Headline

Group Gives Seplat 90 Days Ultimatum To Relocate Gas Loading Point To Oben

Published

4 years ago

February 23, 2022

A group on the platform of Concerned Youths for Development and Equity Initiative for Oben, in Orhionmwon Local Government Area of Edo State, on Wednesday gave the management of Seplat Energy Plc, 90 days ultimatum to rescind it decision of siting gas loading point in Mosoga, Delta State against Oben, the host communities.

Addressing newsmen, the Assistant Secretary of the group, Comrade Raymond Omokaro, alleged that the said oil firm has decided to setup loading point in Mosogar.

He said it is unheard of that a company would be carrying out its activities in a particular community while the end part that would be of an immense benefit to its host community would be diverted elsewhere.

“We are still asking that the gas loading point that Seplat is taking to Mosogar, should be returned, you cannot be exploring gas in Oben and then take the loading point to Mosoga, we will not allow that.

“They should come and build the loading point in Oben, and if the road is the problem, they can as well do a dua carriage way for us. We are tired of having a resources and the resources are not working for us”, he said.

Omokaro also alleged that the multinational firm has constantly marginalized its host communities in various ways and such should be addressed in the interest of all.

“It is very unfortunate to see that since they have been operating in our land, they have not done any project that is meaningful. We have graduates in this environ that are not gainfully employed by this company.

“You have gone through the four communities (Oben, Iguelaba, Ikobi, and Obozogbenugu), there is no constant electricity, the health facilities that we have here is like a maternity. We have asked them to upgrade it to a standard hospital.

“We are requesting that they should give the host communities employment into the managerial cadre, we are also asking that before now, they used to give scholarships scheme to our people but for quite a number of years now, we have not been seeing that, they should enact it and start giving scholarships to our people”, he said.

Corroborating the Assistant Secretary of the group, the president of the group, Comrade Humprey Igbinigie, alleged that the oil firm have failed to employ graduate from the community and empowered the rural women.

“This oil company has been existing since 1972. We have about 68 oil well heads, and a gas oil field as well.

“We have a flow station, we have a compression station, we have a gas plant as well. We are really lacking a lot in terms of development, is as if nothing is happening, no graduate has been employed, a lot of graduate sitting at home, no women empowerment, the elderly ones are not being paid, no amnesty, if you take a look at our roofs, you will notice that this gas flaring is affecting us badly.

“And Seplat don’t have a plan for this in the next year. So, we are calling on the state government, the federal government to come to our aid and sit Seplat down and tell us what are their plans and what they want to do for us”, he said.

However, a call to get the management’s comments on the issues raised was left unanswered.

Headline

British Family Accused Of Boarding Dead Grandmother On EasyJet Flight

Published

15 hours ago

December 20, 2025

Editor

A British family has been accused of trying to board a dead relative onto an EasyJet flight from Málaga, Spain, to London Gatwick on Thursday, passengers said.

The woman, reportedly 89 years old, was wheeled onto the plane by five family members, who told airline staff she was unwell and had fallen asleep.

Witnesses said the woman was pushed in a wheelchair to the rear of the plane and lifted into her seat. Some claimed they overheard a family member tell a boarding clerk, “It’s OK, she’s just tired,” adding, “It’s OK, we’re doctors.”

Just before takeoff, the cabin crew realized the woman had died, and the plane was turned around, delaying the flight by 12 hours.

Petra Boddington, a passenger, said: “easyJet, when did you start letting dead people onto planes? Seriously!” Another, Tracy-Ann Kitching, added: “I saw her being wheeled onto the plane; someone was holding her head as they passed me! A doctor on board confirmed that was already dead when they sat her down.”

EasyJet has denied that a deceased person boarded the plane. The airline said the passenger had a fit-to-fly certificate and was alive when she boarded.

“The flight returned to the stand prior to take-off due to a customer on board requiring urgent medical assistance. The flight was met by emergency services, but sadly the customer passed away,” a spokesperson said.

The Guardia Civil in Málaga confirmed officers attended the aircraft, and the woman was declared dead on board. No arrests have been made.

