Tension in Edo, as ACN, PDP mobilize for support

Governor Adams Oshiomhole of the ACN

…As armed soldiers take over streets
BENIN CITY- POLITICAL tension heightened in Edo state, as leaders of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), relocate to their villages ahead today’s governorship election in the state.

Governor Adams Oshiomhole of the ACN will be slugging it out with Gen. Charles Airhiavbere of the PDP and Solomon Edebiri of the ANPP. But a public opinion poll on the Edo State governorship election conducted by an Abuja-based Centre for Public opinion and Media Research has placed Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and the ACN ahead with 75.8 per cent.

The straw poll in which 2, 920 respondents who are registered voters were sampled in 30 towns and villages across the three Senatorial Districts in the State, placed the PDP and its candidate, Gen. Charles Airhiavbere (rtd)  second with 14.1 percent.

The ANPP and its candidate, Chief Solomon Edebiri came third with 1.2 percent while the CPC candidate, Elder Roland Izevbuwa who has already stepped down for Governor Oshiomhole, came fourth with 0.3 percent.

Voters who could not make up their minds were 8.1 percent or 236 of the population sampled.Of the total figure sampled, 532 were from Edo North, 247 from Edo Central and 1,433 were from Edo South.

Analysis of the figure shows that 58.7 of those sampled were males while 40.8 percent were females. Besides, 77.3 percent of the respondents believe that INEC will conduct free and fair election while 22.7 said no. Also, 63.3 percent of the respondents said they have no reason to fear violence at the election, while 36.7 percent entertain fear at the election.

In order of preference, the respondents considered health issues first with a percentage of 30.9, Education followed with 23:1, Job creation, 20.3; security 8.2, Roads, 14.1 and others 3.4 percent.

According to the project consultant, Mr. Tony Abolo 118 interviewers drawn from the University of Benin, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma and Auchi Polytechnic carried out the straw poll.

Managing Director of Agama Environment and Energy Services Limited, the firm that carried out the poll, Mr. Peter Ritchie explained that the poll has an error margin of between 10 – 15 percent.

However, some ACN youth leaders have gone under ground following threats that they will be arrested and flown to Abuja few hours to the election. The opposition see those youth leaders as troublesome and decided to get ride of them to ensure that they are caged before the election.

There was a reported clash at the early hours of yesterday at Owan West Local Government Council of the state following attempts by some security agents to arrest some ACN youths. One of the youth leaders (names withheld) who was detained but later released after the ACN youths in the area vowed to engage the security agents in a physical fight if the youth leader was not released, told our source that “the opposition brought their Federal might to arrest some of us so that we will not be around for the election.

“They threw up charges against us but we insisted that it will not happen. They held me for few hours before I was left alone”.

Meanwhile, some people involved in the buying and selling of voter`s cards in Edo Central were arrested Thursday night. However, the national leader of one of the contending parties fought doggedly for their release.

Our source observed that the camps of Oshiomhole and Airhiavbere are mobilizing their men both financially and otherwise to ensure victory for their respective camps. It was observed that the two political parties screened their agents carefully in order to avoid any form of sabotage.

But the ACN is seriously being threatened in Oredo and Ovia North East, due to the presence of the Business mogul, Captan Hosa Okunbor and the Esama of Benin Kingdom, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion respectively in those councils.

However, information available to our source indicates that the leadership of the ACN are aware of the problem and are making frantic efforts to ensure they defeat the PDP in these areas. Oredo is the heart of the city but it has always been an ACN territory. But the PDP governorship candidate, Gen Airhiavbere will vote here today in his ward one.

As the people of Edo state go  to the polls today, Oshiomhole is expected to cast his vote in his village in Iyamo while the ANPP candidate Edebiri will be voting in his Igbogbe ward in Uhunmwonde.

The state Commissioner of Police, Femi Adenaike, said the police command is ready for the polls. “We are ready, look around and see policemen every where. We are going to police the 192 wards in the state and any body trying to make trouble should have a rethink because we will not tolerate any form of thuggery like the Inspector General of Police warned when he visited the state”.

