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Tag: National Security Adviser

  • Pipeline Security: We’ve Seen Production Growth – NNPC

    Pipeline Security: We’ve Seen Production Growth – NNPC

    The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) has confirmed that national crude oil production has grown from a historic low of 960,000 barrels per day in 2022 to an average of 1.71 million barrels per day and a peak production of 1.84 million barrels per day in 2025, owing to the establishment of the integrated energy security for pipelines in the Niger Delta.

    Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd, Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari made the disclosure at the Parliamentary Roundtable on the State of Pipeline Security, which was held at the National Assembly in Abuja on Wednesday.

    Speaking on the success of the security arrangement, Ojulari explained that it was not accidental, and that it involved an “integrated energy security model that combines legislative and executive policy alignment, actionable intelligence, kinetic deployment capabilities, regulatory oversight, industry cooperation, and community‑embedded surveillance mechanisms”.

    He said the resurgence of production due to the effective tackling of the twin menace of oil theft and pervasive pipeline sabotage has led to the restoration of investors’ confidence in the nation’s oil and gas sector.

    In his welcome address, the Senate President, Sen. Godswill Akpabio, represented by Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, called for collaboration among agencies and stakeholders in resolving all challenges impeding production growth.

    On his part, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, who was represented by the Leader of the House, Hon. (Prof.) Julius Ihonvbere, urged the forum to evaluate the progress made so far with a view to ensuring fairness and equity.

    The Parliamentary Roundtable on the State of Pipelines Security was convened by the Joint Senate and House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Resources. It had in attendance the Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives, National Security Adviser, Minister of Defence, and representatives of oil industry regulatory agencies.

    The Roundtable also featured presentations by the Chief of Defence Staff, Inspector General of Police, Director General of the Department of State Services, Commandant General of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps, and private security companies.

  • NNPC Ltd Reaffirms Commitment to Peace, Responsible Energy Development in Ogoniland

    NNPC Ltd Reaffirms Commitment to Peace, Responsible Energy Development in Ogoniland

    ‎The Group Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.), Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari has reaffirmed the Company’s commitment to peace, dialogue, and responsible energy development in Ogoniland, describing the Federal Government’s renewed engagement as a demonstration of hope and a new beginning built on partnership and understanding.

    ‎‎Ojulari disclosed this while speaking during a Federal Government delegation’s visit to Ogoniland, in Rivers State, on Monday.‎

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    “This visit is a demonstration of hope. It affirms the commitment of the Federal Government, under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to peace, dialogue, and rebuilding trust. For NNPC Limited, it marks a new beginning—one grounded in partnership, mutual respect, and shared responsibility,” Ojulari stated.

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    While acknowledging the painful history of Ogoniland, the GCEO emphasized that recognising the past is essential to building a different future.

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    He commended the Presidential Committee on Ogoni Re-entry, led by Professor Don Baridam, and the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, for their steady leadership in building confidence and trust.

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    According to the Group CEO, NNPC Ltd.’s mission in Ogoniland goes beyond resource extraction, but one that places people, livelihoods, and the environment at the centre of its operations. “We believe wholeheartedly that energy development must go hand in hand with environmental protection and community wellbeing,” he said.

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    Reaffirming NNPC Ltd.’s responsibility to host communities, the Group CEO offered assurances on welfare, security, and opportunity.

    “I am delighted to share that one of our commitments to the people of Ogoni is becoming a reality. The process for the full-time employment of 30 Ogoni indigenes has reached its final stage, with employment offers already issued. We look forward with pride to welcoming them as they resume work in January 2026, marking a meaningful step toward shared progress and opportunity for our communities.,” he stated.

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    On his part, the Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, expressed gratitude for President Tinubu’s unwavering commitment to finding lasting solutions to a decades-long, recurring issue in Ogoniland, which is now beginning to yield positive results.

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    “We had our first meeting with Mr. President, and certain commitments were made to improve the quality of life in Ogoniland. He has begun to fulfill those promises, starting with road construction. We were assured of confidence-building efforts, the establishment of a University of Environment, hospitals, an industrial park, employment opportunities, and several other initiatives. As of today, 30 young men and women of Ogoni origin have already been employed by NNPC Ltd.” he concluded.

