TheNewsGuru

Tag: Port Harcourt

  • EFCC arrests 11 suspected currency racketeers in Port Harcourt

    EFCC arrests 11 suspected currency racketeers in Port Harcourt

    Operatives of the Port Harcourt Zonal Directorate of the  Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) have arrested 11 suspected currency racketeers and internet fraudsters.

    The EFCC Spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, said this in statement on Wednesday in Abuja. According to Oyewale, the suspects were arrested around Apara Street, New GRA,  Port Harcourt, based on credible intelligence on their suspected involvement in Naira abuse and internet fraud.

    “The suspects are Rafael Obi, John Daniel, Dominion Sambo, Solomon Nwoke, Solomon Daniel, Stanley Uche, Micheal Markson, Chima Onwra, Arinze Damian, Vizor Richard and Chidera Orji.

    “Items recovered from them include, cash totalling  N1.485 million, five luxury vehicles, smartphones and several  incriminating documents. They will be charged to court as soon as the investigations are concluded,” Oyewale said.

  • Port Harcourt helicopter crash: Keyamo releases details on black box recovered

    Port Harcourt helicopter crash: Keyamo releases details on black box recovered

    Mr Festus Keyamo, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, says a team of specialists has recovered the Black box of Helicopter SK76 registration 5N-BQG that crashed into the Atlantic Ocean near Bonny Finima on Oct. 24.

    The minister, who disclosed this at a news conference in Abuja on Wednesday, said it took the specialists 14 days to locate and recover the Black box and some other parts of the aircraft.

    “As you may recall, the ill-fated helicopter crashed about 1.4km from its destination on the NNPC`s Floating Production Storage Offloading vessel (FPSO)(Nuim Antan). The area of the crash was identified.

    “Immediately, the Nigerian Air Force conveyed a NSIB Go-Team to Port Harcourt, from where the Go-Team was transported to the Nuim Antan vessel on a Nigerian Navy Agusta Westland (AW109) helicopter on the same day of the accident.

    “Meanwhile, the search and rescue was activated, and a team comprising teams from the NNPC, Nigerian Navy, NSIB, Hydro Dive, NIMASA and the ships sailing around the vicinity of the accident site, “ he said.

    According to him, underwater recovery of victims and wreckage is a significant project that requires careful planning and provision of technology, expertise, and substantial financial resources to support the operation.

    The minister said over 60 personnel were mobilised to the site including professional divers and other technical experts.

    “We deployed marine vessels and diver boats equipped with sophisticated state-of-the art gadgets for scanning the sea bed and tracking. The depth of the sea around the vicinity of the accident site varied from 40 to 1000 meters.

    “The search and rescue operation was interrupted several times by heavy rains, oceanic currents and strong winds.

    “It is imperative to mention that the search and recovery operations continued unabated day and night on a 24 by 7 basis for 14 days,“ he said.

    Keyamo stated that three bodies of some debris suspected to be from the crashed helicopter were spotted floating and were picked up on the first day.

    He added that so far, five bodies identified to be of the deceased passengers were recovered, while one passenger and two crew members were yet to be found.

    “At midnight on Oct. 31, the wreckage of the helicopter was finally located at a depth of 42m, Latitude 04  13.634`N and Longitude 008 19.442`E.

    “Although scattered in pieces, major parts and components of the helicopter, except for the flight recovery (Black box), were recovered including the fuselage, two engines, main gearbox, land gears, main and tail rotor, tail rotor shaft among others.

    “The search and recovery efforts continued until the flight recorder was found on Friday Nov. 8. The search and recovery operation took over 14 days, “ he said.

    According to him, the specialists have brought the flight recorder to Abuja for the Nigeria Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) to commence readout of the recordings immediately .

    The minister said that the preliminary report would be published on the NSIB website within 30 days while the final report and possible safety recommendations might take a year.

    “Our objective is to conduct a thorough investigation using available techniques to find a safety issue and recommend a safety change to prevent a tragedy like this from happening again.

    `We will examine the roles of man, machine and the environment that might have directly or indirectly contributed to this accident.

    “In this process, we will review the certified maintenance documents of the crashed helicopter and the crew`s training and medical records. We have received full cooperation from the cooperators, NCAA, NAMA and NiMet, “ he said.

    According to him, the helicopter engines and related components will be thoroughly examined at the NSIB hanger in Abuja after being subjected to a team down exercise.

  • Tail boom of crashed Port Harcourt helicopter recovered – NSIB

    Tail boom of crashed Port Harcourt helicopter recovered – NSIB

    The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has announced the successful recovery of the tail boom of the ill-fated Sikorsky SK76 helicopter, registration 5N BQG, which ditched in the Atlantic Ocean, Port Harcourt, Rivers.