There is military presence every where in the state and soldiers are expected to man strategic points in the state, particularly areas considered as flash points. Oredo, Ikpoba Okhai, Ovia North East, Owan East and West, Ekpoma, Igueben,  Ubiaja and Etsako Central are areas considered as flash points in today’s polls (July 14, 2012) .

 

Chief Solomon Edebiri, ANPP`s candidate

Nigerian Soldiers

Gen. Charles Airhiavbere of the PDP

Suicide blast kills five as Deputy Governor and Shehu of Borno, Escape;

A bomb scene

Maiduguri - A suicide bomber today July 13, 2012, blew himself up near the Maiduguri Central Mosque in the capital city of Borno State, killing himself and at least five others.

It was gathered that among the dignitaries that were observing Friday prayers at the mosque were Deputy Governor Zannah Mustaphar and the Shehu of Borno, Abubakar Kyari. Both men were evacuated alive after the attack. It is not yet clear if any was injured.



Several other people were injured in the attack, and have been taken to nearby hospitals.

Witnesses said a boy of about 15 years of age was noticed walking towards the two dignitaries as they exited the mosque after the prayers.

Security aides were said to be suspicious of the manner in which the boy approached the two men, and tried to apprehend him, while shielding the VIPs.

At that moment, the bomb was detonated. Security officials said five people have been confirmed dead so far in the blast, with two soldiers among the critically wounded.

“Five people have been killed and six others injured in the Maiduguri Central Mosque suicide bomb attack,” said Sagir Musa, spokesperson for the Joint Task Force in the state.

EDO STATE: JULY 13 DECLARED HALF WORKING DAY FOR CIVIL SERVANTS AHEAD OF JULY 14 POLLS

Adams Oshiomhole, governor of Edo state,
EDO - AHEAD of the Edo State governorship election tomorrow, the state government has declared a half working day for all workers in the state civil service today.
Workers in the state civil service are expected to resume work at 8.00 a.m and close at 12.00 p.m today.

The development, according to a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr Peter Okhiria, was to enable the workers to prepare for the election tomorrow.

The statement urged the people to come out en masse on the election day and be orderly as they exercised their franchise.

Oshiomhole, Airhiavbere divide Ijaws in Edo
Meanwhile, the people of Ijaw in coastal communities of Ovia South West and Ovia North East local government areas of Edo State are now divided over which candidate to support in the election tomorrow.

While the camp of leader of the Niger Delta Volunteer Force (NDVF), Mujaheed Dokubo-Asari and presidential aide, Joseph Evah, were rooting for the re-election of Governor Adams Oshiomhole, thousands of the people of the Ijaw ethnic nationality, on Thursday, declared support for the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Major-General Charles Airhiavbere (retd).

Ijaws drawn from over 40 clans scattered across Edo and Ondo states, under the umbrella of Ijaw Progressive Agenda for Change, at a press conference in Benin City, the Edo State capital, passed a vote of no confidence in Oshiomhole and his party, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), for labelling them settlers.

They also said their areas of abode had not witnessed any meaningful development, contrary to what they posited were claims by the state government to massive infrastructure development in the parts of the state.

President of Ijaw Agenda for Change, Money Goddey, said “recently, they have been seeing the political development in Edo State and people erroneously believe that the Ijaws have pitched their tent with Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, but today, as a group and as far as I am speaking for my people (Egbema, Olodiama, Gbara, Propa and Okomu Ijaw), we are going to stand here and pass a vote of no confidence in Oshiomhole.”

He also said the coming of Dokubo-Asari and his group to Edo State for the purpose of election was to present the Ijaws as thugs and hoodlums, adding that this was unacceptable.

Reps back Jonathan on deployment of soldiers
In another development, the House of Representatives, on Thursday, backed down on its decision to have closed door head count on the deployment of about 3,500 soldiers in Edo State by President Goodluck Jonathan, ahead of the gubernatorial election tomorrow.

Honourable Bimbola Daramola had, on WednesdayJuly 11, 2012, raised a motion under matter of urgent public importance on the deployment of soldiers by President Jonathan to help maintain law and order in the July 14 election.

