In the aftermath of a tragic helicopter crash involving Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) contract staff, President Bola Tinubu has expressed deep sorrow and called for an urgent investigation.
The accident occurred off the coast of Bonny Finima, near Port Harcourt, when the helicopter, operated by East Winds Aviation and carrying NNPC contract workers, went down in the Atlantic Ocean on Thursday.
The helicopter, identified by its registration number 5NBQG, was en route to the FPSO-NUIMS ANTAN facility when it unexpectedly crashed. In response, President Tinubu released a statement on Friday through his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
Tinubu conveyed “deepest sympathies” to the families who lost loved ones, and extended condolences to the NNPC Board and its staff. His message of solidarity aims to provide some comfort to those directly impacted by this tragic event.
The statement emphasized that search and rescue operations are underway, with intensified efforts led by the military, the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority.
Tinubu has urged all agencies involved to cooperate closely, directing military personnel to join forces with local and national safety officials. His objective is to ensure that all passengers are accounted for and to recover the wreckage, which could provide critical information about what caused the crash.
“The government’s commitment to uncovering the circumstances surrounding the accident is unwavering,” Tinubu’s statement declared, highlighting the priority placed on understanding the causes behind the incident. Recovery and support efforts are set to continue until every avenue has been explored.
On Thursday, Rivers State Police Command confirmed the crash in the Bonny region, stating that the helicopter had a total of eight occupants—two crew members and six passengers. As of the latest report, none of those on board have been reported safe, adding to the urgency of the ongoing search and rescue efforts.
In a statement released to journalists on Thursday, Grace Iringe-Koko, a spokesperson for the Rivers State Police Command, explained that the police marine division has joined other agencies in an organized search operation.
Their combined mission includes locating the wreckage and any possible survivors. “Our marine division, cooperating with other agencies, has begun a search party to recover the aircraft and the occupants,” Iringe-Koko stated.