    The NSIB disclosed this in a statement signed by the Director, Public Affairs and Family Assistance, Mrs Bimbo Olawumi Oladeji on Thursday night.

    It said the helicopter, operated by Eastwind Aviation, had eight individuals on board when it crashed near Bonny Finima, Port Harcourt on October 24.

    According to NSIB’s statement, the tail boom was identified during recovery dives approximately 0.775 nautical miles from the FPSO Adoon, at a depth of 42 meters, with coordinates Latitude 04° 13.634′ N and Longitude 008° 19.442′ E.

    NSIB’s Director-General, Capt. Alex Badeh, lauded the teamwork and cooperation among parties involved in the search and recovery efforts.

    “Locating the wreckage is a critical milestone in understanding the circumstances surrounding this tragic accident.

    “We are determined to conduct a thorough investigation to provide clarity and closure to the families of those affected.”

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that five bodies out of the eight individuals on board have been recovered.

    The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr Festus Keyamo, SAN, confirmed the recovery via his X handle on Thursday evening.

  • Kyari: N/Delta youths to storm Abuja over failed promises on Port Harcourt refinery

    Kyari: N/Delta youths to storm Abuja over failed promises on Port Harcourt refinery

    Groups, under the aegis of Coalition of Niger Delta Youths Against Poverty, Insecurity & Environmental Degradation (CONDYAPIED), have expressed disappointment over failure of the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, to operationalise the Port Harcourt Refinery before the end of September, 2024, as promised.

    The NNPCL Boss had severally assured Nigerians that the Port Harcourt refinery would start local refining and that prices of petroleum products would reduce drastically before the deadline of September 2024.

    One month later, neither of the Port Harcourt, Warri or Kaduna refineries is functioning, safe for only Dangote refinery, as marketers still import refined petroleum into the country, thereby causing serious hike in the price of the products.

    A press statement on Sunday, jointly signed by Engr. Jonas Igariga, Coordinator of the Coalition, and Comrade Jack Opobo, General Secretary, the Coalition called on Kyari to tender his resignation letter and apologize to Nigerians.

    “In a sane society where leaders have conscience, the likes of Mele Kyari should burry their heads in shame and tender their resignation and apologies to Nigerians for plunging the entire nation into untold hardship”, the Coalition said.

    The Coalition averred that, inspite of huge funds injected into the Port Harcourt refinery, Kyari prefers importation of refined products, to making local refinery operational, despite his many promises.

    “The NNPCL GCEO has failed Nigerians, times without number, on the issue of Port Harcourt, Kaduna and Warri refineries, after blowing over 3 billion dollars on the project. It has been discovered that Mele Kyari and his goons have no plans to fix any refinery as they prefer to import adulterated products into the country and milk the citizens dry.

    “NNPCL cabal and their importers are deliberately sabotaging the good intentions of President Tinubu by making sure there are queues and Nigerians buy the product at any price fixed and given to them by the oil Lords. We shall not fold our hands and allow this to happen”, the statement added.

    According to the statement, several warnings had gone to Kyari in the past, to fulfill his promise by making sure the Port Harcourt refinery became operational in September; but to no avail.

    “We read the statement signed by the Coalition of Niger Delta Youth On Energy Reforms and Transparency in the Oil and Gas Sector, urging Kyari to ensure that the Port Harcourt Refinery became operational before the end of September as he promised.

    “The group expressed concern about the energy crisis in the country caused by the non-functionality of local refineries, continued dependence on the importation of petroleum products, and the resulting cost implications for the country.

    “They noted that the failure of NNPC has further worsened the country’s energy crisis and impoverished the people of the oil-producing Niger Delta.

    “The group alleged that the Port Harcourt refinery is being planned to be converted into a blending plant. They claimed that substandard petroleum products from Russia will be mixed with chemicals and sold to the people of the Niger Delta.

    “This is basically our fear too. We at the CONDYAPIED are not only concerned about the corruption going on at the NNPCL, but we are grately worried over the plan to convert the Port Harcourt refinery to a mere blending plant. We shall resist this with all our might. We shall shut down Abuja in protest, in the coming weeks, and occupy the NNPC towers until the needful is done.

    “We will not allow our refinery to be converted to blending plant, because we are aware of the potential environmental degradation and terrible impacts on our people. This move could expose the people of Niger Delta to harmful chemicals from environmental pollutions and degradation caused by the waste products released into the environment, if it is allowed”, the Coalition submitted.

