister of Aviation for an airport city project.

    The unions had issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Minister of Aviation and specific aviation parastatals on Feb. 7, over non-implementation of minimum wage consequential adjustments and arrears for the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NiMet).

    Others are the refusal of the Income & Wages Commission and Office of the Head of Service of the Federation to release the reviewed Condition of Service of Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT) and Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET).

  • 7 passengers burnt to ashes along Lagos-Ibadan expressway

    7 passengers burnt to ashes along Lagos-Ibadan expressway

    No fewer than seven persons were on Thursday burnt to ashes in an accident few metres away from Saapade bridge on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway.

    The spokesperson of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Ogun, Mrs  Florence Okpe, confirmed the incident to newsmen in Abeokuta.

    Okpe explained that 18 passengers sustained various degree of injuries when a Toyota Sienna bus marked BWR 762 PV collided with a Mazda bus registered BDN 18 LG.

    She added that the accident was caused by excessive speed and route violation.

    According to her, the Sienna bus driver followed one-way and collided with the Mazda bus which burst into flames.

    The FRSC official said 27 passengers comprising 25 men, two women and a female child were involved in the accident, out of which seven were burnt beyond recognition.

    She said that the injured victims were taken to Victory Hospital, Ogere and Idera Hospital in Sagamu for medical attention.

    According to her, the corpses of the deceased were deposited at FOS Morgue, Ipara.

  • Christmas: Passengers lament high cost of air ticket

    Christmas: Passengers lament high cost of air ticket

    Some passengers at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja have condemned the increase in airfare during the yuletide.

    The passengers made this known in separate interviews on Saturday in Abuja.

    They said that it was just necessary for them to travel by air to celebrate Christmas with relatives as travelling by air i”s fast and safe”.

    A passenger, Mr Kayode Enitan, who expressed displeasure on the increase of ticket price, observed that upsurge in passengers travelling could be as a result of Christmas among other reasons.

    “I have determined to celebrate this Christmas with my family. For the past four years, they celebrated in Lagos, while I celebrated both Christmas and New Year in Abuja because of work.

    “About three days ago, I booked with Arik Air for a return ticket from Abuja to Lagos for N170, 000. That is N85 for one way. God will save us in this country, “ he said.

    Mrs Evelyn Chukudi, a passenger, who frowned at skyrocketing of airfare, said that passengers had not felt any impact on addressing the scarcity of aviation fuel.

    According to her, the local airline operators have been referring to JETA1 as the major reason for the increase in airfares.

    “Truly, they just keep increasing the ticket prices. I am going to Port-Harcourt with my husband. The fare was about N85, 000 each. We actually booked a few days ago with Air Peace.

    “This is too much. It is all about your choice of airline. The local airlines` fares are seemly similar, “ she said.

    Another passenger, Alhaji Muhammed Kabiru, was also disheartened over the increase in the ticket price.

    According to Kabiru, he chose to travel by air to Kano due to comfort, safety and timeliness.

    “Big thanks to President Muhammadu Buhari, who paid us our salary on time.

    “The airfare now is too high. I paid N90, 000 one way from Abuja to Kano; I booked with MAX Air yesterday. I just need to travel to catch fun and enjoy my leave in Kano, “ he said.

    Checks at both arrival and departure sides in the Abuja airport showed that passengers at the departure were extremely populated, while passengers at the arrival were scanty.

  • Reactions trail resumption of Abuja-Kaduna rail service

    Reactions trail resumption of Abuja-Kaduna rail service

     

    After series of postponements, the Abuja- Kaduna rail service finally resumed on Monday 5th of December, amid tight security.

    Upon the resumption after 9 months of stoppage, Passengers seen plying the service expressed mixed reactions about it.

    Some expressed happiness that their favourite means of transportation is back, others feel that the country need to tackle insecurity to avoid a repeat of the March 28th attack.

    Passengers at Risa train station in Igabi LGA of Kaduna State, on Tuesday were excited following the resumption of the Kaduna-Abuja train service, they were constrained following the increase in ticket fares by the Nigerian Railway Corporation.

    Security was observed to be tighter as more personnel were deployed to the station to avoid a repeat of past incidents.

    It was gathered that passengers stormed the Risa rail station in their numbers trying to board trains to their various destinations.

    A passenger, one Alhaji Ibrahim Musa, who is an estate agent, told pressmen at the Rigasa station on Tuesday, that at least, for comfortability, train service is more preferable.

    According to him, since the federal government has put in place security operatives to curtail criminal activities, they only need prayers for sustainability.

    Hajia Salamatu Danielle, who said she intended to reach Abuja, said she is no longer afraid of criminals or terrorists’ attack since there are more security operatives on ground.

    According to her, she relies on train service than road transportation, since anything can happen along the way.

    She called on the NRC to reduce the transport fare in order to accommodate more people who intend to travel this festive period.

    However, Mallam Nasir Idris said the slow pace at which trains move would not suit his travel to Abuja for work and return the same day.

