Nigeria Reps Condemn Fresh Flights By Dana

Nigeria’s  House of Representatives has threatened to probe Dana Air following the manner in which the hitherto suspended airline recently resumed flights after one of its planes crashed in June last year, killing over 150 passengers on board.

A release signed by the Chairman of the Committee on Aviation,  Nkeiruka C. Onyejeocha, noted that the House is particularly worried that all issues relating to the crash have not been resolved, including issues of compensation to victims and air safety.

The chairman, however, advises Nigerians to be patient as the House of Representatives is committed to the safety of the country’s airspace.

Onyejeocha promised that as soon as the House of Representatives resumes next week, this issue will be looked into.

“The concerns, displeasure and opinions of Nigerians will not be brushed aside,” she promised and appealed for patience and restraint.

The families of the 153 passengers who were killed on board the Dana aircraft crashed  last year have continued to bemoan their fate, saying the airline has been unfair to them.

Those who also lost property to the disaster complained about the insincerity of the airline in ameliorating  their pains after the disaster.

Victims which include widows, young parents and children have cried out to both the Federal and Lagos state governments to ensure what was left of their lives is not shattered.

Spokeman of the seriously affected victims, Chike Okwuosa, said he was disappointed that the Federal Government had allowed the airline to address the matter with such levity.  Okwuosa’s Lawyer, Mr. Monday Ubani, said he expected the government to ensure that all affected persons were compensated by the airline before returning its licence.

Six months after it was grounded by the Nigerian government following the Sunday, 3 June, 2012 plane crash, Dana Air  resumed flight operations last Friday.

Dana Air Flight 9J353 left the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, southwest Nigeria on Friday, a  few minutes after 10 a.m. and landed in Abuja at 11.05 packed with celebrities, journalists and some passengers.

Though the flight was not fully booked as many passengers remain weary after the 3 June plane crash, some of the celebrities who defied fear were commedians Basketmouth, Buchi, muscian Harrison and Kuba crew, among others. Among passengers was Mrs. Adetoun Adetokunbo, a worker with the Federal Ministry Of Water And Mineral resources, whose husband died in a 1991 plane crash and who survived a plane crash in Monrovia in 1994.

—Desmond Utomwen/Abuja