  • PENGASSAN losses 4 members to helicopter crash

    PENGASSAN losses 4 members to helicopter crash

    The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has expressed shock over the tragic helicopter crash that claimed the lives of four of its members.

    Mr Festus Osifo, President of PENGASSAN said this in a statement  made available to newsmen on Friday in Abuja. Osifo said that PENGASSAN was deeply saddened by the death of its members, which occurred on the early hours of Thursday,  Oct. 24 in Rivers State.

    According to him, the deceased members, were valued members of the PENGASSAN family and dedicated professionals in the oil and gas industry.

    “Their contributions to the sector and to our association will be sorely missed. PENGASSAN extends its heartfelt condolences to the families, friends, and colleagues of the victims during this difficult time.

    “We share in their grief and offer our unwavering support, as we navigate this tragic event. We are committed to providing assistance to the bereaved families in any way possible,” he said.

    Osifo said the association was currently working to gather more information about the circumstances surrounding the crash and cooperating fully with the relevant authorities in their investigation.

    He, therefore, urged all parties involved to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation to determine the cause of the accident and put in place urgent measures to prevent future tragedies.

    “PENGASSAN calls on all its members everywhere, through the branches, to observe a moment of silence and reflection in honor of our fallen Comrades.

    “Their dedication and service to the Oil and Gas industry will never be forgotten. We will continue to update the public as more information becomes available,” he said.

  • SAD! Two more corpses found from Port Harcourt helicopter crash – NSB

    SAD! Two more corpses found from Port Harcourt helicopter crash – NSB

    The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has confirmed that two more bodies have been recovered from the Sikorsky S-76 helicopter that crashed in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

    Three 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 Director General, Alex Badeh, said on Friday’s edition of Channels Television’s breakfast show Sunrise Daily.

    When asked if there are chances that none of those on board the aircraft survived the crash, Badeh said, “Unfortunately. this time, that is the working theory”.

    According to him, investigators are on their way to the scene of the accident, saying it would take days for the wreckage of the aircraft to be recovered.

    He said, “The priority is to recover the rest of the bodies there” but there is a “chance” that some persons onboard the aircraft might be alive.

    “Human beings are resilient. As long as they have their life support devices, there is a chance we might find survivors there,” Badeh said.

    The helicopter, with registration 5N-BQG, operated by Eastwind Aviation, crashed one kilometre away from its destination. It was engaged by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).

    It crashed around 11:22 am along the waterways in the Rivers State capital after taking off from the Port Harcourt Military Base (DNPM) to the FPSO – NUIMS ANTAN oil rig.

    The cause of the incident is unclear as of now but Badeh said “there was so light and moderate rain on their arrival and there was an overcast. We would look into that. That might have a chance or a role to play.

    “Other than that, I can’t really say until we recover the flight recorder and speak to more witnesses there.”

  • See photos of 6 offshore workers who perished in Port Harcourt helicopter crash

    See photos of 6 offshore workers who perished in Port Harcourt helicopter crash

    Photos of six offshore workers, amongst the eight people who tragically lost their lives following the crash of an Eastwind Aviation helicopter into the Bonny River in Rivers State, have surfaced on social media.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) earlier reported that the helicopter, carrying six passengers and two crew members, went down en route from Port Harcourt Military Base to the FPSO Nuim Antan offshore platform near Calabar.

    According to the Rivers State Police Command, all personnel aboard on the aircraft feared dead.

    Police Public Relations Officer Grace Iringe-Koko noted that an employee of Antan Producing Limited, Ifeanyi Udogw, reported the incident to authorities.

    The helicopter, identified as call sign 5N-BQG (S76C+), departed from the NAF Base in Port Harcourt around 11 a.m. before crashing near the Mimbo platform and FPSO of Antan Producing Limited.

    Following the crash, the Rivers State Police Marine Division is coordinating with other agencies to recover the wreckage and locate all occupants.

    In her statement, Iringe-Koko expressed the Command’s deep condolences to the victims’ families.

    Meanwhile, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Aviation, Odutayo Oluseyi, also confirmed the incident, revealing that three bodies have been recovered so far. 

    Initial reports indicate that the oil workers onboard were contract staff for the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL).

    According to the ministry, the helicopter, a Sikorsky SK76 with registration 5N-BQG, was on its way to the Nuimantan Oil Rig when it ditched near Bonny Finima in the Atlantic Ocean. No Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) signal was received, and manual tracking efforts were launched.

    Search and rescue efforts are ongoing to locate the remaining workers.

    The National Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has opened an investigation into the crash.