    According to him, he works in Abuja, returns to Kaduna every evening the same day.

    He further expressed fear over ticket fares, adding that in most cases, he gets roadside vehicles at N1,000 to Abuja.

    Anita Bakare a female passenger, said that she has been waiting anxiously for the resumption of the train service to have a feel of what it looks like.

    Another passenger. James Ani appealed to the Federal governmnet to tighten security and ensure that insecurity is a thing of the past.

    For Hakeem Tajudeen, the Federal Government shouldn’t have increased its charges.

    Mrs. James Alice said the federal government should have compensated them in the first week of train services since passengers were victims of bandits attack on March 28, 2022.

    According to her, even if the federal government had muted the ideas of increasing transportation fare, they could have allowed passengers to enjoy the service for at least two weeks, or reduced the fare to the barest minimum.

    Akintunde Christopher, said that he enjoys using the rail service because its fast and doesn’t experience traffic on its way but appeals to FG to reduce its transportation fare.

    Tunde Ajibola says the Train is a relief compared to the hassles on the road, saying that the accident rate is very minimal.

    He added that the March 28th incident isn’t a regular experience.

     

  • Tanzanian plane crash-lands into Lake Victoria

    Tanzanian plane crash-lands into Lake Victoria

    A Tanzanian plane has crashed into Lake Victoria in Tanzania while trying to land at the nearby Bukoba airport.

    Tanzania Broadcasting Corporation (TBC) says about 15 passengers have been rescued in the crash. The degree of the crash remains unknown.

    Rescue workers and local fishermen are on the scene searching for survivors.

    The aircraft, Precision Air, was flying from Dar es Salaam to Bukoba via Mwanza when it reportedly encountered a storm and heavy rains before it crashed into the lake which has its shore near the airport.

    According to the BBC, photos show the plane almost completely submerged with only the brown and green tail fin above the water, surrounded by rescue workers and fishing boats.

    Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan called for calm during the rescue operation.

    “I have received with regret the information of the plane crash of Precision Corporation in Lake Victoria, Kagera region. I send my condolences to all those affected by this accident. Let’s continue to be calm while the rescue operation continues while we ask Allah to help us,” she tweeted in Swahili.

  • 16 passengers missing in another Lagos boat accident

    16 passengers missing in another Lagos boat accident

    Barely three days after the unfortunate boat accident around Ikorodu area of Lagos State leading to the death of two passengers, another boat accident occured on Friday night around the Mile 2 area.

    Mrs Sarat Braimah, Lagos Area Manager, the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), confirmed the incident in a statement on Saturday.

    Braimah said that 16 passengers on board the ill-fated boat were yet to be accounted for.

    “At about 7.45 p.m., on July 8, the National Inland Waterways Authority and Lagos State Waterways Authority received a distress call of an incident on the waterways.

    “A W19 passenger Fibre boat carrying 16 people capsized along the Ojo area of the state.

    “The boat going from Mile 2 to Ibeshe in Ojo axis broke the waterways rules of late travelling by setting sail at 7.45 p.m.,” she said.

    Braimah said that the tide of the water drifted the boat to a stationary barge which caused it to overturn.

    “It is said that all passengers on board which includes children were not all putting on their life jackets.

    “The search and rescue team of the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA), National Inland Waterways (NIWA) were immediately mobilised to the scene of the incident but unfortunately could only find the boat after several hours.

    “Efforts are still ongoing to locate the victims.

    “The Boat Captain is also unaccounted for as at the time of this press release,” she said.

    Braimah noted that the boat was currently in the custody of Marine Police.

  • BREAKING: Terrorists finally release abducted Kaduna-Abuja train passengers

    The Terrorists who attacked Kaduna-Abuja bound train on March 28, have finally released some of the captives after almost three months in captivity.

    TheNewsGuru.com recalls the terrorists bombed parts of the rail track, forcing the train to derail, and opened fire on the passengers, killing nine and whisking away 62 persons including children and 82 years grand woman.

    After spending about 74 days in the den of the captors, six females and five male captives were released on Saturday after reaching an agreement with the Federal Government.

    The terrorists had threatened to start killing the victims if the Federal Government refused to negotiate with them.

    According to sources, the terrorists released the male captives on health grounds and women who are among the vulnerable as part of the agreement reached with the abductors.

    It says, all the abducted women are expected to be released in the first batch while negotiations for the release of the remaining victims will continue but the abductors had cut down the number of women they initially agreed to release because the Nigerian Government had demanded that they include those with life-threatening injuries among the released.

    Some relatives of the abducted passengers say that they have been expecting the release of the captives noting that they have not been briefed of the recent development.

    Recalled that on March 28th attack, the terrorists had released two people, one of the victims, are Managing Director of Bank of Agriculture Alwan Hassan, who was said to have paid about N100million and later, a pregnant woman who was released out of compassion.

    Earlier, the terrorists had demanded the release of eight of their children said to have been in the custody of the Federal Government.