But the Speaker, Honourable Aminu Tambuwal had ruled against the motion, but later reversed himself and apologised to his colleagues for the wrong ruling.

However, hardly had the plenary session began on Thursday when Honourable Gbajabiamila stepped down his point of order to take a physical count of members.

He then told the Deputy Speaker, Honourable Emeka Ihedioha, who presided over the session that he had a personal explanation in line with Order 8, House rule 47, adding that if the physical count was conducted, it was capable of introducing “dangerous lines” among members.

Meanwhile, in a move to douse ethnic tensions, the House stayed debates on the upsurge in deadly attacks that had rocked the Plateau State capital, leaving in its wake many deaths, maimed scores and displaced thousands.

New Edo CP warns politicians
The new Edo State Commissioner of Police, Femi Adenaike, on Thursday, said no highly placed politicians or government officials would be allowed to go about with their security details or be accorded special treatment during the governorship election tomorrow.

Adenaike also re-affirmed the readiness of the police and other security agencies to the provision of adequate security for lives and properties during the election.

He warned all politicians and government officials not to go to polling centres with their security.

 

Integrity Group: At odd to defend image

Hon.Farouk Lawan before the Ethic and Privileges Committee

He was the arrowhead of a few lawmakers who declared their readiness to live by example and branded themselves The Integrity Group. His name is Hon. Farouk Lawan, who has been in the House since May 1999. By definition, members are supposed to epitomise integrity and conduct themselves in a manner that make them clearly above board in all dealings. In this piece, our source reviews the activities of the Integrity Group and asks whether it has not lost the moral ground that supposedly informed its establishment.

