The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPC Ltd, has released the identities of six employees who tragically lost their lives in a helicopter crash on Thursday.
The flight’s electronic manifest listed the deceased NNPC staff members as Tamunoemi Suku, Alu Lawrence, Etim Emmanuel, Kenneth Chikwem, Frank Oriamre, and Borris Ndorbo.
The pilot, Captain Yakubu Dukas, was also among the victims, while one additional passenger is yet unidentified.
Credible News reports that the helicopter, operated by East Winds Aviation, was en route to the FPSO-NUIMS ANTAN facility when it crashed into the Atlantic Ocean.
The Nigerian Air Management Agency had enlisted neighbouring countries namely Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea in the search for the missing crashed helicopter and four other passengers.
As of the time of the crash on Thursday, eight persons were onboard but three lifeless bodies were retrieved from the Atlantic Ocean where the chopper ditched. Two others were later recovered on Friday, putting the tally of recovered bodies at five.
Meanwhile, search operations have continued, but efforts to get either the aircraft or remaining victims from the ocean have not been fruitful.
The Managing Director of NAMA, Umar Farouq, has said that efforts were being made to find both the missing helicopter and passengers.
“Through concerted efforts, we are on top of the matter, with other agencies the search operation is on and Insha Allah we shall be successful,” he stated.
Reacting to the crash report, the Nigeria Labour Congress has expressed deep sorrow as it acknowledges the tragic news of the Eastwind Aviation helicopter crash on October 24, 2024.
National President, Joe Ajaero noted that the tragic incident claimed the lives of eight dedicated Nigerian workers on duty, while on their way to FPSO NUIM ANTAN off the coast of Calabar from Port Harcourt.
“As these workers ventured forth in service to our nation, they encountered fate’s cruel blow, reminding us once again of the sacrifices Nigerian workers make daily to build a Nigeria that caters to all”, Ajaero said.
Ajaero described the news as heartbreaking and that the loss of life underlines the difficult conditions workers often face.
“It speaks to the urgent and absolute necessity of prioritising workers’ health and safety and ensuring that Nigerian workers in any sector do not risk their lives each day to contribute to national progress.
“No worker should face death or injury as a consequence of simply doing their job. We implore the Government and all authorities tasked with Occupational Safety and Health to redouble their efforts to guarantee that workplaces and all avenues to and from work are made as safe as possible”, Ajaero stated.
He said the tragedy also heightens the concerns about the lax enforcement of safety standards, especially in high-risk sectors such as the offshore oil and gas industry, where the stakes are exceptionally high.
Credible News.ng
