Captain Anthony Onajite   Makpo who was in command of the Nigeria Airways Flight WT  470 with about 149 passengers aboard the Airbus A310 with registration mark 5N-AUH that was on domestic operation from Lagos to Abuja when it was hijacked to Niamey,Niger Republic on Monday October 25,1993 is dead.

His death was announced by his younger brother, Conrad Makpo. He said the Captain  died peacefully  at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) on Monday  March 18,2024 after a brief illness at the age of 84.

Recounting  the glowing qualities of Capt.Makpo,Conrad described him: “to me, my brother whom I also called my father, was everything to me after God. He motivated me endlessly in all ramifications.”

“ He used his elderly wisdom to imbue into me moral uprightness. But for him, I would not have attained the position I am today.”

“He served this country well. He was in the Nigerian Air Force as a pilot.He rose to the rank of a Major(Squadron Leader). He veered into civil aviation after leaving the Nigerian Air Force.May his gentle soul Rest In Peace.”

His first child,Mrs. Roseline Gabriel,speaking on behalf of her siblings said the children have every reason to thank God in that their father lived a fulfilled life.

”He attained the peak of his career.All the children,grand,great and  great great grand children are doing very well in their chosen field.”

In her words:”He was a fantastic loving,caring  father.He was a man that cared for others before himself.He took pleasure seeing people smiling, an achiever, a great man.”

“He came to this world,he saw and he conquered. We will miss him.He was a humble man to the core.Above all,he was a loving family man,fathers father,we are not mourning,we are celebrating and thanking God for allowing us to come to this world through him.”

According to Mrs.Gabriel,the news of his death was shocking to us.He was very healthy,smiling and dancing during his last birthday.He had a genuine love for all mankind.

The family is yet to meet to fix the date for his burial.

Capt.Makpo hailed from Okwijorogu in Okpe Local Government Area of Delta State.

Captain Makpo told Aviationline in  one of his numerous interviews with the  publication that the Federal Government was yet to fulfill all its numerous promises made to him after surviving the hijack.

The promises include cash reward, National Honour .He said that  in other climes, besides the airlines, government had other packages for a pilot that survive hijack  to mitigate the trauma he may have gone through during the harrowing moment. It maybe government may look at that direction one of these days and give him posthumous award.