The Ebonyi Police Command on Saturday in Abakaliki released some innocent suspects who were arrested in connected with the kidnap of a man on Dec. 21. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr Franklin Ajah was abducted by a group of armed men a...
The Chief Executive Officer of the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB), Capt. Mukhtar Usman, on Friday disclosed that an accident investigation laboratory would soon be inaugurated in the country.
Usman made the announcement in Lagos while speaking with with aviation correspondents at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja.
He said that the laboratory built at a cost of 5.5 million dollars would be located in Abuja in line with international practices.
``The bureau is very close to launching its own Flight Data Recorder (FDR) and Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) laboratory being installed by the CAE/ FlightScape Incorporation of Canada which will enable us to download both flight recorders promptly during investigation.
``Hitherto and now, these units are taken overseas for downloading, `` he said.
Usman added that when completed, the laboratory would also handle cases of air, marine, road and rail accidents.
``We have highly qualified accident investigators who were trained in world class institutions to man the laboratory on inauguration, he said.
The CEO also said that the bureau had commenced training its personnel in investigating marine, road and rail-related accidents whenever they occurred.
``So AIB's planned collaboration with the Federal Roads Safety Commission (FRSC) in this respect is still ongoing,'' he said.
Usman said that 20 out of the bureau's 32 recommendations had so far been implemented by the Federal Government through the Ministry of Aviation.
He identified some of the recommendations as the establishment of the Total Radar Coverage of Nigeria (TRACON) project and airlines installing ground tracking devices in their offices to monitor their flights while flying.
Usman recalled that no passengers could be rescued in the ADC, Bellview and Beachcraft 1900 D air crashes because there were no radar system to track them.
The Port Harcourt Refinery Company (PHRC) has embarked on sensitisation of people in its catchment areas on the dangers of pipeline vandalism.
The Deputy Manager, Community Relations of the company, Mrs Edith Johnson, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Eleme, near Port Harcourt, Rivers, on Friday.
Johnson said that vandalism seemed to be on the increase, explaining that the high rate prompted the refinery to embark on the campaign.
She enumerated the dangers of pipeline vandalism as pipeline fire, pollution of the environment, loss of lives and economic sabotage.
Johnson said that the enlightment campaign would be carried out at Okrika, Eleme, Port Harcourt Depot areas, trailer parks and other flash points in the area.
Also speaking with NAN, the PHRC Deputy Manager, Safety, Mr Uche Nna, said the organisation had been engaging the host communities on pipeline safety.
Nna said that the company had set up a surveillance team to police the areas. ``Even at that, the rate of vandalism is still very high.
I can speak that between PHRC pipeline outlets through Okrika to Jetty; so sometimes, we have several breakages daily.
``The Local Government chairman (Okrika) has been doing so well recently, trying to ensure that structures that are along that line are being cleared,'' he said.
Nna said that some people had built structures along the pipelines where they could easily lay pipes underneath to tap oil unnoticed.
He said that the company had many pipelines passing through the community to the jetty where the bulk production of oil was pumped into ships.
Nna said that the pipeline Right of Way (ROW), established by Gov. Chibiuke Amaechi was another measure to check pipeline vandalism.
He said that the ROW involved PHRC, Shell, AGIP and other companies that had their pipelines running through the 23 Local Government Areas with the state's Ministry of Environment coordinating.
``We have got to a stage where we identify and mark those structures so that as soon as the State Government comes in with the chairman of the Local Government area, we will remove those structures.
``As we are removing the structures, then the oil companies will quickly recover their right of way,`` Nna said.
He said that apart from the fact that the pipelines were vandalized; the vandalism could clear a whole community.
``Once they vandalize the pipeline, if there is no fire coming from dowser strikes or coming from any other source of fire, all the materials, that is, the petroleum products, will find their way to the aquifer.
``As soon as they found their way to aquifer, the eco-system is altered, you will have the underground water contamination, you will have soil pollution.
``And to remediate and recover those surfaces and take them out of the water is quite a lot.
``And if care is not taken and it gets down to Bonny Basin, that means the whole place is real issue, so it is a real concern,`` Nna said.
The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has directed its members to observe minutes of prayers on Saturday for the speedy recovery of Gov. Idris Wada of Kogi. The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr Olisa Metuh, gave the directive in a stat...
Heart attack is one of the leading causes of death for both men and women all over the world. Major risk factors such as smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity and excessive alcohol consumption are known to trigger this condition, but now a ca...