AS a founder of the Integrity Group which spearheaded the removal of former Speaker of the House of Representatives Hon. Patricia Olubunmi Etteh over the N628 million house renovation/upgrading scandal, it is an irony that the group is now battling to protect its integrity. Since the alleged 620,000 bride scandal broke out, member of the group have been the butt of jokes  further earned him much scorn. 
Apart from Farouk Lawan, the Integrity Group in the sixth House had people like Halims Agoda, Lynda Ikpeazu, Mercy Almona Isei, Igo Aguma, Ikechi Nwogu and Abike Dabiri as active members.
Though majority of the lawmakers are no longer in the House, as they could not make it back to the 7th House, the group cut the image of a group seeking an ideal National Assembly where decorum and integrity reign among members and in which legislators  conduct themselves in a responsible, dignified and transparent manner.
Leader of Integrity Group
Prior to the scandal that got him removed as both the head of the ad hoc committee on fuel subsidy regime and House Committee on Education, Lawan was the man to court in the House.
Sources said that at the height of the House renovation/upgrading scandal, the former  Speaker allegedly knelt down before Lawan at a point, pleading her innocence that he knew she had not stolen any money; and that he should please spare her. But Lawan insisted that Etteh must relinquish her position as Speaker of the House.
One of the leading members of the Integrity Group at the time, Lynda Ikpeazu has  said  the group remains intact and will not be deterred by what Lawan is going through as a result of the alleged $620,000 bribe-for-clearance scandal.
In her words: “Yes, he is going through a difficult situation right now. It is a very sad situation. But you know I am a lawyer, and the matter is before the Ethics and Privileges Committee, investigation is going on and I will not want to comment on it. 
“Right now, to say Farouk is guilty when the matter is still being investigated by the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges and the Police is an assumption that we, as responsible adults, shouldn’t make. At the moment, it remains an allegation. The right thing to do is wait, if it turns out to be true, it will be very sad because as a member of the Integrity Group, there are certain ideals you have to live by.”
The former lawmaker, however, debunked the suggestion  that the group is moribund and of no relevance, adding that the misdemeanor of a member the group no matter how highly placed does not signify the end of the organisation.
“Integrity still remains Integrity in spite of what may have transpired. Assuming an individual does something bad, which we are not even sure yet because the matter is still being investigated- it doesn’t affect the group in any way. We’re still together and  Integrity Group still remains Integrity Group.”
Ikpeazu, however, said the Executive should ensure that the recommendations of the Fuel Subsidy report is implemented and not hid under the excuse that the report has been tainted by the $620,000 cash-for-clearance scandal.
“I think there’s a mix up in the whole thing. The House has asked the relevant agencies to investigate the people indicted in the report and it is the responsibility of the executive to ensure that this is done. The relevant agencies should act on it. Both Farouk Lawan and Femi Otedola should also be investigated.”
Though the Integrity Group was set up by a group of eight lawmakers in the 6th House, Lawan was seen as the  most prominent of the members of the group.
His insistence and success in the removal of the former Speaker, Patricia Etteh over the N628m house upgrading/renovation scandal earned him the nickname “Mr. Integrity.”
Such was the trust in his person that in the early days when the $620,000 cash-for-clearance scandal broke, many refused to judge him, hinging their faith on his seemingly incorrigible nature and antecedents.
So, it was not difficult for him for instance, to get the House to remove the name of Otedola’s Zenon Oil off the list of the 15 oil marketing firms initially indicted in his report for collecting Forex from the Federal Government without importing fuel. The House believed that the trust it reposed in the diminutive lawmaker from Shanono/Bagwai Federal Constituency in Kano State was intact.
Lawan as lawmaker
As a lawmaker, Farouk Lawan was not really strong on bills. Records from the House Committee on Rules and Business show that out of 232 bills treated by the House between 3rd March, 2004 to 16th of January 2008, Lawan’s name was not on any of them.
At the close of legislative business for the Fourth session on the 2nd June 2011, 483 bills had been introduced, 154 passed and 43 negatived or withdrawn, 63 concurred with by the Senate, 138 awaited second reading and 51 bills committed to various House committees.
Of these, Farouk Lawan’s name did not feature once.
What then could Lawan have been doing as a lawmaker who has been in the House of Representatives since 1999?
Many are of the opinion that the lawmaker, who became an influential member of the House because of the length of his stay as well as his rapport with lawmakers of Northern extraction who are usually in the majority in the House, was more interested in positions of power within the legislative context.
As a result, Lawan has always been appeased with choice positions, particularly in committee leadership. He has been chairman of the  Committee on Appropriation and committee on Information/Media. He was also the chairman of the Committee on Education until he was removed due to the bribe -for -clearance scandal.
It was said that it was the refusal of the former Speaker, Patricia Etteh to give him the Appropriation committee chairmanship that led to Lawan’s insistence on her removal even when he was sure that she had not embezzled any money during the N628 million house  renovation/upgrading scandal.
But happily, the former lecturer who gave his legislative interest as “Economy, Education and International Diplomacy recorded some activity in terms of motions on the floor of the Green Chamber.
A publication by House Committee on Rules and Business committee, showing the status of bills, motions, petitions and other legislative measures for the Fourth Session of the House of Representatives (June 4, 2007 to June 2, 2011) revealed that the lawmaker, made some efforts in terms of motions.
A motion by Lawan on April 10, 2008 centered on his constituency and had to do with a boat mishap in Watari Dam between Bagwai and Badau towns in Bagwai Local Government Area of Kano State.
In the resolution recorded as the 15th for the year 2008, the House condoled the families of the deceased and commiserated with the people of Bagwai Local Government Area as well as the government and people of Kano State over the tragedy.
The House also urged the Federal Government to intervene by assisting in the procurement of well equipped boats or ferries for the transportation of people across the waterway in order to forestall a re-occurrence.
As the chairman of the House Committee on Education he sponsored a motion on May 17, 2011, which resulted in the 14th House resolution for the year. It was titled: “Continued closure of Kaduna Polytechnic,” and the House resolution “urged the Federal Government of Nigeria to release the White Paper to enable Kaduna Polytechnic to  Resume activities.”
He could be said to have shown creativity in the Federal Government/ASUU face-off when he assiduously worked for the resolution of the crises over the agreement. Several meetings were called to appeal to the leadership of ASUU on the one hand as well as mediate between the federal government and the ASUU in a bid  end the strike which nearly brought the education sector to its kneels.
To this effect, records from the Rules and Business Committee show that Lawan moved a motion on September 28, 2011, titled: “National Strike by the Academic Staff Union of the Universities (ASUU)”
After deliberations on what was recorded as the 33rd House resolution for the year 2011, the House resolved to “ (i) call on the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to suspend the strike; (ii) urge the ASUU to dialogue with the Federal Government in order to reach amicable settlement; (iii) further urge the Federal Government to adhere to the terms of the 2009 agreement with ASUU.”
The man, his lifestyle
On a personal note, Lawan is a jovial person for those who are close to him and is known to assist people from all walks of life when is comes to issues within the jurisdiction of his Committee on Education.
But for those he wants to avoid, he has a ready alibi “am-on-the-phone” ploy whereby he is permanently on the phone supposedly speaking with diverse personalities ad infinitum.
He has also been very dedicated to any assignment given to him by the House and has always done a good job of it, though many are still mystified by the twist of events on the fuel subsidy regime probe which political watchers have said may have smeared his hitherto glittering political resume.

