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Anambra Boat Mishap: I was carrying 48 passengers not 85, Driver opens up

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Anambra boat mishap

Driver of the boat that capsized at Ogbaru in Anambra on Friday, Mr Desmond Amugo, says he had 48 passengers on board and not 85 passengers as was being reported.

Anambra boat mishap

Amugo made the assertion on Sunday at Atani, headquarters of Ogbaru Local Government Area while briefing government officials on the circumstances that led to the accident.

Nine passengers have been seen alive, while 20 corpses have been recovered so far from the accident. 10 of the corpses were recovered on Sunday.

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The driver said majority of the passengers he had on board were women and children trying to escape from their flooded communities.

Amaugo explained that he sailed into a heavy wave which affected the smooth operation of the boat and resulted in it hitting one of the pillars supporting the Umunnakwe/Ossomala Bridge.

He said his spirited efforts to manoeuvre away from danger were unsuccessful as he lost control of the boat before it capsized.

The driver also said some of the women had besieged his house very early on Friday and persuaded him to ferry them to Ogbakuba, another location that was not submerged by flood.

Family members who identified some of the corpses were seen lamenting their losses.

One of them, Mr Bernard Achonu said he lost his wife and three children aged between six years and two years.

“My wife and the children were moving to a safe place because our house was already submerged,’’ he said.

In his remarks, Chief Paul Odenigbo, Executive Secretary Anambra State Emergency Management Agency told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the search for more victims was still on-going.

He said that only nine persons survived the accident even as about 20 corpses have been recovered so far.

“When this kind of accident occurs, it usually take little time before the dead bodies start to float; we hope that once that happens, all the remaining bodies will be recovered,’’ he said.

Meanwhile, an already flooded worship place located in a primary school at Iyiowa- Odekpe collapsed on Sunday.

Chief Peter Okala, a resident told NAN that many buildings in the area were already submerged.

“As I speak with you, many buildings in Odekpe are covered by water including my house, the worship place and many other structures.

“The ground floors of most of the buildings are already covered by water and several people are passing through harrowing experiences.

“Let Gov. Chukwuma Soludo and the relevant Federal Government agencies come to our help because with more rains, the situation will deteriorate,’’ he said.

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FRSC Moves to End Hospital Rejection of Road Crash Victims, Introduces Penalties

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The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) says it is strengthening efforts to end the rejection of road crash victims by hospitals, warning that healthcare facilities could face penalties for refusing to provide emergency treatment.

The Corps Public Education Officer, DCC Osondu Ohaeri, disclosed this during an appearance on the Nigeria Television Authority’s (NTA) Good Morning Nigeria programme, where he discussed the human stories behind road crash statistics.

Ohaeri explained that the Corps had intensified its engagement with relevant government authorities to ensure that provisions addressing the rejection of accident victims by hospitals were incorporated into traffic regulations.

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According to him, hospitals found guilty of rejecting road crash victims could face a fine of ₦50,000, although he noted that the provision was undergoing further review.

He said the measure was designed to ensure that victims receive immediate medical attention instead of being turned away when they arrive at healthcare facilities.

“The essence of doing that is that no accident victim will be taken to hospital without getting attention,” Ohaeri said.

He added that the consequences of rejecting crash victims extend beyond financial penalties, as such actions could also damage the reputation of the hospitals involved.

The FRSC spokesman also highlighted other measures introduced by the Corps to improve emergency response and reduce fatalities, including its Road Traffic Data Management System, which helps identify high-risk locations for targeted interventions and deployment of personnel.

He explained that the agency uses the data gathered to guide its policies, determine areas requiring urgent attention and strengthen its road safety operations.

Ohaeri further disclosed that the FRSC operates a 24-hour call centre that receives reports of road crashes and other traffic-related emergencies before connecting callers to the nearest command for prompt intervention.

According to him, the system has helped reduce the Corps’ emergency response time from approximately 10 minutes to nearly three minutes.

He said trained paramedics and emergency response teams are subsequently deployed to accident scenes to provide assistance to victims.

“So within that golden hour, you see a road safety personnel arriving at the scene with a team, because our paramedics have been trained to respond to such, and it has actually paid off,” he said.

Ohaeri, however, acknowledged that the Corps had yet to achieve its desired level of emergency response, stressing that efforts were ongoing to improve rescue operations and minimise fatalities from road crashes.

 

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Radda Sacks KTTV General Manager

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Katsina State Governor, Malam Dikko Umaru Radda, has approved the immediate removal of the General Manager of Katsina State Television (KTTV), Malam Abba Zayyan, over concerns about the station’s performance.

The decision was announced in a statement issued on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Ibrahim Kaula Mohammed.

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According to the statement, Zayyan’s removal followed his alleged inability to align the station’s operations with the administration’s Building Your Future Agenda, despite significant investments by the state government to reposition the television station.

Governor Radda expressed disappointment over what he described as KTTV’s continued operation below expectations, particularly its failure to effectively communicate government policies and programmes to residents of the state and a wider audience.

The governor noted that his administration had provided modern broadcasting equipment, upgraded infrastructure and institutional support to transform the station into a professional and competitive media organisation capable of projecting Katsina State positively.

Despite these interventions, he said the station had not delivered the expected results.

Following the development, Radda directed the most senior officer at KTTV to take over the management of the station in an acting capacity pending the appointment of a substantive General Manager.

The governor also thanked Zayyan for his services to the state and wished him success in his future endeavours.

 

 

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Shell Commends Oil Industry Reforms as Key to Unlocking More Barrels

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Shell has commended the recent reforms in the oil and gas industry as a right step in Nigeria’s aspiration to unlock more barrels of oil.

Delivering a goodwill message at the 44th annual International Conference and Exhibition of the Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE) in Lagos today, Executive Vice President and Country Chair, Shell Nigeria, Elohor Aiboni acknowledged the fiscal and regulatory incentives that have enhanced the competitiveness of Nigeria’s deepwater sector, strengthened investor confidence and reinforced her position as a destination for long-term energy investments.

“We look forward to deepening our partnership with NAPE, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), government and industry stakeholders as we work together to unlock more barrels, grow reserves, attract investment, and deliver greater value for Nigeria,” she said.

The theme of the five-day conference is: “Unlocking More Barrels: Driving Reserves Growth through Exploration, Local Capabilities and Adaptive Technology,” with geoscientists and associated professionals from within and outside the country in attendance.

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Aiboni described the theme as “timely and relevant as our industry works to strengthen energy security, attract investment and unlock Nigeria’s vast resource potential.” She commended NAPE President Olajumoke Cecelia Ajayi and the leadership team “for bringing industry stakeholders together around these critical priorities and for fostering the collaboration needed to drive reserves growth and sustainable investment in Nigeria’s energy sector.”

Aiboni also commended the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) “for its unwavering focus on growing Nigeria’s hydrocarbon production and reserves and continued partnership with industry in creating an enabling environment for investment and growth.”

Earlier, the NAPE president had acknowledged Aiboni’s achievements as Managing Director of SNEPCo and wished her more milestones in her role as Executive Vice President and Country Chair, Shell Nigeria.

Shell is a principal sponsor of the 44th annual international conference and exhibition of NAPE and is mounting an exhibition on its operations in Nigeria. Aiboni led dignitaries on a visit to the stand, including, Special Adviser to the Presidency on Energy, Olu Verheijen.

Photo Caption: Cross-section of delegates and industry stakeholders at the Shell booth during the 44th Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE) Annual International Conference and Exhibition at Eko Hotel, Lagos.

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