Breast cancer is a disease which occurs as a result of uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in breast tissues. Normal body cells multiply when the body needs them, and die when the body doesn’t need them. However, series of studies show that can...
The Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) yesterday said the federal government has started implementing the findings and recommendations from Dana Air crash despite the fact that the final report into the disaster of Sunday, June 3, 2012 has not been co...
Minna, the Niger State capital, is agog with visitors ahead of the wedding ceremony of the two daughters of Governor Muazu Babangida Aliyu. Aliyu will today give out his two daughters, Jamila and Farida in marriage. Already, former presidents: Shehu Sh...
Governor Muktar Ramallan Yero of Kaduna State has said that he has a lot to learn from the newly sworn in deputy governor of the state, Ambassador Nuhu Bajoga, given his age and experience in public service. He said the former state chairman of the Peo...
Some of the 44 infrastructural development projects approved for the Niger Delta region by the Federal Government are yet to take off four months after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on September 12, 2012 awarded the contracts In some of the six s...
Commander of the Joint Military Task Force (JTF), code named, Operation PuloShield, Major- General Johnson Ochoga, has announced that the task force lost nine men in the last twelve months. He said the soldiers died during a military action against oil...
Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa yesterday appealed to the management of Savannah Sugar Company in Numan to re-open the company. Nyako made the appeal when he received members of state chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress, (NLC) who paid him Christm...
Kinsmen of the late former national security adviser, General Andrew Azazi, yesterday registered their protest against the Bayelsa State government’s plan to bury him in Yenagoa, the state capital, saying it is against the culture and tradition o...
Former head of state and presidential candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) in the 2011 elections, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday gave out her daughter, Halima in marriage to Alhaji Babagana Muhammed Sherriff. The Emir of Bornu, Alha...
My parents are…my mum is a homemaker, housewife and a disciplinarian. There was a lot of love and at the same time a lot of firmness. As the eldest daughter, I wasn’t taken lightly by my parents. I had to adhere strictly to all duties given to me, because I have other siblings to watch-over.
The household I grew up in… my dad was a banker, so we did a lot travelling. We moved along together and I think that created the kind of bond we had. It gave us an avenue to interact with other cultures and understand different people.
When I was a child I wanted to… I’ve always wanted to become an artist. I was good with my hands. My mum taught me how to play the shantu instrument very early. It was a creative time growing up. There were a lot of things I did with my hands – I did crochet, knitting and many things – so I always felt that could lead me to a career.
One statement I will never forget… my school career counselor said it will be a shame if I don’t become a professional artist.
If I could change one thing about myself… It would be my inability to keep in touch with my friends and loved ones these days and to be honest, I’m not proud of that.
You can call it my strength… I see good in a lot of things; I take time to analyse things without being rigid to a particular thing.
I wouldn’t call it a challenge… hurdles in life are like a challenge; if you look at them and call them regrets, it’s like saying you don’t appreciate the lessons they bring.
You may need to know… I am on the quiet side and I'm observant. I like to study a situation before giving my verdict.
Looking at the mirror… I see someone who has achieved some of her set goals. I see someone who wants to impact positively on the society; especially the female folks.
Looking back to yesterday… my fine arts prize from Queens College Lagos is my most cherished prize.
I’m not a big reader… however, I enjoy seeing the book I read dramatised like in “Things Fall Apart”.
I see movies a lot … I like movies of real life stories; movies with historical values like ‘Cleopatra’. On a lighter note, I like Nigerian movies that remind us of our rich cultural heritage.
As an artist… seeing our various diversities spurs my inspiration. Like one of my paintings – The Water Fetchers – has its inspiration drawn from the rural women who go to the stream to fetch water.
In five years time… to see that my work impacts positively on the people both locally and internationally. Being a good ambassador of whom I am and my country.
My future plan for women… I think women are very strong and they need role models along the way. So, whatever little I can impact on them from my work to enable them achieve their professional dreams and keep their home I will offer.
My life in eight words… humble, content, hopeful, generous daughter, mother and friend.
A LIFE IN BRIEF
Kaltume Bulama Gana is the younger sister of Nigeria Ambassador to Malawi, Amb. Mohammed Lawan Gana. She had her primary, secondary and tertiary education in Nigeria.
She did extensive studies in Islamic Arts at Mimar Sisan University, Istanbul, Turkey. One of her notable works is the painting of ‘Queen Amina’ for Zumunta Association Washington DC, USA. She was married and the marriage was blessed with a child.