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Nigerian Navy will continue to support NOSDRA – Navy Chief

Published

6 years ago

May 22, 2019

The Nigerian Navy has said that it will continue to support the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) to curb the menace of oil spills in the country.

The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas said this when the D-G of NOSDRA and some of his Directors paid him a courtesy visit on Wednesday in Abuja.

Acvording to him, we have been addressing the consequences of oil spill that we all know that are deliberately caused by criminals and saboteurs.

“There is hardly a day that passes without the Navy shutting down illegal refineries as well as vandalised pipes and abandoned oil well.

“Because if these criminals do not have the means of getting the oil it will slow down their effort at attempting to steal and refine the products’’.

Ibas congratulates the agency for the wonderful job they have been doing.

“ The efforts you have carried out is noble, I want to assure you that when you need us, rest assured that we will provide the needed support.

“The Navy have been partnering with your agency and we have concerned in the devastation of oil spills in the country.

“The statistics and the records we have show that something serious need to be done therefore we must come together to address the menace being done in the environment.

the Navy Chief, however solicited for the support of all stakeholder in keeping the environment safe and secured.

“It’s a campaign that we are going to solicit the support of all stakeholders to be able to address the menace,’’ he said.

Earlier, the D-G of NOSDRA, Mr Idris Musa said that the agency has been embarking on consultations to sensitise the people of the communities on the dangers and implications of oil spills.

“We want to let the community people to understand what dangers there are in the case of oil spill: when oil spills, it goes into the rivers that they drink or use for domestic purposes.

“It also goes to farmland, to the creeks and to the fish, all of these places are places are endangered and we need them all the time to sustain our daily livelihood.

“It destroys the environment, endangers your life as a person and cause some social and economic dislocation to the community where you come from and Nigeria at large’’.

He said that the agency will continue to consult and give details on the issues of disaster that is awaiting if communities do not stop or point fingers at people who engage in the criminal activities.

“We are going to be discussing with the Independent Marketers Association of Nigeria, Major Oil Marketers of Nigeria, and the Depot Marketers Association of Nigeria.

“We want to let them our next line of action so that when we get to them it won’t be strange to them.

“We will sensitise them and get them to understand what role they should play to avoid polluting ground wate: because ground water remediation is very costly, more difficult and takes more time, so we need to begin to sensitise them in these areas too’’.

The D-G, however solicited the support of the Navy, saying, we have been having a lot of challenges especially on our water ways, the creeks and creek lets in the Niger-Delta.

“We do not want to be having oil spills all the time because our vision is to have a Zero tolerance to oil spill.

“It’s unfortunate that in spite of the efforts, we still see some of these criminals finding their ways into our water ways to puncture our pipe lines.

“The recent case is in April where the 24inch and the 28inch Trans-Niger pipelines were cut by some miscreants and another one in Ondo state, the fire is still burning now as we speak’’.

He therefore asked for more support from the Navy to have a very safe and conducive environment.

“ Noting the way we now operate and most of our oil companies are moving off shore and land shore, we now see that the task of maintain a very secure marine environment cannot be over emphasized.

“So we want to make sure that the custodians of the National Oil Spill Contingency plan are in touch with all our major stakeholders. (NAN)

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Daughters of Dr. Charles Ononiwu, Chiamanda and Chiamaka, Launch Debut Books to Uplift Hearts Facing Life’s Struggles

Published

3 weeks ago

October 10, 2025

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

At just 18 and 20 years old, Chiamanda and Chiamaka Ononiwu — daughters of renowned Nigerian surgeon Dr. Charles Ononiwu — have achieved a remarkable milestone with the release of their debut inspirational books, Do Not Be Afraid and Waterfalls.

Their literary journey began six years ago, during the height of the global COVID-19 pandemic. While the world was engulfed in fear and uncertainty, the then 13- and 15-year-old sisters turned inward, using writing as an outlet to process their emotions, express their faith, and reach out to others with messages of hope and resilience.

What began as a quiet act of creativity blossomed into two powerful books that now serve as beacons of light for readers navigating life’s storms.

Eighteen-year-old Chiamanda Ononiwu is the author of Do Not Be Afraid. A passionate Electrical Engineering student , she is also a proud alumna of Intellichild TLC and Valedictorian of Great Blessings School, Class of 2022.

In her book, she addresses the emotional challenges many young people face and draws from her personal faith to offer guidance and encouragement.

Her elder sister, Chiamaka Ononiwu, 20, is a final-year medical student at Babcock University in Nigeria. She penned Waterfalls, a heartfelt and deeply spiritual work she describes as divinely inspired. Chiamaka views her writing as a calling — a mission to uplift souls and bring hope to those struggling with life’s challenges.

“Personally, I would say it all started with the idea of inclusion, inspired by real human experiences,” Chiamaka shared. “We’ve had conversations with people who’ve gone through difficult situations — including issues and those stories helped shape what I write today.”

She added, “It’s all about encouraging people to face life with faith. We began this journey during a dark time in the world, and I felt called to create something that could offer comfort and hope — not just locally, but globally.”

The official book launch and signing ceremony took place on Wednesday in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, and was attended by family, friends, colleagues, and well-wishers. It was a celebration of creativity, faith, and youthful brilliance, as the sisters presented their work to an inspired audience.

Speaking at the event, Chiamaka emphasized the core message of her book: “Waterfalls reminds readers that God is always watching over His people. He doesn’t bring fear — He brings peace, hope, and love. I want readers to find comfort and assurance in that truth.”

For Chiamanda, her book is a message to young people who may feel overwhelmed by life’s pressures: “Do Not Be Afraid is especially for youth navigating difficult times. No matter how hard life gets, you can always find strength and direction in God’s word.”

Writing came naturally to both sisters. Chiamaka recalled, “Even as a child, I loved writing short stories for my siblings. When the opportunity came to publish, I knew it was time to share my message with a wider audience.”

Despite their demanding academic paths, both young women balanced their studies with writing through perseverance and faith.

Chiamanda and Chiamaka are united by a shared dream — to inspire people across the world with their writing.

Chiamaka expressed Further; “Our biggest hope is that these books will reach people who need to know that God is real, that He’s always with them, and that through Him, anything is possible,” Chiamaka said.

With Do Not Be Afraid and Waterfalls, the Ononiwu sisters have not only created literary works — they’ve created lifelines. Their voices, grounded in faith and driven by purpose, remind readers everywhere that even in the darkest moments, God’s light never fades.

Their father, Dr. Charles Ononiwu — a distinguished surgeon and deeply devoted parent — also spoke at the event, sharing the journey from his perspective.

“For me, my number one priority has always been to care for children — not just medically, but also by encouraging them academically and in the basics of life,” he said.

He recounted a moving moment with Chiamanda, who approached him with the idea of sharing her story publicly to inspire others.

“She came to me and said she wanted to talk to her peers, to share how she had been comforted, and to help them see that everything would be okay,” he recalled. “As a father, my role was to guide her. I support both of them, help activate their strengths, and provide direction.”

Dr. Ononiwu made the decision to fund the publication of their books himself, believing in the power of their message.

“I told them, ‘You have something the world needs. You can make an impact in the lives of others,’” he said. “I believe every child has a gift. It is our responsibility as parents not to dismiss them, but to help them discover and nurture their talents.”

He encouraged all parents to support their children’s creative pursuits, noting, “Every person has something special inside them — no one is without talent. It’s just a matter of looking inward, discovering that gift, and sharing it with the world.”

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