3m Dollar subsidy bribe scandal: Jagaba threatens to sue Lawan if…

Hon. Adams Jagaba

…Warns Farouk Lawan to stop mentioning his name

ABUJA – Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Drugs, Narcotics and Financial Crimes, Hon. Adams Jagaba, has threatened to drag the former Chairman of the House Adhoc Committee on Petroleum subsidy management, Hon.Farouk Lawan to court should he continue to mention his name in the $3 million bribery scandal.

Addressing newsmen at the Media Centre of the House yesterday, July 12, 2012 Jagaba alleged that Lawan had admitted that he decided to implicate him (Jagaba) in the scandal in order to strengthen his (Lawan’s) case in court.

Commenting on Lawan’s allegation that he gave him part of the money he allegedly extorted from oil magnate Femi Otedola, Jagaba vehemently denied the claim.

He said: “Hon. Farouk Lawan alleged that he wrote a letter to me attaching $500,000. That is callously untrue and in fact, calculated to smear my hard-earned reputation; a reputation I painstakingly built since 1999. I never received any letter, or money, or any other exhibit from Farouk Lawan.”

He continued: “I saw for the first time the purported letter on a page of the Leadership Newspaper, of 14th June, 2012; and the closest copy which I saw and touched, was the copy he presented to the Police Special Task Force”.

Explaining further on what transpired between him and Lawan at the Police headquarters, yesterday, he said: ”Farouk, in his opening remarks, stated that he reported the matter to me because of my position as the Chairman, House Committee on Drugs, Narcotics and Financial Crimes and not because I was involved in the bribery saga. He also told the Police that he involved me in the matter because he thinks that, that would enhance his case in Court. We faced each other before the Police STF. I then put the question: “Hon. Farouk, did you give me $500,000 or any money for that matter?” This was a question the out-spoken Farouk could not answer. He kept mum till I left.”

Responding to the letter Lawan claimed to have written to him, he raised several posers.
He siad: “The following were the features of the purported letter: – The copy published by the leadership Newspaper of 14th June, 2012 on page 6, had the following curious features; It was dated 24/4/2012 and had a time of 03:47am on it.”

He queried: “Is it the normal practice to indicate time on an official letter? Is it humanly possible to write a two-paged letter within or in less than one-second?”

He also observed that on the second paragraph of the purported letter, Farouk Lawan stated that “attached is the sum of Five Hundred Thousand Dollars only…”

He asked: “Is it practically possible to attach money of that quantity to a sheet of paper?”
He also observed that the purported letter was written on a clean sheet of paper.

His poser: “An official letter written  about an issue of this magnitude should have, in my opinion, appeared on the official Letter Headed Paper of the Adhoc Committee on  Petroleum Subsidy Investigation or at least, Hon. Farouk Lawan’s Letter Headed Paper”.