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    In his remarks, National Security Adviser of Nigeria, Nuhu Ribadu, who represented President Tinubu during the engagement, thanked the Governor of Rivers State and stakeholders from Ogoniland for their cooperation and collective efforts in addressing long-standing challenges inherited in the region.

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    “We have worked as one, and we are here today because of the Ogoni people, to thank them on behalf of Nigeria. Rivers State is now one of the most peaceful states in the country, and that’s largely due to the leadership of a responsible Governor and the good people of Ogoniland,” the NSA added.

    Located in Ogoniland and operated by the NNPC Exploration and Production Limited (NEPL), a flagship upstream subsidiary of NNPC Ltd, OML-11 is Nigeria’s largest onshore block, with Ogoniland holding over 40% of its recoverable reserves.

  • Dangote: FG says Nigeria is greater than PENGASSAN

    Dangote: FG says Nigeria is greater than PENGASSAN


    The Federal Government on Monday berated the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, (PENGASSAN) for holding the whole country to ransom over a minor labour dispute, that would have been amicably settled.

    The government said the $20 billion Dangote Petroleum Refinery is a national asset that must be supported to function and that the nation owes it to the future generations to jealously protect, promote, preserve and protect the refinery for the interest of this great Nigerian.

    Declaring open the 31st edition of the Nigeria Economic Summit (NESG), at the Transcorp Hilton in Abuja on Monday, Vice President Kashim Shettima stated the government’s position on the matter, noting that the government will expect far reaching recommendations from the NESG in addressing this issue, even as the government is also taking steps to protect the industries and create industrial harmony for the good of the nation.

    Shettima emphasised the critical importance of the 650,000-barrel-per-day Dangote Refinery, declaring that it must be supported at all costs to succeed.

    He said: “On this note, I want to dwell on something that is very dear, a very topical issue that is very dear to the heart of every Nigerian. Aliko Dangote is not an individual; he is an institution. And he is a leading light in Nigeria’s economic rejuvenation…and how we treat this gentleman will determine how outsiders will judge us. If he had invested $10 billion in Microsoft, in Amazon, or in Google, probably, he might be worth $70 to $80 billion by now. But he opted to invest in his country, and we owe it to future generations to jealously protect, promote, preserve and protect the interest of this great Nigerian.”

    He however called for “… caution, retrospection, and a deeper sense of patriotism from both labour and the organised private sector in defining and improving the relationship between labour and industry in the interest of maintaining our steadily improving economic fortunes…It’s not about holding the whole nation to ransom because of a minor labour dispute. Nigeria is greater than PENGASSAN. Nigeria is greater than each and every one of us.”

    In the same vein, the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise has urged the Nigerian government to come up with a policy framework to prevent the unlawful shutdown of businesses in the country. CPPE Chief Executive Officer, Muda Yusuf disclosed this in a recent statement.

    According to the economic think-tank, a policy to protect investors is a national economic imperative. CPPE added that the move would further boost and strengthen investors’ confidence and would safeguard investment from labour union disruptions. Protecting investors and employers is not a privilege, it is a national economic imperative.

    “Investors mobilise capital, create jobs, and generate the tax revenues that sustain government and society. Without them, there can be no sustained growth, no employment, and no national prosperity. Nigeria must, therefore, urgently institutionalise a fair, secure, and predictable business environment that protects those who take risks to create wealth. This is not about weakening labour unions but about balancing rights and responsibilities to foster sustainable economic growth, social stability, and national security,” the statement reads.

    Meanwhile Dangote Petroleum Refinery over the weekend expressed profound appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his timely intervention in averting what it described as “the disruptive actions of PENGASSAN” against the company.

    The company in a statement said the President’s leadership, through his ministers and senior government officials, ensured the restoration of order and stability to the energy sector at a critical moment.

    “Dangote Refinery is grateful to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, HE Bola Tinubu, GCFR for his intervention, through his Ministers and senior officials, which resulted in the abatement of the disruptive actions of PENGASSAN against the Refinery,” the statement read.

    According to the company, among the key government officials who worked “tirelessly” to restore normalcy were Nigeria’s Security Chiefs, led by the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu; the Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mr. Adeola Toyin Ajayi; and the Director General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Mr. Mohammed Mohammed.
    The company also commended the efforts of other senior government officials who worked “untiringly and determinedly into the wee hours of several nights to avert the declared disruption of Nigeria’s energy sector by anarchists and agents of darkness.”

