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  • Blundered past, xenophobia and diplomatic crossroads

    You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today
    —Abraham Lincoln

    Nigeria-South Africa relations have displayed two contrasting faces over the last three decades or so. Nigeria’s flamboyant and frenetic African relations consistently reflect a strong sense of cooperation, solidarity and intoxicating big brother role and in contrast, South Africa speaks about Nigeria with unrealistic political ambiguities and diplomatic insensibility. The current face–and stand-off over xenophobic attacks on Nigerian citizens and other African nationals has led to tensions in Nigeria-South Africa relations at citizens-to-citizens engagement.

    This article examines the foundational issues of racial intolerance and dislike for foreigners particularly Nigerians in South Africa within the broader past framework of the apartheid regime and indeed the post- apartheid socio-economic reality, which has over time shaped the existential notions of false community, vague entitlement and empty sense of belonging amongst a number of black South Africans. On other the hand, Nigeria faces a daunting task of addressing the country’s myriad of domestic challenges, while also maintaining its huge population and not making economic gains abroad as a regional leader in Africa as well a global player in some important international fora like the United Nations.

    Additionally, it highlights fresh perspectives to recalibrating reverse migration and building robust foreign policy and diplomatic template that priortise economic prosperity, national pride, and the provision of social inclusions schemes at home for the average citizen to restore hope for young Nigerians from poverty-stricken  purgatory village life waiting to brave the journey of no return and at least would not be caught with up xenophobic attacks in South Africa or death sentences in obscured Asian countries.

    Indeed the question of xenophobia in contemporary South Africa discourse in my view are profound psychosomatic carry–over and the blatant negative product of the humiliating apartheid regime that cannot be wished away from the collective consciousness of the people of the rainbow nation and the attendant dispossession of their existential pride has often blurred the spirit of the African brotherhood.

    The despicable and repugnant apartheid regime also bruised the ego and sense of humanity of these great Africans who became vulnerable and exploited in their own land and the reality of these past facts has continued to obstruct the wheel of progress and development. The political crisis of that dark era led to social dislocation, which in turn affected their economic means, educational levels attainment and the required skill sets that would have prepared them for high-level jobs and proper integration into a new democratic South Africa that promises a brighter future.

    Similarly, Nigeria with the treacherous military regimes over the years has failed in its domestic management of petroleum receivables and to a very extent could not translate its foreign policy aspirations into reality; Buhari will continue to confront major challenges ranging from security constraints at home to incomplete social engineering, true federalism, nagging resource nationalism and justice. These challenges in my view have profound implications for Nigeria’s policy towards South Africa, given the closer ties between the two countries over the past few years. The Nigerian policymakers should factor in these realities as they fashion next level Nigeria – South Africa relations.

    Xenophobic violence is not a new phenomenon in post – apartheid South Africa. The recent xenophobic attacks has been attributed to a combination of factors which include local political pressures over time, increases in prices of basic goods, high levels of unemployment which stood at 25% and the growing concerns and frustrations about the South African government under incumbent President Cyril Ramaphosa to provide essential services to poor people and the resultant economic hardship and   tensions surrounding crime and competition over  scarce resources by non- national population.

    The continued socio-economic issues are pushing the average South African into extreme poverty in the midst of plenty and there is a high level of dissatisfaction with the scheme of things after the fall of the apartheid regime.  From 2008, there were 135 separate violent incidents that left 62 people dead, at least 670 wounded and unfortunately, dozens were carnally assaulted and many properties destroyed and looted with compensations.

    Going forward, Nigeria’s diplomacy should not dwell much on the criticism of the xenophobic attacks in South Africa, but rather concrete efforts should be made at home to create an enabling environment that would create jobs and livelihoods for the common people in Nigeria and by extension South Africa for its own people.

    In addition, the South African domestic environment has been hostile to non-nationals particularly undocumented migrants and there is implicit culture of impunity which encourages mob justice in most communities.  More importantly, the violence of black’s inhumanity to other Africans particularly Nigerians is also fueled and supported by the wide spread corrupt and institutionalised xenophobia in the police, immigration services and other state structure which lack requisite knowledge and respect in handling legal and policy framework for dealing with non-nationals in the area of conflict management.

    It is important to note that people migrating in search for safer and more prosperous living conditions is as old as man and the right of any person to leave any country is enshrined in the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the 1965 International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination respectively.

    While it is not possible to eliminate social tensions in any country, it is expedient on the part of the South Africa government and its nationals to respect universal and regional treaties, declarations, norms, protocols and conventions rather than the horrendous acts that have outraged the conscience of Nigerians and indeed Africans.

