LAGOS—The Management and staff of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, have extended their deepest sadness of its staff and other passengers that died in the Dana plane crash on Sunday.
The condolence is coming even as the family of the late Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Dr. Levi Ajuonuma, is still struggling to come to terms with his death.
In a condolence message to the bereaved families, the Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Mr. Austen Oniwon, described the misfortune as a “trying period,” while urging “the NNPC family to keep faith.”
The message was contained in a statement on Monday and signed by the General Manager, Media Relations Department, Group Public Affairs Division, Dr. Omar Farouk Ibrahim.
The statement read in part, “The Management and staff of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, received with great shock the news of the air crash involving Dana Airlines Flight 0992 from Abuja to Lagos on Sunday, June 3, 2012 in Iju-ishaga area of Lagos.”
However, the statement did not specifically acknowledge the demise of Ajuonuma, but quoted Oniwon as praying “for the repose of the gentle souls of our departed colleagues, members of their families and other Nigerian and international passengers and crew in the ill-fated aircraft and for God to grant the nation, the nuclear families that lost their beloved ones the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.”
The NNPC boss, who is said to be in the United States where he is attending an official engagement, further said that “NNPC as a family is united in faith with God who is all-knowing; it is only God that can comfort and console us at this dark hour.”
He also extended his “deep condolences to Mr. President, the Honourable Minister of Petroleum Resources, members of the NNPC and the Nigerian Oil and Gas industry family that have lost a number of their colleagues in the disaster.”
Meanwhile, the family of the late Ajuonuma is still too shocked to make any public statement on the loss of their dear one.
As at the time Vanguard visited his home located at Omodara Estate, off Opebi Road, Ikeja, one of his daughters, who did not want to be quoted simply said, “We’re not saying anything yet, we’re still in shock.”
She also said that their mother was not in a state to receive sympathizers, as she was still in shock, even as some church members of the deceased were on hand to pray with the family.
While at the house, a family member, who also pleaded for anonymity, promised that “the family will issue a statement on our brother soon, but not later than tomorrow (today).”
The Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, and the Group Chief Executive of the Ondo Group, Mr. Wale Tinubu, were also at the deceased’s house to pay their condolence.
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The minister described Ajuonuma “as a unique individual who enjoyed doing his job and did it so well.”
She said Ajuonuma would be missed by generality of Nigerians, who he spoke for.
Also, the Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR, the petroleum industry regulator, on Monday announced the death of one of its Assistant Directors/Zonal Operations Manager, Abuja, Mr. Anthony Nwokoagbara, also a passenger in the ill-fated flight.
According to the DPR, the late Nwokoagbara joined the department in 1980, “and has worked in various locations of DPR, including being one time Zonal Controller in Owerri.”
The regulator added that “He will be sadly missed by management and staff of the DPR nd the Nigerian Oil and Gas sector in particular.”
SOURCE: Vanguard Newspaper, 5 June 2012. http://www.vanguardngr.com/
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