    These, it said, included the Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Mohammed Dingyadi; the Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun; the Honourable Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Bagudu; and the Honourable Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha.

    “We remain very grateful to these officials for their patriotism and national service,” it added.

    Dangote Refinery extended heartfelt gratitude to Nigerians for their overwhelming public support during the crisis.

  • Your “Independence Day Gift Of Strike” To Nigeria At 65 Meant To Embarrass President Tinubu, Sabotage Country’s Economy, PTD Blasts PENGASSAN

    Your “Independence Day Gift Of Strike” To Nigeria At 65 Meant To Embarrass President Tinubu, Sabotage Country’s Economy, PTD Blasts PENGASSAN

    Stakeholders of Petroleum Tanker Drivers branch of (NUPENG) have converged for an emergency meeting in Lagos, urging the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) to immediately rescind its order directing members across key oil and gas companies in Nigeria to halt supply of crude oil and gas to Dangote Petroleum Refinery following alleged dismissal of workers by the $20 billion company.

    This warning is contained in a statement issued Sunday afternoon after a 7-hour marathon meeting held at Oriental hotel in Victoria Island, Lagos. The Petroleum Tanker Drivers said it was insensitive and cruel for PENGASSAN to declare a nationwide strike on Monday, a period the country would be celebrating her 65th Independence anniversary (Wednesday, October 1, 2025).

    The Drivers said PENGASSAN’s intention was to embarrass President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, bring disrupte to Nigeria in the comity of nations, and tear down the country’s economic powerhouse. It noted also that such acts of sabotage must attract arrest and prosecution of the Union leaders who have no interest of the nation at heart.

    The statement signed by one Comrade Obi-Dede Wonder on behalf of PTD concerned stakeholders said:

    “There is no justification for PENGASSAN to embark on this embarrassing journey to picket Dangote Refinery on account of an allegation that 800 Nigerian workers were relieved of their jobs by the Management of the Refinery. Where is the logic in this? 800 people lost their jobs and over 200 million Nigerians will now face the brunt?

    “Meanwhile Dangote Refinery has clarified that its Management only conducted an internal reorganisation to improve efficiency, and insisted that the majority of its workforce remained Nigerians. PENGASSAN’s irrational action risks disrupting supplies to the refinery and could have broader implications for downstream operations linked to the plant.

    “It is insensitive, barbaric, and cruel for PENGASSAN to declare a nationwide strike on Monday, two days before the country will be celebrating her 65th independence anniversary, which will be held exactly on Wednesday, October 1, 2025. From all indications, this is a well orchestrated plot to embarrass President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, bring disrupte to Nigeria in the comity of nations, and tear down the country’s economic powerhouse. This act of sabotage should as a matter of urgency attract the immediate arrest and prosecution of these irate and vicious Union leaders, and when found guilty they should be kept behind bars to serve as deterrent to others. The laws of Nigeria are very clear about heinous crime.

    “PENGASSAN is not bigger than Nigeria, therefore national interest must be well understood, and put as priority. A responsible Union must learn to be patriotic above anything else, it must prioritize security of its nation and the sanctity of its national assets.

    “Meanwhile, before the Union’s activities could be said to be legitimate anywhere in the world, it must align with ethical principles such as justice, alternative dispute resolution, discussions, mediation, and respect for local and international order and rules. We all saw the consequences of the ENDSARS violence in Nigeria and its devastating effects in Lagos being the epicenter of the violent protest; no proactive government will fold its hands and allow the repeat of same horror and holocaust at a time when the country is struggling to fully come out of her economic challenges occasioned by the previous governments.

    “PENGASSAN and its junior union, NUPENG should stop thriving on outdated tactics of extortion through unjustifiable check-off dues while also brazenly undermining Nigeria’s strategic interests. It is the constitutional right of any employer, including Dangote Refinery, to hire or disengage workers where necessary, especially when activities or compromises threaten efficiency, safety, and national energy security. Dangote’s intervention is in full alignment with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda as anchored in the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) and nobody no matter how highly placed can derail the progressive socio-economic train of Nigeria. The era of petroleum subsidy payment is gone and obliterated for good.