In his concluding remarks about what probably happened to Lawan on the day he wrote the letter he said: “The embattled Hon. Farouk Lawan was rather rattled by the revelation of the bribery scandal, hence, in his confused and highly tensed state, picked up his pen and paper at an un-godly hour of 03:47am, wrote a letter (or so he claimed), as an after-thought, to the effect that he forgot to deliver the letter to the intended recipient, but rather chose to give it to a newspaper reporter and the Police Special Task Force (STF).”

He recalled that Hon. Farouk Lawan initially denied ever demanding and collecting any bribe but later owned up that he actually took the bribe money as an “exhibit.

“Until and unless Hon. Farouk Lawan produces an authentic acknowledged copy of his letter, he should stop dragging my name in the mud.  It will be recalled that I displayed the sum of N4,500,000 bribe money on the floor of the House in 2001 when I was the Committee Chairman on Anti-Corruption. I did that as an act of patriotism, an act that truly laid the foundation for the War Against Corruption in Nigeria. I cannot and shall never be involved in an individualistic act that runs antithetical to national interest.”

He warned  Lawan “to stop this blackmail forthwith or else, I will have no option than take the appropriate legal action against him and to seek compensation befitting my status. Enough is enough!”

 

Dana Air Crash: preliminary report from Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB)

The Dana Air accident scene on June 3, 2012

The Accident Investigation Bureau has submitted a  detailed preliminary report on the ill fated Dana Air  crash of MD83 (5N-RAM) which happened on a black Sunday in Lagos on June 3, 2012. The report determines the main facts about flight 992.

On June 3, 2012 about 15:45 hours[1], 5N-RAM, a Boeing MD-83, a domestic scheduled commercial flight, operated by Dana Airlines Limited as flight 992 (DAN 992), crashed into a densely populated area in Iju- Ishaga during a forced landing following a total loss of power in both engines while on approach to Muhammed Murtala Airport (LOS), Lagos, Nigeria. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and the airplane was on an instrument flight plan. All of the 153 persons aboard the airplane, including the 6 crew members were fatally injured. There were 10 confirmed ground fatalities. The airplane was destroyed.  There was post impact fire. The flight originated at Abuja (ABV) and the destination was LOS.

The airplane was on the fourth flight segment of the day, consisting of two round-trips between Lagos and Abuja.  The accident occurred during the return leg of the second trip.  DAN 992 was on final approach for runway 18R at LOS when the crew reported the total loss of power.

According to interviews, the flight arrived in ABV as Dana Air flight 993 about 1350.  According to Dana Air ground personnel, routine turn-around activities occurred, including refueling of the airplane.   DAN 992 initiated engine startup at 1436, taxied to the runway and was later airborne at 1458 after the flight had reported that it had a fuel endurance of 3.5 hours.  Shortly after takeoff, DAN 992 reported 1545 as the estimated time of arrival at LOS as the flight climbed to a cruise altitude of 26,000 ft[2]. DAN0992 made contact with Lagos Area Control Center at 1518 hours.

The cockpit voice recorder (CVR) retained about 31 minutes of the flight and starts about 1515 at which time the captain and first officer were in a discussion of a non-normal condition regarding the correlation between the engine throttle setting and an engine power indication[3].  However, they did not voice concerns then that the condition would affect the continuation of the flight.  The flight crew continued to monitor the condition and became increasingly concerned as the flight transition through the initial descent from cruise altitude at 1522 and the subsequent approach phase.

DAN 992 reported passing through 18,100 and 7,700 ft, respectively, at 1530 and 1540 hours. After receiving a series of heading and altitude assignments from the controller, DAN 992 was issued the final heading to intercept the final approach course for runway 18R.

During the period of 1537 and 15:41 the flight crew engaged in pre-landing tasks including deployment of the slats, and extension of the flaps and landing gear.  At 15:41:16 the first officer (FO) inquired, "both engines coming up?" and the captain (Capt) replied “negative.” The flight crew subsequently discussed and agreed to declare an emergency.  At 1542:10, DANA 992 radioed an emergency distress call indicating "dual engine failure . . . negative response from throttle."

At 1542:35, the flight crew lowered the flaps further and continued with the approach and discussed landing alternatively on runway 18L.  At 15:42:45, the Capt reported the runway in sight and instructed the FO to raise the flaps up and 4 seconds later to raise the landing gear.