    The unwholesome of politicisation of migration as an excuse for xenophobia in South Africa should be addressed by diplomatic means by both countries. The issues and factors of migration that include increased unemployment and poverty are critical to re-tooling the new Nigeria- South Africa strategic collaboration.

    Beyond the special envoy briefings at the government- to government level, both countries must promote and sustain protection mechanism for human rights and beneficial environment for decent work by migrant workers and their families whether documented (economic) migrants or undocumented migrants.

    Regrettably, one major drawback in the Nigeria South – Africa relations architecture in my view and indeed many Nigerians over years beyond the recent violent attacks on Nigerians and other Africans is lack of mutual diplomatic and tactful reciprocity on the part of the South Africa government and non – state actors alike given the strategic role Nigeria played in the struggle against apartheid.

    Indeed, Nigeria’s frontline role in ensuring freedom for black South Africa through the mobilisation of international opinion to isolate the apartheid regime in business and sports was a welcome foreign policy objective. However, Nigeria foreign policy outlook fails to understand the dynamics of international politics, which is a game of selective morality, outrageous paradox and double standard.

    In the final analysis, Nigeria’s international public communication mechanisms and economic diplomacy must be hinged on dexterity and decency to safeguard our nationals wherever they are in the globe beyond the political tokenism that have trailed the xenophobic attacks in South Africa.

     

    • Orovwuje is founder, Humanitarian Care for Displaced Persons, Lagos.

     

  • Ending spasmodic xenophobia

    The spasmodic xenophobic attacks, which commenced around 2000 and escalated recently, has placed South Africa front and centre of global criticisms. It is also fraught with correlations. This would have been anecdotal, if it wasn’t tragic. Between 2000 and 2019, there have been 12 xenophobic attacks in various cities resulting in over 152 fatalities.

    In the 1980s, when Nigerians felt exactly how South Africans feel now, they compelled government use of executive fiats to expel Ghanaians and other African immigrants. This gave rise to the “Ghana Must Go” mantra.  The tables have turned. South Africans shouting “Nigerians Must Go” should not irk us. As fundamentals of international relations inform, foreign policy is an extrapolation of domestic policies.  Public policies in Nigeria and South Africa have failed their respective domestic populace woefully, and orchestrated the present crisis.

    Ironically, South Africa escaped apartheid in 1994, only to succumb to hate, in the joyful aftermath, by coveting xenophobia as its forte. This is like the catfish that swam the great sea, only to drown in a pot of soup. Justifiably, South Africans resent influx of aliens. Still, these spasmodic xenophobic attacks are hardly contrived. Inertly, they mimic black-on-black violence of yesteryears. And what are the root causes? Unfulfilled political promises, missed opportunities, dashed aspirations and hopes, deprivation, unemployment and ennui, all intrude, ramping up anger, stoking with fervour, violent pushback without reprieve. In this regard, South Africa mirrors Nigeria. Simply, South Africa has failed to uplift its struggling masses. As such, the aggression and attacks on Nigerians and other foreigners are misplaced.

    Nigeria for its part, has similarly failed its masses causing many to emigrate or in the local parlance “check out”. Many have perished doing so. Nigeria’s failed domestic policies, youth unemployment, insecurity, absence of enabling environment for its teeming work force, are combined drivers that push Nigerians to search for greener pastures. The badly devalued Naira is a magnet-driver for the quest for convertible currencies, by any means, including internet scams, prostitution, drug and human trafficking, which admittedly, are prevalent irritants and offending variables in South Africa.

    Truth be told, aversion to aliens is barely a novelty; but conventional wisdom abhors collective criminalization.  The wave of xenophobic attacks have been incremental and peaked only recently.  Not being robustly addressed is a failure by both sides; South Africa and Nigeria. We arrived at this juncture because South African authorities – including the South African Police Force – often accused of complicity – deferred to inertia. The result; the crisis of locals with grievances was allowed to exacerbate and turn catastrophic, as the state demurred, pussyfooting without concern, until such levity became the trigger point.

    Nigerian authorities, on their part, also pussyfooted. When aggrieved South Africans, sensing their sinking fate, took laws into their hands and the killings began, neither South Africa nor Nigeria acted robustly and sufficiently to mitigate the conflict. The world also watched, aghast with disdain, but hardly lifting a finger. There were missed opportunities and some hard lessons learned. The first is that South African authorities have failed to educate their youths.  True, you cannot rid one oppressive yoke only to accept to be subjugated by another. But then, xenophobia, the discriminatory act against a collective, this time émigrés, is as odious as apartheid; the discriminatory policy by whites against blacks.  You can’t trade apartheid for xenophobia. The upshot: History untaught is a dangerous tool. Despite surfeits of global early warning tools, resentments were allowed to fester.

