Dana Crash: Why Compensation to Victims' Families is Slow

Dana Airline

by: Dele Ogbodo

Almost a year after the crash of Dana Airline in Iju, a Lagos suburb, killing about 153 persons on board the aircraft, the Minister of Aviation, Ms. Stella Oduah, yesterday stated that legal tussles resulting from squabbles of the relatives of victims, coupled with the lack of proper documentation, have been responsible for the slow payments of claims and compensation to relatives of the victims.

Addressing the heads of parastatals, agencies and stakeholders of the ministry in Abuja, Oduah admitted that only 30 per cent of the 153 victims’ claim have been paid by Dana Airline, stressing that the legal tussles had made it difficult and in some cases extremely impossible for the airline operator to fulfil its obligation.

The minister, however, said in the last one year, the ministry had worked closely with Dana Airline, the relevant insurance companies and the Lagos State Government to ensure the expeditious processing and payment of claims and compensation to families of victims of the crash.

“Specifically, on our request, Lagos State Government, granted waivers on the mandatory requirements for the processing of claims, so as to lighten the burden of the bereaved family members,” she said.

Speaking further, she said the crash remained one of the major blots in what she described as an otherwise remarkable two years of her stewardship.

She said: “Our hearts continue to go out to the families of the victims that perished in that tragic accidents. I wish to assure you that we shall not rest until every claim is verified and all the victims’ families are fully compensated in accordance with existing law and regulations,” she said.

While government was still awaiting the final report of the investigation into the crash from the department of Accident Investigation and Prevention Bureau (AIPB), the minister said the ministry had been working round the clock since the incident to ensure that such sad event never happens again in the country’s airspace.

Oduah said it was based on her recommendation that President Goodluck Jonathan set up the Technical and Administrative Panel on Domestic Airlines (TARPDA), adding that the panel had since concluded its work and submitted its report, which contained recommendations that would enhance aviation safety in the country.

“I am glad to announce that over 90 per cent of the recommendations have been adopted and are currently being implemented,” she said.

According to her, one major recommendation of the panel was the need to review the 2001 National Civil Aviation Policy (NCAP), to bring it in line with international standards and best practices”, adding that: “I am pleased to state that the NCAP 2013 has been approved by government.”