At 15:43:27 hours, the Capt informed the FO "we just lost everything, we lost an engine. I lost both engines".  During the next 25 seconds until the end of the CVR recording, the flight crew was attempting to restart the engines.

The airplane crashed in a residential area about 5.8 miles north of LOS. The airplane wreckage was on approximately the extended centerline of runway 18R.  During the impact sequence, the airplane struck an incomplete building, two trees and three buildings. The wreckage was confined, with the separated tail section and engines located at the beginning of the debris field.

The airplane was mostly consumed by post crash fire. The tail section, both engines and portions of both wings, representing only about 15% of the airplane were recovered from the accident site for further examination.
The two flight recorders, the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) and the flight data recorder (FDR) were analysed at the facilities of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), Washington, D.C., USA.  The solid state based memory in the CVR was in good condition and retained 31 minutes of audio information.  The digital tape based memory in the FDR succumbed to the post crash fire and melted, consequently no data could be recovered.

The captain, age 55, held an airline transport pilot license with type ratings in the A-320[4], DC-9, FK-28[5], and SF-340[6].  He had over 18,116 hours of total time, including 16,416 hours of pilot-in-command time (PIC).  The captain had 7,461 hours in the accident model airplane all of which was as PIC.  He was employed with Dana Air on 14 March 2012. He began flying line operations for the company in late May 2012 and had since accrued over 120 hours of flight time. The captain had acquired about 3, 78, and 116 flight hours, respectively, in the preceding 24 hours, 30 and 90 days.

The first officer, age 34, held a commercial pilot license he was type rated in MD-83.  He had 1,143 hours of total time, including about 200 hours as pilot-in-command.  The first officer had 808 hours in the accident model airplane all of which was second-in-command.  He had been previously employed with Dana Air as the Director of Cabin Service before he was hired as a pilot about January 2011.  The first officer had accrued about 3, 42, and 154 flight hours, respectively, during the preceding 24 hours, 30 and 90 days.

The airplane was manufactured in 1990 and according to maintenance records it had accumulated 60,846 hours  (35,219 cycles) of total time.  The left and right engines respectively had 54,322 (30,933 cycles) and 26,025 (12,466 cycles) hours of total time since new.  A review of the aircraft technical logs did not reveal of the previous 30 days did not indicate a condition.  The airplane had last undergone maintenance on 1st June 2012, and after a return to service flight on 2nd June 2012, it was operated on four revenue flights (two round trips between LOS and ABV) and another four flights on 3rd June 2012.

Fueling records indicated the airplane was uplifted with 8000 lbs of fuel before departure from ABV. The flight crew reported to ATC they had 26,000 lbs of total fuel.  Preliminary analysis of fuel samples from the refueling truck and the supply tank at ABV were negative for contamination.

The investigative activities have included, in part, visual examination of the aircraft wreckage, review of maintenance records and other historical information of the aircraft, documentation of the training and experience of the flight crew, determination the chronology of the flight, review of recorded data, reconstructing the aircraft refueling, and collection of related fuel samples, and interviews of relevant personnel.

Future investigative activities will include, but is not limited to, the detailed examination of the engines, further testing of fuel samples, continued factual gathering of relevant historical, operational, maintenance and performance information of the accident airplane in addition to other similar airplane models, further development of the background of the flightcrew, further analysis of the CVR audio recording and review of pertinent issues associated with regulatory oversight.

As the State of Occurrence, the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) has instituted an investigation in accordance with the standards and recommendations specified in the provisions of Annex 13 of the International Civil Aviation Organization.  As the State of manufacture of the airplane and engine, a US Accredited Representative has been appointed and assisted by US technical advisors from the NTSB, US Federal Aviation Administration, Boeing Airplane Company, and Pratt & Whitney Engines.

In accordance with Annex 13, "the sole objective of the investigation of an accident or incident shall be the prevention of accidents and incidents.  It is not for the purpose of this activity to apportion blame or liability." 
Accordingly, the AIB with the participation of the parties, including the NCAA, will seek to identify any areas of safety concerns during the investigation and implement the appropriate actions for correction or improvement. 

