By Godfrey Bivbere

Minister of Transport, Ibrahim Isa Bio yesterday constituted a committee to look into circumstances leading to the explosion of fishing trawler MT Ikeja Sky in Lagos recently. The Minister charged members of the committee to leave no stone unturned in unravelling the circumstances which resulted in the death of 12 people. He also asked the committee which has three weeks to submit its result to establish the veracity of the claim that 5 people are still missing.

Amongst others, Bio asked the committee to investigate and establish the circumstances that led to the fire incident  and the subsequent explosion involving MT Ikeja  Sky and MT Apapa Sky on  the 13th April, 2009; investigate and establish the  owners and chatterers of the vessel and those who may have connection with the vessel and identify and cross examine the crew members on Board the vessel at the time of the incident with a view to establishing the  cause (s) of the incident and the circumstances.

The minister also charged the board to investigate and establish the actual crew members on board on the day of the incident with a view to determining the veracity of the report on the missing persons; assess the compliance of such vessels with the standards prescribed  by the Ports State Control at the time of the incident;   and recommend any other measure as may be appropriate.
The Board is to be headed by Chief Magistrate Nureini Kuranga  of the Ilorin Magistrate Court. Other members are;    Barrister. Oluwatobi Omosa, Captain Emmanuel Anya, Engr. John Oguntokun and Captain Olatunji Gabriel. Mr. Emmanuel Swanta of the Federal Ministry of Transport will serve as the secretary.