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Oil Spill, Piracy Crippling Fish Business, Fishermen Count Losses

Published

3 years ago

October 8, 2022

Fishermen in the coastal community of Ibeno Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State have continued to count losses as the activities of sea pirates, as well as oil spills continue unabated in the area.

They narrated horrific experiences encountered during fishing expeditions, especially with pirates’ attack and hazardous nature of gas flaring.

All these hiccups have culminated in the scarcity of fish and hike in the price of the few available ones.

According to reports, this has made eating fish in Akwa Ibom to be like living at the bank of a river and washing hands with spittle.

Ibeno, one of the coastal oil producing communities in Akwa Ibom State with a sole occupation of fishing, occupies over 1,200 sq. kms of land stretching from Okposo I at the eastern flank, bordering Mbo Local Government Area and Bakassi Peninsula to Atabrikang village on its Western flank.

It is bounded in the South by the Atlantic Ocean and shares a border with Eket, Esit Eket, Onna and Eastern Obolo local government areas.

Ibeno plays host to the Mobil/Exxon QIT terminal where crude oil is processed for export all over the world, though the oil giant has announced plans to sell its assets to Seplat in order to move into deeper waters.

The activities of the multinational company, no doubt, have impacted negatively on the community’s source of livelihood which is fishing and had brought untold hardship to the people which made the community call on them to clean up the mess in the community before divesting.

In a capacity building workshop organized by the Health of Mother Earth Foundation, HoMEF at Okoro Utip hall, Ibeno, members of the community took turns to express their pains over the incidences of piracy and oil spills which have greatly affected them.

One of the fishermen, Ukeme Walter lamented that fishes and other aquatic foods are dying due to oil spills, explaining that the few left have moved down to the high sea which is very risky for fishermen.

According to him, “We don’t have good access to our businesses in terms of fishing, gas flaring is disturbing our water a lot. Before now, the fishes were close to our ocean but because of pollution, you now need to move into the high sea, which takes several litres of fuel.

“Sometimes, if you go to the sea, you may not even see the fish and the ones caught when sold would not even cover the expenses you made so far.”

He added that apart from killing fishes in the ocean, oil spills affect their nets and engine boats.

According to him, “the oil in the water spoils our nets which is very expensive and we go on repairing engines. Sometimes, if you cast your net in the water, you will not be able to catch fish due to gas flares in the water.”

Narrating his ordeal in the hands of sea pirates, one Ime Ben revealed that the hoodlums always strike whenever the sea storm rises.

“When the sea storm rises, we divert to where we could land safely; they would come there, attack us and take away all our belongings such as net, boat engine which cost about three million Naira each, they always attack around 2 or 3am when our men go out fishing.

“When we move to water, they go to the boundary between Nigeria and Cameroon; some of them they will collect the engine and the boat, some of them, if they like you, they will carry you and drop you where you can come out; some of them they will ask you to jump inside the sea and you know you cannot swim in such a magnitude of water even though you know how to swim; a lot of people have died,” he said.

Speaking at the workshop, Stephen Oduware, Project Lead for HOMEF regretted that the people in the coastal region, despite their natural resources being exploited to feed the nation have not gotten benefits commensurate with what they have offered.

He urged them to organize themselves to demand their rights from relevant authorities, enumerating the rights to include among others: the right to health, decent occupation and a healthy environment.

Oduware said, “This is a call to the government because these people are among the most under-represented and under-served. So, the government should do more to protect these people and their businesses. They should provide the necessary infrastructure needed by them to make their businesses thrive; they are the ones feeding the nation.

“Information is key, we cannot do everything. We are advocating for a proper structure like a port, where fishermen will have access to freezers, modern drying cans, and a good storage system, among others.”

On her part, Obongawan Emem Okon, the Director of Kebetkache Women Development and Resource Center decried the effect of oil spills and gas flaring, particularly in the Niger Delta region, stressing that these have negatively impacted fishermen and their businesses.

Okon said she was no longer advocating for empowerment for women, rather women from the riverine communities should be enlightened enough to ask questions and demand for their rights and entitlement.

She called for legislative backings for such demands.

She added, “women also play a key role in fishery business, therefore, the government should urgently support them.”

News

JUST IN: Air Peace Crew Tested Positive For Alcohol, Drug — NSIB Report

Published

34 minutes ago

September 12, 2025

Editor

The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau has indicted an Air Peace pilot and a Co-pilot for taking hard drugs and alcohol.

The accident investigators tested the crew positive for the substances after the aircraft they flew was involved in a runway incursion at the Port Harcourt International Airport on July 13, 2025.

This was contained in a preliminary report signed by the Director of Public Affairs and Family Assistance at Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau, Mrs Bimbo Olawumi Oladeji, made available to The PUNCH on Friday.

It will be recalled that an Air Peace aircraft, on a Sunday morning of 13th June, had a runway excursion after landing at the Port Harcourt International Airport.

The aircraft veered off the runway without any damage.

An aircraft incursion is the wrongful or unauthorised positioning of an airplane at the runway.