    “On this note and with due respect, we therefore call on the father of the nation who doubles as the substantive Minister of Petroleum Resources, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, to please activate the country’s security architecture at a time like this and accordingly advise his National Security Adviser, DSS, Police as well as the Ministry of Labour and Employment to swing into action and save Nigeria from this avoidable international embarrassment, and breach of industrial peace and harmony in the country’s volatile and sensitive petroleum downstream sector,” the statement read.

  • Tanker Drivers Sacked By NUPENG General Secretary, Afolabi Olawale Lament Ordeal

    Tanker Drivers Sacked By NUPENG General Secretary, Afolabi Olawale Lament Ordeal

    As controversy rages over the sack of over 70 tanker drivers by the General Secre­tary of Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), Afolabi Olawale and endorsed by the President, Williams Akporeha, the affected individuals have taken to various platforms to express their displeasure.

    This development came barely 24 hours before the official commissioning of the newly built NUPENG National Secretariat, known as NUPENG Tower, which is scheduled to take place at Jibowu, Lagos, on Wednesday, December 4, 2024.

    These tanker drivers were the ones driving the trucks belonging to the national chairman of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) Branch of NUPENG, Comrade Lucky Osesua and his team of executives, including Comrade Garga Dayyabu, Comrade Olabisi Akinlolu, Comrade Emmanuel Isele and others.

    The grossly hapless drivers, devastated and currently in abject poverty are now telling their stories and expressing their disappointments in NUPENG, especially the General Secretary for being the architect of their ordeal.

    They were also surprised that a Union expected to protect their jobs was the one that has deliberately rendered them unemployed without recourse to empathy or any form of assistance or compensation to cushion the effects of the hardship they are presently going through.

    One of the affected drivers in Lagos, Kehinde Dada, a.k.a. Baba Ibeji, lamented that after serving the union for years, his job was abruptly stopped, because a letter which the General Secretary of NUPENG signed directed that trucks belonging to Comrade Lucky Osesua and his team should no longer lift fuel in all the loading depots in Nigeria without putting into account the consequences such action will have on the affected Petroleum Tanker Drivers whose jobs will be terminated. According to him, while on the job, he acquired his first and second degrees in Library and Information Science, but Afolabi has dashed his hope of progressing more in his life and career.

    Similarly, another driver from Sapele who gave his name as Kingsley said:

    “The action taken by the Afolabi Olawale against the Osesua faction of PTD was rather harsh and drastic. I personally don’t have any other job. I feed my family with the driving job. The leadership of NUPENG under Afolabi as the General Secretary does not portray the traits of a good leader. A good leader should be able to seek advice, but he is going about this issue wrongly. By now peace should have been restored in PTD, the two factions ought to have been reconciled, but the whole place is currently in serious turmoil, with many court cases here and there, and drivers are seriously suffering, some are in hospitals, some have even died. These people in NUPENG should know that God will reward them and their generations the same coin they served others,” he lamented.

    Alhaji Mukhtar Mohammed, also one of the affected taker drivers in Kaduna narrated his experience:

    “It is disgusting and embarrassing to see that the one-time Trade Union which was organized and brought to limelight by the late Chief (Comrade) Frank Ovie Kokori with the objective to protect the interest and foster better working conditions for the blue-collar employees in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector would come this low. I really paid my dues in PTD, it is so unfortunate that Afolabi will treat me and my other colleagues like this. I am now managing my family with Okada driving, with very low returns.

    “Somebody should come to our aid and take us out of this sad and avoidable situation. One man has messed up both PTD and NUPENG. The stake in PTD, particularly access to administrative, operational and economic incentives and other opportunities should not be left in the hands of stooges who want to siphon the common patrimony of PTD under the whimps and caprice of overzealous leaders in NUPENG, that is why concerned members of PTD of good conscience are saying enough is enough. Comrads Lucky Osesua, Comrade (Hon.) Dayyabu Yusuf Garga, Comrade (Chief) Peter Moudebelu (ONWA), Comrade Humble Obinna Power, Comrade Olabisi Akinlolu etc, are capable of driving the affairs of PTD and I pray that God will restore them back to the National office of PTD as our leaders.

