I know we have all heard about the recent plane crash in Nigeria. So many lives lost needlessly.
Soon - after the dust has settled - the media will move onto something else. Similarly, most of those who were unaffected by the plane crash will all move on .........to the latest news item.........the latest red carpet event........the latest political shenanigans........the latest beauty competition......the latest celebrity divorce.......the latest 'upper class wedding'..........
Parents who lost children will never forget; spouses who lost their partners will never forget; children who lost parents will never forget; friends who lost loved ones will never forget.
Lest we forget........ here is a timeline of recent plane crashes in Nigeria:
>> Sept. 26, 1992 – A Nigerian Air Force C-130 crashed minutes after taking off from Lagos airport. Around 200 people died.
>> June 25, 1995 – A Harka Airlines Soviet-era Tupolev Tu-134 crashed at Lagos airport, killing 15 people.
>> June 25, 1995 – A Harka Airlines Soviet-era Tupolev Tu-134 crashed at Lagos airport, killing 15 people.
>> Nov. 13, 1995 – A Nigeria Airways Boeing 737 crashed on landing in Kaduna, killing nine people.
>> Nov. 7, 1996 – A Boeing 727 operated by Nigeria's ADC crashed on its way from Port Harcourt to Lagos. All 142 passengers and nine crew died.
>> May 4, 2002 – A Nigerian EAS Airlines BAC 1-11 crashed in Kano. At least 148 people were killed, 75 on the plane and at least 73 on the ground.
>> Oct. 22, 2005 – A Nigerian Bellview Airlines Boeing 737 airliner crashed shortly after take-off from Lagos. All 111 passengers and six crew were killed.
>> Dec. 10, 2005 – A Nigerian Sosoliso Airlines DC9 from Abuja crashed on landing in Port Harcourt, killing 106 people, half of them schoolchildren on their way home for Christmas.
>> Sept. 17, 2006 – Twelve Nigerian military personnel, mostly high-ranking officers, were killed in a plane crash in Benue state. Six survived.
>> Oct. 29, 2006 – An ADC airliner with 114 passengers on board crashed and burned after take-off from Abuja, killing 96 people.
>> June 3, 2012 – A Dana Air passenger plane carrying 153 people crashed in the Agege suburb of Lagos.
This means that over the past 20 years, Nigeria has lost at least a thousand lives to plane crashes. This is not God's will.
To better understand how bad this is....... one must note that since the UK started operating in Afghanistan in October 2001 - as part of coalition forces - 417 British forces' personnel have died (as at 3rd June 2012)
This means we are losing more people during peace time than other countries who are at war. I read somehwere that 'What is right is often forgotten by what is convenient' (Bodie Thoene, Warsaw Requiem). This describes Nigerian processes and procedures perfectly.
To all who are in positions of power and influence but choose NOT to do the right thing, I say....You have blood on your hands !!!
what can I say, you have said it all. A country in war has lost 417 personnel in eleven years while our there country the so called 'Giant of Africa' has lost about 626 civilians in just ten years in the time of peace.
ReplyDeleteWhat shame!
Thanks for commenting
DeleteThis is truly a sad thing to happen
Sad indeed, NIL the reality is scary. May the souls of all the dead continue to rest in perfect peace.
ReplyDeleteAmem oh
DeleteHope all is well with you
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Thanks for opening my eyes
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you found this useful
DeleteThanks for dropping by
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And this is not just about numbers but about the horrible deaths of human beings. The tears in my heart cannot be compared to the pains of those who lost their loved ones; breadwinners, hope etc.
ReplyDeleteAnd like you said, there will always be blood on the hands of those who could have done something to avert some of these crashes but chose to look the other way.
My heart goes out to all those that lost their loved ones and to all the grieving Nigerians whereever they may be.
Thanks Emeka
DeleteThe ting tire me oh
They may well have more bloods on their hands if you also think about the hundreds of thousands of lives that are lost every year on our roads because those in authority have turned a blind eye and as such accidents occur as a result of:
ReplyDelete-Bad and poorly maintained roads (contract scandals leading to shoddy jobs)
-Reckless driving/over speeding (no speed limits and where they are available, they are not enforceable)
-Drink driving (no laws against this and if we do have one, not enforceable)
-Improperly trained drivers (only in Nigeria can anyone hop into a vehicle and drive because with money and knowing the 'right' people, they can obtain a driving licence!)
-Accident cars and insurance write-off vehicles are allowed to be imported (accidents waiting to happen)
I can go on and on but the reality is we have no regard to safety in Nigeria whether it is air or road transport or even in various industries.