Incursions are most often caused by miscommunication, mistakes, faulty gear, and potholes on runways, among others. But with the discovery, pilots’ intoxication has been added to the list of causes.

According to the NSIB report, the pilots who were flying an Air Peace Boeing 737 aircraft were involved in a serious incident while carrying 103 passengers.

The NSIB said, “The aircraft, operating as a scheduled domestic flight from Lagos to Port Harcourt with 103 persons on board, landed long on Runway 21 after an unstabilised final approach. The aircraft touched down 2,264 metres from the runway threshold and came to a final stop 209 metres into the clearway.

“All passengers and crew disembarked safely, and no injuries were reported.”

According to the report, the domestic flight, which took off from Lagos, experienced an unstabilised final approach before landing long on Runway 21.

The NSIB revealed that the aircraft touched down 2,264 metres from the runway threshold, well beyond the recommended touchdown zone, and eventually came to a stop at 209 metres into the clearway.
While all on board disembarked safely, the incident raised immediate safety concerns.

The preliminary reports say toxicological test results conducted on the flight crew turned out positive. The Tests indicated the presence of alcohol in the system of the crew, while another crew member also tested positive for tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the active compound found in cannabis, colloquially referred to as “India hemp.”

The bureau noted that these toxicology results are being assessed within the scope of human performance and safety management, both critical factors in aviation incident investigations.
Following the development, the NSIB said it had issued immediate safety recommendations to the airline.

The statement further reads, “Initial toxicological tests conducted on the flight crew revealed positive results for certain substances, including indicators of alcohol consumption. A cabin crew member also tested positive for THC, the psychoactive component in cannabis. These results are being reviewed under the human performance and safety management components of the investigation.

“The NSIB has issued immediate safety recommendations for Air Peace Limited to strengthen crew resource management training, particularly in handling unstabilised approaches and go-around decisions, and to reinforce internal procedures for crew fitness-for-duty monitoring before flight dispatch.

“Toxicological test was conducted on the flight crew at Rivers state hospital management, department of medical laboratory, Port Harcourt, on 13th July 2025, and they tested positive for some substances. Toxicological screening conducted post-incident revealed that Captain and first officer tested positive for Ethyl Glucuronide, indicating recent alcohol consumption.”

News

Obasa Speaks On His Political Ambition After Lagos Speakership

Published

55 minutes ago

September 12, 2025

Editor

Obasa speaks on his political ambition after Lagos speakership
Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa.

Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, has admitted he is considering life beyond the speakership, saying he does not rule out a governorship ambition.

Obasa, who recently faced a political storm that briefly saw him removed from his position, said this in an interview with Television Continental on Thursday.

In his previous interview with the TV station, Obasa had said that the next step in his political career is to become a senator or a governor, having served as a councillor and speaker.

When reminded about the statement, Obasa said the statement, which he made seven years ago, wasn’t assertive.

He maintained that his aspirations and decisions about his political future ultimately rest with his party.

“Let me just explain. Now that we are talking about politics, you have to be a member of a political party and if you are a member of a political party, you have to believe in the leadership of the party,” Obasa said.

News

Ex-NNPC GMD Kyari Opens Up After EFCC Quiz

Published

58 minutes ago

September 12, 2025

Editor

Former Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, broke his silence after facing questioning by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), over alleged financial improprieties during his tenure.

Kyari arrived at the EFCC headquarters in Jabi, Abuja, at about 2:15 p.m. on Wednesday, where he was grilled by investigators over allegations bordering on conspiracy, abuse of office, and money laundering.

Speaking briefly to journalists as he left the premises, the former NNPCL boss declared: “I have done my part; the EFCC must do theirs. When each of us does our duty, without fear or favour, with honour, respect, and commitment, Nigeria moves forward.”

His interrogation comes amid an ongoing investigation into his financial dealings. The EFCC had earlier approached the Federal High Court in Abuja seeking an order to freeze some accounts linked to Kyari to enable it to complete its probe.

Justice Emeka Nwite, who presided over the case, in August ordered a temporary freeze on four Jaiz Bank accounts allegedly connected to Kyari. While the EFCC had requested a 60-day freeze, the court granted a 30-day order, with an option to renew if necessary.

In his ruling, Justice Nwite said: “I have listened to the counsel for the applicant and examined the affidavit evidence with the exhibits attached. I find this application meritorious and hereby grant it as prayed.

”The matter was adjourned to September 23 for a progress report on the investigation.

According to an affidavit filed by Amin Abdullahi, an EFCC investigator, the probe followed a petition dated April 24, submitted by a civil society group, Guardians of Democracy and Rule of Law, accusing Kyari of conspiracy, abuse of office, and money laundering.Kyari, who led the state-owned oil company through a major transition from NNPC to NNPCL, has yet to make detailed comments on the allegations, maintaining that the anti-graft agency should be allowed to carry out its work.

The EFCC has not disclosed whether charges will follow the questioning, but sources said the investigation is ongoing and the court’s interim freeze order could be extended if needed.

Kyari, appointed NNPC GMD in 2019 and later retained as head of NNPCL after its commercialisation, left office in July 2025.