    See photos of the deceased workers below;

  • What President Tinubu said about PH helicopter crash

    What President Tinubu said about PH helicopter crash

    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 Ltd. to ferry some contract staff to the NNPC facility FPSO—NUIMS ANTAN.

    Tinubu urged military officers involved in various operations in the zone to join the rescue mission and provide all necessary support to the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, and other relevant agencies.

    He condoled with the Board and staff of NNPC Ltd. and the families of those confirmed dead in the accident, Mr Bayo Onanuga, his Special Adviser, Information and Strategy, said in a statement.

    Tinubu prayed that the Almighty God would grant eternal rest to the three departed souls and comfort their families.

    Police confirm helicopter crash in Rivers, 8 feared dead

    Meanwhile, the Police Command in Rivers has confirmed that eight persons were feared dead in a helicopter crash that occurred in Rivers.

    The Spokesperson for the command, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, made the disclosure in a statement issued in Port Harcourt and made available to newsmen on on Thursday.

    Iringe-Koko stated that the helicopter, owned by East Wing Aviation, was carrying two crew members and six passengers when it crashed into the sea. She explained that the crash occurred around 11 a.m.

    “Ifeanyi Udogwu, a staff member of Antan Producing Limited, reported to the command that a helicopter, with the call sign number 5N-BQG (S76C+), departed from the Nigerian Air Force base in Port Harcourt.

    “The flight was en route to the Nuim Antan OML123 oil fields, carrying two crew members and six passengers. Unfortunately, at around 11 a.m., the helicopter reportedly ditched into the ocean, near Antan Producing Limited’s Mimbo platform and FPSO. All eight persons onboard are feared dead,” Iring-Koko stated.

    She added that the command’s marine division was working closely with other agencies to recover the aircraft and its occupants.

    Iringe-Koko also extended the command’s deepest condolences to the families of those affected by the tragic accident.

  • Helicopter crash claims 3 lives in Rivers

    Helicopter crash claims 3 lives in Rivers

    The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo on Thursday confirmed a tragic incident that occurred in Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State, where three individuals lost their lives in a helicopter crash.

    Odutayo Oluseyi, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development in a statement released on Thursday disclosed that accident occurred  along the waterways near Bonny Finima in the Atlantic Ocean, while the helicopter was en route from Port Harcourt Military Base to the NUIMANTAN oil rig.

    The aircraft had eight people on board.

    Expressing deep concern over the incident, Keyamo wrote; “The aircraft, with eight persons on board, ditched into the waters near Bonny Finima in the Atlantic Ocean. The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau has been notified, and emergency response teams were immediately activated. Search and rescue operations are ongoing with the support of the Nigerian Search and Rescue Unit, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, the National Safety Investigation Bureau, and other relevant agencies. Neighbouring aerodromes have also been notified for assistance.

    “While no Emergency Locator Transmitter signal was received, manual efforts to determine the accident location are underway. All available resources, including the military and low-flying aircraft, have been deployed to assist in locating and rescuing any survivors. So far, three bodies have been recovered.”

    Keyamo extended his condolences to the families of those on board. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of those on board, and we are committed to providing the necessary support during this difficult time.”

  • Port Harcourt refinery launch postponed for the sixth time

    Port Harcourt refinery launch postponed for the sixth time

    For the sixth time, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited has postponed the much-anticipated launch of the Port Harcourt refinery, raising further concerns about the country’s energy infrastructure and the reliability of its refining capabilities.

     

    Initially slated to commence operations in 2021, the refinery’s kick-off has faced multiple delays due to various technical, financial, and logistical challenges.

    This latest delay has added to the growing frustration among industry stakeholders and the public, who are eager to see the refinery operational to reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imported refined petroleum products.

     

    NNPC has not provided a new specific launch date, but sources within the organization suggest ongoing repairs and upgrades are taking longer than expected. Mele Kyari, the Group CEO, announced in July that the refinery would be operational by early August. Kyari had previously stated in 2019 that NNPC would complete all four refineries before the end of former President Muhammadu Buhari’s government.

    Speaking before the Senate in July, Kyari claimed, “By the end of the year, this country will be a net exporter of petroleum products.”

    However, as August approaches its midpoint, the refinery has yet to commence operations, creating concerns of another failed promise from NNPC.

     

    In response to inquiries, NNPC reiterated that it was on course despite the early August promise expiring.

    The Port Harcourt refinery, once operational, is expected to have a capacity of refining 210,000 barrels of crude oil per day, significantly boosting domestic fuel production and contributing to Nigeria’s economic growth.

    However, with repeated delays, questions about the refinery’s viability and NNPC’s ability to manage such large-scale projects are becoming increasingly pronounced.