    Nigeria, also failed woefully, in its responsibility to protect her citizens. Recently, her consular engagements with her nationals in South Africa were reportedly abysmal. Moreover, the Nigerian government had sufficient intelligence to know, that while a majority of Nigerians in South Africa are law abiding and domiciled there legally, most victims of the xenophobic attacks, were scofflaws engaged in some illegalities.  Often, in turf wars, they orchestrated the attacks on their compatriots, deploying jobless South Africans and using xenophobia as a cover. Fatalities resulting from intra-Nigerian conflicts in South Africa, probably outstrips fatalities from xenophobic attacks on Nigerians in South Africa. Nonetheless, African countries whose nationals are victims of the xenophobic attacks are entitled to feel let down by South Africans; after all they did to support the global anti-apartheid campaign.

    These happenings aside, constructive efforts must be made to reverse the present ugly state of affairs.  This requires returning to the drawing board, where both countries should have been some years back. The reactions, pushback, mission closing, envoy recalls and attacks on South African owned businesses, have happened, and regrettably so.  Now is time for constructive diplomatic engagement. Beyond imminent strained relations, South Africa and Nigeria are already badly maligned by these incidents.  With the challenges at hand, some potentially game-changing policy proposals should be considered.

    First, Nigeria must not consider the xenophobic crisis strictly a South African problem. Its deleterious consequences on intra-African relations could be huge. Ahead of the summit meeting of the two Heads of State in October, Nigeria should engage South Africa robustly, to ensure positive outcomes. Nigeria must forestall any form of recrimination or reprisal, targeted at South African businesses in Nigeria. Moreover, a standoff will be defeatist. Nigeria stands to lose more, considering the existing imbalance in bilateral investments.

    Second, without prejudice to the decision to repatriate Nigerians who wish to leave South Africa, there should be short to long term plans to avoid repeat attacks. The primary concrete policy option is to deploy several ranking and skilled police officers as Attachés to the Nigerian High Commission and Consulate in South Africa immediately, to interface with their South African Police counterparts and the Nigerian community. Third, Nigeria should propose deploying several Nigerian security operatives on a ‘collaborative exchange programme’, to be embedded into the South African Police Force, in identified flashpoints.

    Fourth, since South Africa needs to protect her long term national interests: she should be encouraged to consider expanding this novel policy, by including select Nigerians, Malawians, Mozambicans, Zimbabweans and Kenyans in South Africa in a civilian security mechanism that works with the South African police, with a view to focussing on preventive measures.

    Finally, ending the spasmodic xenophobic attacks on Nigerians and other Africans in South Africa must be seen as a collective mission in this era of globalization and African integration. Political manoeuvring will be most unhelpful.

     

    • Obaze is Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Selonnes Consult – a policy, governance and management consulting firm in Awka.

  • Meals, others for Lagos public schools

    Public primary school pupils in Lagos State will soon enjoy free meals during school hours, the Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Dr Ganiyu Sopeyin, has said.

    He also said the Lagos State government was making efforts to rehabilitate schools to make them conducive for teaching and learning.

    Sopeyin said this while monitoring resumption for the 2019/2020 academic session in some schools across Lagos.

    The chairman, who was represented by the Board Secretary, Mrs Foluso Ajimoti, said plans by the state government to domesticate the Home Grown School Feeding programme initiated by the Federal Government was on course and would soon commence.

    The chairman visited St. Francis Nursery School, Maryland, Community Primary School, Wasimi, Maryland, Military Primary Schools, Ikeja Cantonment, and Bola Memorial Primary School, Abule-Onigbagbo, Ikeja, where he praised the teachers and pupils who started academic works on the first day of resumption.

    Sopeyin said some pupils who did not resume on Monday may have been confused by rumours that the resumption had been postponed to next week.

    “We are aware that the reason why some parents are yet to release their children for schools is as a result of an unconfirmed report which says that there is a change in the September 9 resumption date.  I must stress that this is not true as academic works had already started across our schools,” he said.

     

     

  • Sundry Misusages XXVI. . . Next/last

    You may have to get utterly confused first before you realise how significantly seemingly little matters of usage can matter. To help to clarify this matter some more, let us consider the common misusage of the following adjectives.