Headline

Russian Strike On Odesa Region Kills Eight, Injures 27

Published

16 hours ago

December 20, 2025

Editor

Ukraine’s State Emergency Service has reported at least eight people killed and 27 others injured on Friday night after a Russian ballistic missile strike hit the southern Ukrainian city of Odesa.

According to Ukrainian authorities, the attack targeted port infrastructure facilities in the town of Pivdenne, near Odesa, and damaged nearby civilian vehicles.

The strike came one week after much of Odesa was left without power, heat, and water following a “severe” aerial assault.

“Some of the injured were on a bus that was at the epicenter of the shelling. Trucks caught fire in the parking lot, and cars were also damaged,” the State Emergency Service said.

Emergency officials said the deaths occurred at a port infrastructure facility. Medical teams and first responders were deployed after the strike, but their work was disrupted by “ongoing air raid alerts,” according to Oleh Kiper, head of Odesa’s regional administration.

Russia has carried out repeated attacks on Odesa in recent days, damaging port facilities, civilian vessels, and key infrastructure.

Two major bridges linking the northern and southern parts of the Odesa region have also been hit, with repairs under way, Kiper said.

Elsewhere, Ukraine’s State Emergency Service reported a “massive” drone attack on the southern Mykolayiv region, which damaged civilian infrastructure and vehicles. No casualties were reported.

Odesa, Ukraine’s largest seaport and a major hub in the Black Sea region, has been a frequent target since the start of the war.

Last week, civilian, energy, and industrial sites in the city suffered extensive damage after what regional officials described as “one of the enemy’s most severe airstrikes,” leaving many areas without power and water.

Russia’s Defence Ministry has not commented on the attack.

Speaking hours before the strike during his annual Direct Line call-in show, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia was yet to “see Ukraine’s readiness for peace”.

“[Russia] is ready for negotiations and for ending the conflict via peaceful means,” Putin said, adding that it was up to Russia’s “Western opponents” to end the war.

(CNN)

Headline

Aircraft Crashes In Owerri With Four Persons Onboard

Published

4 days ago

December 17, 2025

Editor

Photo: File copy

A Cessna 172 aircraft with registration number 5N-ASR, operated by Skypower Express, has crashed at the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport, Owerri, Imo State.

The aircraft had departed Kaduna International Airport en route to Port Harcourt International Airport before diverting to Owerri after the crew declared an emergency.

The crash occurred at about 8:00 pm on the airport premises, with four passengers and crew members onboard.

Confirming the incident, the Director, Public Affairs and Family Assistance of the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), Mrs. Bimbo Oladeji, said the agency had been notified of the crash.

According to the NSIB, the aircraft crashed on the approach area of Runway 17, but no fatalities have been recorded so far.

The statement said: “Following the occurrence, airport emergency services were successfully activated and arrived on site promptly. Reports indicate that there was no post-crash fire, and the runway remains active for flight operations, with other aircraft taking off safely after the incident.

“Efforts are currently underway to coordinate the recovery and evacuation of the distressed aircraft from the crash site to allow for a detailed wreckage examination.”

The NSIB said it has officially activated its investigation protocols in line with its statutory mandate

The Director-General of NSIB, Capt. Alex Badeh Jr., sympathised with the management of Skypower Express over the incident and expressed relief that no lives were lost.

Badeh Jr. added that the Bureau’s investigation team is already coordinating with relevant authorities to secure the crash site and commence a detailed investigation into the cause of the accident.

Two days ago, 11 persons narrowly escaped death as a private jet crash-landed at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, on Sunday morning.

The occupants, including passengers and cabin crew, were safely evacuated amid an intense atmosphere, eyewitnesses told The Guardian.

The private jet, owned by Flybird Aviation, crash-landed at about 9:30 a.m. while approaching Kano Airport en route to Abuja.

The incident attracted urgent attention, with emergency staff and other stakeholders converging at the runway to render rescue operations.

The management of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) is yet to release an official statement on the incident. Unofficial sources disclosed that the passengers have been taken to an unknown destination.

Several aircraft incidents have occurred at Kano Airport, with several lives lost.

The last incident occurred in May 2002, when an EAS Airline aircraft departed the runway at Aminu Kano International Airport at 1:29 p.m. local time en route to Lagos.