Until we begin to do the right thing and hold people to account when they don't, then sadly we'll have future tragedies of this nature to deal with.
you have said it all
DeleteAs always, you have expressed your views so succinctly that I agree with all you said
DeleteThe main issue is accountability.....*sigh*
It is terrible, I tell you. We have a ways to go yet.
ReplyDeleteMyne, its not a small journey ahead of us
DeleteI believe it is actually easier to put a colony on Mars than it sis to solve the Nigerian conundrum
I am hopeful sha
Thanks for dropping by
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Hmmmmmm! God help us!
ReplyDeleteYou have said it!
DeleteThanks
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I dont know what to say to the whole thing..............am still so confused and in shock
ReplyDeleteI feel you my sistah
DeleteThe whole thing leaves one confused
Where do we start from........?
Thanks
Its so sad. May their souls rest in peace!
ReplyDeleteAmen my sistah
DeleteHope all is well with you?
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And for we all, who can, but refuse to force the right thing to be done... we have our conscience too!
ReplyDeletethe move for change starts with you and I!
...2015 is almost here!
DeleteAgree my sister
Delete2015 is round the corner my sistah - let's see who will sell their votes for rice and fish........mmmmm
Thanks my sistah
Sad
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely!
DeleteThanks for dropping by
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hmmmmmm, very very sad!
ReplyDeleteI just pray for the souls of the departed that they will rest in peace
May God heal our nation in Jesus name!
Real blood on their hands..and we have our part to play too 2015
DeleteMay God heal our nation indeed. Amen!
Omoba, Amen my sistah
DeleteHope all is well with you?
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... And thousands have died in road accidents, due to bad inter-state and intra-state roads. These deaths too are avoidable because some people have just pocketed the money instead of doing their jobs.
ReplyDeleteThese numerous deaths are not the problem, they are the symptom of the problem.
Sorry for my rant. I am really sorry
No need to apologise Atilola
DeleteSummer is here again and our so called 'guardians of the nation' are over here spending willy-nilly and boosting the UK economy............while our citizens die needlessly
*sigh*
They've had blood on their hands for a long time.....
ReplyDeleteTrue my sistah
DeleteDo they even care???
Hope you are well my sister
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Wow! This truth is hard to swallow! It's tough to accept this as part of our History as a people...
ReplyDeleteYes oh.....it is part of our history
DeleteUnfortunately, we dont seem to be learning at all
*sigh*
Hope all is well sha
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The question is : what is going to change this time? We fear what the answer would be and hope we would not be proved right in a year or two.
ReplyDeleteAdura, I live in hope but.........
DeleteHope all is well with you
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I hope this time we don't forget it and move on please.
ReplyDeleteThere's been way too many tragic events for us to continue acting like all is well. All is not well, something has to be done ASAP
You have said it....ALL is not well
DeleteThanks dearie
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Do we count the countless which are lost to the bomb blasts which have now become normal for us. Our Nation is now very pathetic.
ReplyDeleteTrue true, the bombings have now become the norm
DeleteThe mind boggles oh
Hope all is well with you dearie
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You are absolutely right. This is not the will of God. But how many of us remember what normalcy is? We have adopted the attitude of "If I don't make noise me and my household will be safe" and it is ruining us. Of course, I don't blame us. Who wants to die? Hisss at this palava. God save us, amen. And give us the strength to stand up and say NO!
ReplyDeleteI go with this line of thought....we all talk....their souls rest in peace.
DeleteI agree but we MUST talk...
DeleteSilence is consent
The world must hear that not ALL Nigerians approve of the rubbish that is happening in our name
Thanks dearie
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The Nigerian situation is such a scary one. Where do we start? Who do we talk to? Do they care? how do we make them care?
ReplyDeleteWhere do we start - Each can stop bribing for a start
DeleteWho do we talk to - Each other and whoever listend
Do they care - 'they' meaning our dear custodians?...No
How do we make them care - Vote, Talk, Stop supporting corrupt officials .........?
Thanks dearie
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comparing the death toll to the death of british troupes really brings things to light...
ReplyDeleteand then politicians come and yarn dust.. infact. i dont even know what to say or who to blame. actually, i dont want to blame anyone, i just want EVERYONE TO DO THEIR JOBS WELL! from washermen (iron and wash properly) to the president.. rule the country well... police men stop taking bribes and protect the people! ARRGHH #icantshout
if everyone did their own jobs well.. not what they think their job is o.. but what their actual job description tells them to do then I believe Nigeria will be a much better place.
I feel you mys sister
DeleteYou have spoken well *sigh*
LOL @ 'yarn dust'
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