    Next/Last

    Neither next nor last should pose any serious problem of usage, if we pay sufficient attention to the message they are supposed to convey in specific situations. Such care may not have been exercised in the specimen below:

    But mastery of his brief, or of any public issues for that matter, eluded him throughout his presidency, now mercifully set to end next Friday.

    According to “Pop” Errors, “This comment was published on Tuesday, 26 May 2015, and the Friday the columnist calls next Friday is the Friday of that same week, just four days away, that is, 29 May. This is not correct usage. Correct usage is that when next is used on any day of the week to refer to another day, it is in reference to that day in the following week, not in the present week. In the same token, when we use last to refer to a day in the immediate past week, it is that day in the previous week that is the correct reference. Assume today is Friday, and you say, “Julie saw him last Monday,” you are referring to the Monday of the previous week, not the Monday of this same week.” The book suggests the following as correct usage:

    But mastery of his brief, or of any public issues for that matter, eluded him throughout his presidency, now mercifully set to end this Friday.

    It further advises that “where you are not sure, just specify the date of the day in reference, thus:

    But mastery of his brief, or of any public issues for that matter, eluded him throughout his presidency, now mercifully set to end this Friday, 29 May (or set to end on Friday, 29 May)

    This is certainly wise counsel. Good old journalism has always skirted around pesky difficulties like the one confronted here with the age-long admonition to leave out when not sure. This applies to all kinds of writing, as accuracy or correctness is forever key to effective communication. Where you are fecund in word power and ideas, you would always find alternative ways of communicate your message impactfully, as done in the correction above.

    Not/Nor

    Incredibly, some writers continue to cause confusion with their misuse of these words, which ordinarily do not seem to lend themselves to any controversy. Perhaps with some care the type of usage below would have been avoided.

    A self-contained camp is not viable nor feasible, given the costs and numbers involved.

    This misuse of not in connection with nor is insidiously assuming epidemics proportions among many a writer, which is why we must sound the alarm, lest some re-write the language. The point is, not and nor cannot be used together as done in the example at issue. The correct correlative conjunction required in the context is neither . . . nor deftly applied. Or, not nor, can also go with not. We considered similar misusages in the last edition, but you can rest assured that different writers will continue to commit the same errors in different ways. Let us therefore correct thus:

    A self-contained camp is neither viable nor feasible, given the costs and numbers involved.

    OR

    A self-contained camp is not viable or feasible, given the costs and numbers involved

    We should also note that there is no correlative conjunction like not . . . nor. Again, when not sure, find alternative ways of expressing your thoughts lucidly.

    Numbers

    There is this rule that we should not start sentences with numbers or figures. This is the rule flouted in the two constructions below, forgetting that English is not an unruly language (We take the two one after the other because of their differing applications, which further validates the observation that writers make the same mistakes in different ways, each revealing, at times, unique peculiarities.)

    (a). 50% of the participants were female

    In (a) above, “two forms of wrong usage are involved here: it is wrong to start a sentence with a figure or number; and the symbol % is normally reserved for “scientific and statistical writing” (Turabian, cited in “Pop” Errors). As a rule, “a sentence should never begin with a figure” (ibid). You either write the figure in words or recast the sentence. Concerning the second misuse, the symbol % should be written out as percent (ibid). We therefore need to reconstruct, but in doing that, we must be mindful of the caveat that “The figure preceding either percent or % is never spelled out” (ibid.)” Either of the following is preferred to the original construction:

    Out of the participants, 50 percent were female

    OR

    The participants were 50 percent female.

    (b). . .7500 commercial farmers have been shortlisted

    Regarding specimen (b), the fault is limited to starting the sentence with a figure. We could do either of two things to correct this, first, write the figure in words, or second, simply precede the figure with relevant words. Respectively, here is what we mean:

    Seven thousand, five hundred commercial farmers have been shortlisted.

    OR

    A total of 7,500 commercial farmers have been shortlisted.

    Again, the technique used in correcting the errors in the instances above is seeking acceptable alternative ways of expressing thoughts. .

     

     

  • Poverty, unwanted pregnancies keep 51 percent Adamawa children from school

    Fear of fees by poor parents has been identified as a leading reason why most children of school age in Adamawa State are not in schools.

    Only 49 percent of school-age children in Adamawa State are in school, according to a nongovernmental organisation, African Centre for leadership Strategy & Development (Centre LSD), which did a research of school enrolment in the state.