    “Meanwhile, the popular cry in PTD now is that it must be allowed to breathe such that members could peacefully and conveniently be proud and better for what they are doing as we continue to traverse the length and breadth of Nigeria through the distribution and transportation of Petroleum products and supply of gas to Nigerians in their homes, offices and factories.

    “It is not about building a 7-storey Tower with no economic significance, these leaders should do better for the members and make their lives more meaningful and abundant. We also learnt from good authority that the PTD’s money that was used to erect NUPENG Tower during Comrade Salimon Akanni Oladiti’s tenure when he was our national chairman was made possible because he is eyeing to be NUPENG President after the tenure of Williams Akporeha, meanwhile, the General Secretary of NUPENG Afolabi who is not a member of PTD but a paid staff of NUPENG is also eyeing the exalted position of NUPENG President, and secretly planning to resign six months to the end of his tenure in April 2026. I have never seen this type of desperation in my life.

    “NUPENG now totters towards a dangerous and avoidable canyon of dry bones, as its staff members and branch members can no longer recognise their union which has been battered by men and women from the dark womb of time”, Mohammed who spoke in tears stated.

    Charles Ibe, on his part, a driver also who lives in Port Harcourt and father of five, narrated, “I am a father of 5, two of my children are no longer in school because I no longer have a truck to drive. Since 2023 when this PTD crisis started its been hell for all tanker drivers who are driving trucks belonging to Comrade Lucky Osesua. It’s a huge surprise to see that the leadership of NUPENG, particularly the General Secretary, Afolabi Olawale, grounded all the trucks belonging not just to the National Chairman of PTD and the dep­uty Chairmen but also to other national executives of PTD who belong to Comrade Osesua’s camp. NUPENG also stopped all the trucks that are supposed to take products to their gas stations.

    “This oppressive leadership style is very strange to us and we urge the government and the public to take note of this flagrant abuse of power. We are tired of seeing wicked people in positions of authority in NUPENG, instead of creating jobs and protecting jobs, you are now the one forcefully pushing people into joblessness, abject poverty, desolation and pain. We want the government to urgently intervene in PTD and NUPENG affairs and help restore sanity.”

    Charles further said, “In the interest of industrial peace and harmony, it is urgently expected of the Presidency, Ministry of Labour and Employment, Department of State Services, Police, National Security Adviser, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, National Assembly (Senate & House of Representatives), Civil Society Organisations, NLC, MOMAN, NARTO, TUC, DAPMAN, Elders/Veterans of NUPENG and all other critical stakeholders to look into the current execrable situation in the PTD Branch of NUPENG and find it a lasting peace, before it spirals out of control and set the country’s economy into an avoidable implosion.”

  • Nigeria Embarks on Agricultural Transformation with the Greener Hope National Agricultural Mechanisation Programme (GHAPP)

    Nigeria Embarks on Agricultural Transformation with the Greener Hope National Agricultural Mechanisation Programme (GHAPP)

    In a groundbreaking move to enhance food security and economic development, the Federal Executive Council has approved the Greener Hope National Agricultural Mechanisation Programme (GHAPP). Spearheaded by Origin Tech Group in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, GHAPP aims to revolutionize Nigeria’s agricultural sector, boosting productivity and creating sustainable growth.

    The GHAPP programme, approved on June 25, 2024, signifies a quantum leap for Agriculture and it aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Executive Order declaring a state of emergency on food security. This programme targets the cultivation of 500,000 hectares of arable land, the adoption of advanced agricultural technologies, and the promotion of agro industrialization, while encouraging youth participation in agriculture.

    The programme will establish modern agricultural mechanization service centres and hubs across 37 farming clusters. These centres will be equipped with state-of-the-art machinery provided by Origin Tech Group’s subsidiary, Origin Automobile Works. The programme will leverage technical partnerships from South Korea, Taiwan, and Brazil to produce and supply agricultural machinery and establish enterprise centers nationwide.

    A key component of GHAPP is the comprehensive training and support of youths on modern agricultural techniques and equipment. This training will be conducted by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, the Chief of Defence Staff, and the National Security Adviser. Additionally, a digital gateway for tractor hailing and recruitment will be developed in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy.