The content of this report is based on preliminary information. The Bureau will continue to conduct the investigation in a meticulous and methodical manner and release facts as they become validated.

SIGNED
CAPT M.S.USMAN,
COMMISSIONER/CEO, AIB


[1] All times are based on local time based on the 24-hour clock

[2] All altitudes are based on mean sea level.

[3] Flight crew made reference to the engine pressure ratio gage.

[4] Airbus A-320

[5] Fokker F-28

[6] Saab SF-340, a twin-engine turboprop airlaine

Tragedy in Rivers: 100 killed in petrol tanker explosion

The scene of  the explosion.

*Pregnant women, children among victims
*Jonathan orders prompt medical help for survivors

RIVERS - OVER 100 persons, including pregnant women, youths and children perished, yesterday, July 12, 2012 on the East-West Road, at Okogbe community in Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State, when a petrol tanker from which they were scooping fuel exploded with the content.

The ill-fated tanker, according to eyewitness accounts, was trying to avoid a head on collision with a commercial vehicle at about 7am. It subsequently lost control and ran into a ditch, falling on its side.

Several other persons sustained various degrees of burns while sympathizers rushed survivors to the hospitals.

No fewer than five buses and scores of motorbikes were destroyed in the inferno, which also affected a section of a filling station, some distance away from the scene of the tragic incident.

The development caused gridlock on the usually busy East-West Road as vehicles from the Port Harcourt and Warri ends were stranded for hours. Most motorists, who could not bear the trauma, were forced to make u- turn.

Commercial vehicles from Yenagoa, heading to Port Harcourt, were also forced to beat a retreat when news of the tragic incident filtered into town.

According to witnesses, when residents rushed to the scene, the fuel in the tanker was gushing out and they swooped on it with jerrycans.

Just as the residents were helping themselves with petrol from the tanker, it exploded in a huge flame and consumed those in the ditch scooping fuel.

The raging inferno spread rapidly to the main road cutting off the route and also engulfed those on motorbike carrying the scooped fuel in jerrycans.

The helpless residents were forced to use their motorbikes in conveying burnt victims to hospitals at Ahoada and Mbiama in Rivers, a border town between Rivers and Bayelsa states.
Men of the Nigeria Police Force and soldiers who arrived the scene helped in controlling traffic and restored sanity on the chaotic route.

A resident who simply gave his name as Francis said though he counted 98 bodies burnt beyond recognition, the number could be more given the number of residents that thronged the scene in their desperate attempt to scoop fuel from the tanker.

He added that there might have been spark during the stampede for the product by residents some of whom were carrying steel containers to scoop the fuel.

Jonathan orders prompt medical help for survivors

Meanwhile, President Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday, expressed deep sadness over the loss of many lives as a result of the petrol tanker explosion.

In a statement the Special Adviser to the president on Media and Publicity, Reuben Abati said the President has directed federal relief and health agencies to do everything possible to ensure that all those who survived the explosion with burns and injuries receive prompt and effective medical attention.

While conveying his condolences to the families of the victims, and the government and people of Rivers State over the unfortunate incidence, the President expressed distraught that so many Nigerian lives have been lost in an avoidable fuel fire disaster.

Amaechi mourns, rushes back from Abuja

Meanwhile, Governor Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers State has expressed sadness over the accident. The governor who spoke through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Dave Iyorfor on phone to our source said he was devastated by the development.Ibim Seminitari Rivers state commissioner of information who on phone comfirmed to me that the death toll had risen to 100 was almost in tears as she quickly cut off the phone.

Amaechi who was in Abuja when the incident occurred said he had cut short his trip to rush down to the scene of the accident. “We are on our way from Abuja. The governor was really devastated by the incident. He has cut short his trip to Abuja so as to get to the scene of the accident”, Iyorfor said.

This tanker explosion came barely two months after a similar incident at Igwuruta roundabout in the state that consumed a family of four and burnt about 50 houses.