    The acting Executive Director of the NGO, Mr Monday Osasah, who made the disclosure in Yola during a training conference for education sector stakeholders towards raising school enrolment, especially for girls, said girls are particularly affected.

    This, she said, is because they suffer from a widespread impression that education for girls is a waste as they would sooner than later be married off.

    Osasah, who delivered lectures to community leaders during a two-day workshop in Yola on enhancing school enrolment, drew his conclusions from a research initiated by his NGO and published with funding from Malala Fund, with focus on three LGAs: Maiha, Song and Numan.

    Read Also: How poverty keeps girls out of school

    The report on the research, which our correspondent obtained, shows that while total population of persons of school age in the state in 2018 was 1,736,546; only 849,912 (49%) were enrolled in primary and secondary schools.

    The report shows that while the total population of females aged 5-19 in the state was 843,024, only 383,380 (45.5%) were in school, leaving 459,644 out of school.

    The research, which paid particular attention to girl-child education in the state, also listed fear of being captured by insurgents, early marriage, unwanted pregnancy and indifference to western education as other reasons for high number of out-of-school girls.

    The research report recommends in-depth engagement of stakeholders to facilitate community action in favour of girl-child education, and critical interrogation of identified barriers by government and community stakeholders as some of the solutions to low school enrolment.

    Osasah, who fielded questions from newsmen during the conference for community and education leaders from Maiha, said similar train-the-trainer conference had been held for stakeholders in Numan and Song LGAs.

    The trainees, who are leaders with access to members of their communities, he said, would be expected to pass the education enrolment message to their people.

  • Tribunal judgement is sign Judges cannot be intimidated, says BMO

    The Buhari Media Organisation (BMO) has said that the verdict of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT) upholding the election of President Muhammadu Buhari has shown that the members of the tribunal are men of integrity who cannot be easily intimidated.

    The BMO commended members of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT) for not being deterred by threats and intimidation from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and its agents to taint the judgement.

    Chairman of BMO, Niyi Akinsiju and Secretary, Cassidy Madueke said in a statement that the judgement is proof that the Justices are men of honour that cannot be intimidated by social media bullies bent on arm-twisting them to ignore the evidence tabled before the tribunal.

    The group said it expected nothing less than the outright dismissal of the petition like the panel members did, saying “It was glaring to everyone, aside from PDP elements, that the petition challenging the overwhelming electoral victory of President Muhammadu Buhari was not only frivolous, but also useless as Festus Keyamo famously said soon after the case was filed.

    “However, the Tribunal has now further shown how ridiculous the electoral challenge was and made it clear that the President was duly qualified to contest in the February 23, 2019 election in the first place, on the basis of educational qualification and professional attainment.

    “To quote the panel directly, it said President Buhari ‘is not only qualified but also eminently qualified’ to stand for election. This is a direct message to naysayers.

    “And to make matters worse for the petitioners, the Tribunal questioned the sense in querying the President’s assertion that his certificates were with the Army even when the Army authorities alluded to it when the matter was brought up in 2015 and even went further to quote the President’s grades in the subjects he sat for.

    “It is also worthy of note that the Justices were emphatic in brushing aside claims by the petitioners that results were transmitted through electronic means to a server at the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    “We acknowledge that it is within the right of the opposition to go to the Supreme Court but we hope that the former Vice President would see the handwriting on the wall and accept that he lost the election fair and square.”

    While congratulating the President for his victory at the tribunal, National Chairman of the United Progressive Party (UPP) Chief Chekwas Okorie said by the judgement, Justice has been served just as this victory is essentially victory for democracy.

    He said “It is with joy that we recall that on 17th August, 2018, when the National Executive Committee (NEC) of our great Party resolved unequivocally to support President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC), for 2019 Presidential election, we unambiguously stated in our address to the Press immediately after our NEC meeting of the same date that we would contribute our quota to ensure that the victory of President Muhammadu Buhari in the 23rd

    February 2019 Presidential Election would be so resounding in a manner that would make any petition against the outcome of the election to be a “mere and unnecessary national distraction”.

    Okorie asked the President to accept his victory with the magnanimity of a forgiving father, saying “he should remain focused in carrying out the onerous responsibilities of his Office. The United Progressive Party and its leadership are committed to remain constructively engaged with the President until the successful completion of his second and final tenure as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

  • Gunmen kidnap Kogi miners’ boss

    Gunmen on Sunday abducted the chairman of Kogi State Miners Association, Yunusa Oruma, from his residence in Ankpa Local Government Area of Kogi State.

