Jonathan declares 3-day national mourning

…Orders investigation

Photo:

Sun News Publishing

Scene from the Dana plane crash site

By:

JULIANA TAIWO-OBALONYE, Abuja

Date:

Mon, 06/04/2012 - 00:44

President Goodluck Jonathan has declared a three-day national mourning in honour of all those who lost their lives in the Dana Air plane crash in Lagos yesterday. According to a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, Jonathan has also cancelled all his public engagements scheduled for today and directed that the Nigerian flag be flown at half-mast for the national mourning period.

Meanwhile, the president has ordered investigation into the crash. The statement said, “in compliance with the president’s directive, the Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah, has already left Abuja for Lagos to oversee the crash investigations and present an interim report to the government soonest.

“President Jonathan joins all Nigerians in mourning all those who lost their lives in the crash which has plunged the nation into further sorrow on a day when Nigerians were already in grief over the loss of many other innocent lives in the Church bombing in Bauchi State.

“President Jonathan assures air travellers that every possible effort will be made to ensure that the right lessons are learnt from the tragic loss of valuable lives in the plane crash. He said further measures will be put in place to boost aviation safety.

“He prays that God Almighty will grant the bereaved families the courage and fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.”
SOURCE: The Sun, 4 June 2012. http://sunnewsonline.com/