    The programme emphasises modern infrastructure, including high-powered tractors, dozers, sprayers, drones, and large-scale silos. It will also establish equipment centres, data centers, and spare parts shops to ensure efficient management and maintenance. To ensure Sustainable Growth and Development the programme aims to be replicable and sustainable, extending support to smaller farms and involving international partners like Campo Brazil for expertise and assistance.

    The programme presents as opportunity for economic and social impact, a significant step in transforming Nigeria’s agricultural sector, addressing the gaps left by previous administrations. By promoting advanced mechanization and capacity building, the programme aims to increase farmers’ wealth, mitigate urban migration, and secure Nigeria’s food future.

    For over 25 years, Origin Tech Group has been a leader in providing innovative solutions across various economic sectors, including food systems, automotive, civil engineering, and construction.

  • Osinbajo helicopter crash: AIB releases report

    Osinbajo helicopter crash: AIB releases report

    …lack of risk assessment, non-adherence, others responsible

    The Accident Investigation Bureau AIB says crash of the Augusta helicopter carrying Vice President Yemi Osinbanjo to Kogi state was caused by certain factors.


    The AgustaWestland AW139 helicopter incident was operated by Caverton Helicopters Limited with registration marks 5N-CML, occurred at Kabba, Kogi State on 2nd February, 2019.

    These factors which  includes both casual and contributory are a brownout, Inappropriate landing technique used, non-adherence to company procedures for known or anticipated brownout condition during landing.


    Others are  lack of risk assessment, limited landing site preparation and planning prior to commencement of the flight.


    “The flight crew encountered a brownout condition during the hover to land, which led to the loss of external visual references, spatial disorientation and loss of situational awareness resulting in a misjudgement of distance and ground clearance, as the flight crew tried to control the helicopter’s movements for landing. The helicopter landed hard and rolled over on its right side.”   

    AIB Commissioner, Engr. Akin Olateru at a virtaul news conference on the final accident report said, two safety recommendations had been issued to avoid a recurrence.

    In it’s safety recommendations to parties concerned, the NCAA, Bristow and the National security adviser, the AIB Commissioner saysNCAA should Conduct a Safety Management System (SMS) audit of Caverton Helicopters. 


    “The SMS audit by the NCAA should ensure that Caverton Helicopters has implemented the Immediate Safety Recommendation 2019-003, the NCAA All Operators Letter (FSG 002), and the recommendations documented in the Caverton Helicopters internal SMS investigation of this accident.”


    He stated that the NCAA audit should also ascertain that the Caverton Helicopters internal SMS processes in the maintenance activities require the establishment of the reasons/causes of equipment failure/malfunction (reference is made to the failures of the Multi-Purpose Flight Recorder (MPFR) and the unavailability of the reasons of the failures). 


    The AIB helsman stated that, the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) should Consider whether the Presidential Air Fleet (PAF) Unit should be involved in the coordination and preparation of all high profile Executive VIP mission (flights) in order to ensure that all Executive VIP flights are conducted in accordance with the PAF Unit’s Standards and in line with its approved operating procedures.


    It would be recalled that eleven days after the accident, the AIB issued two Interim Safety Recommendations, one to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and one to Caverton Helicopters. The required safety actions were initiated and implemented promptly. 

    SYNOPSIS 

     On 2nd February, 2019 at about 07:26 h, an Agusta Westland (AW139) helicopter with nationality and registration marks 5N-CML operated by Caverton Helicopters Limited departed Lagos for Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, to conduct a VIP charter flight from Abuja to Okene via Kabba and return to Abuja. The positioning flight to Abuja was normal. The helicopter was refuelled and the flight crew prepared for the VIP charter flight to Kabba.


    At about 13:46 h, the helicopter departed Abuja runway 22 for Kabba. On board were 12 persons including the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, his entourage and three crew members (Pilot, Co-pilot and an Engineer). The flight crew stated that they sighted the intended landing area as a result of the cloud of residual dust generated by the downwash of a Police helicopter.  


    After sighting the football field, the flight crew approached with the speed of 20 kt to about a 100 ft, and entered a hover to land. At about 50 ft above ground level, a brownout set in.  The flight crew lost visual contact with the ground and external surroundings.

    The Co-pilot began radio altitude callouts “35, 30, 25, 20 and 15”. At about 14:34 h, the helicopter experienced a hard landing on the right main landing gear and rolled over onto its right side. All persons on board were evacuated uninjured.