    The victim’s brother, Prince Oruma, told our correspondent on Wednesday that his brother was relaxing in his house when gunmen, numbering eight, invaded the place at about 8pm on Sunday and began shooting.

    He said that in the process, they seized his brother and drove away with him, adding that no information has been heard since he was abducted.

    Read Also: Gunmen kill two in Plateau

    He said that the incident has been reported to the police and other security agencies in Ankpa, and appealing for their concerted efforts to secure the brother’s release.

    When contacted, the Kogi State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. William Aya, confirmed the incident, adding that efforts were ongoing to rescue the victim.

  • Nine rescued as bus plunges into Anambra river

    Nine persons sustained varying degrees of injury in a motor accident along Ideani /Nnobi road in Idemili South LGA of Anambra State.

    The accident which occurred involved a Petroleum Tanker MACK with Reg No. LEH 37 XA, a Mercedez Benz lorry with reg XM 370 ENU, an L300 bus with Reg No. XG 680 FGG and a J5 bus with Reg No NH 148 ARL.

    The Nation gathered that the J5 bus plunged into river Nnobi along with its occupants as a result of the accident.

    Similarly, one person lost his life while four sustained injuries in a ghastly accident at Boromeo roundabout, Onitsha.

    The accident involved a commuter bus with Registration number JMT 94 XL and 911 truck with registration number XB 733 GDD.

    Police MTD personnels attached to inland town Division were said to have rushed the casualties to St Charles Boromeo Hospital, Onitsha.

    Confirming the incident, the Police spokesperson, Haruna Mohammed said no life lost in the first incident.

    He, however, said the victims were responding to treatment, adding that the critically injured was admitted at the intensive care unit of the Fatima hospital.

    He said, “Police patrol team led by DPO Nnobi Division visited the scene, rescued the victims and rushed them to moon and Fatima hospitals Nnobi with the assistance of locals.

    “The driver of the Mercedes Benz lorry one James Eze ‘m’ aged 30years of No 6 ,Eze lane Okpoko who was alleged to be the main cause of the accident was arrested.”

    Mohammed revealed that the deceased in the second accident, whose identity was yet to be ascertained, was certified dead by the medical doctor while four others are responding to treatment.

    He said the corpse had been deposited at the hospital mortuary for postmortem examination.

    The PPRO said the Commissioner of Police, John Abang had since visited both accident scenes, adding that investigatiin to ascertain circumstances surrounding the incident had commenced.

  • PHOTOS: Presidential election Tribunal

    Counsel to PDP Mike Ozekomhe SAN(middle) and others at presidential Election Tribunal in Abuja
    Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong,(right) Former Governor of
    Bauchi State, Bar. Mohammed Abubakar and others Election Tribunal in Abuja

    L R: APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomole,Counsel to APC, Chief. Charles Edosomwan SAN Minister of Work and Housing, Babatunde Fashola and Omoruyi Augustine SAN APC Counsel at the Presidential election Tribunal

  • UPDATED: Fire razes NNPC, Ibadan depot

    The Nigerian Pipelines and Storage Company Limited, a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Apata, Ibadan, Oyo, depot was on Wednesday gutted by fire, leaving about seven persons injured.

    A section of the loading point was completely damaged by fire, while three petrol tankers were also burnt.

    One of the persons injured, simply identified as Moji was caught in the raging fire, sustaining severe burns.

    Activities at the depot have been suspended forthwith, as the usual loading of fuel has been shut down.

    There was pandemonium when people around the NNPC depot, including the staff , saw pillows of fire, causing the people to start scaling the fence, and running helter-skelter to avoid been caught by the fire.

    Read Also : U.S. court rules in NNPC’s favour in $2.7b suit

    The immediate cause of the inferno could not be ascertained, but a source attributed the afternoon fire to an electrical surge which sparked off the fire.

    A driver of one of the affected tankers, who would not want his name in print, however, disagreed that the fire was caused by electric surge, saying that the fire was caused by one of the tanker drivers at the loading point.

    He said ” I was there when one of the tanker drivers was removing his battery and using another truck’s battery to kick start his truck. It was when he put the battery and was hitting the head of the battery, trying to fix it that fire sparked from the battery and the next thing we say was a pillow of fire, trapping everyone available. ”

    The fire, which lasted for about two hours, was, however, quenched by a team of the Oyo State Fire Services and men of the NNPC for fighters who struggled to put off the fire.

    Members of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, DSS and team of policemen were seen at the scene of the fire , to maintain law and order.