Dana Crash: Lagos Compensates Land Owners With N20m.

Five landlords, whose buildings were destroyed and later demolished in the aftermath of the June 3, 2012 Dana plane crash at the Iju-Ishaga area of Lagos State, have been compensated.

It was gathered that the plots of land were acquired by the Lagos State Government after the demolition for the purpose of building a cenotaph in memory of the victims of the crash. The landowners were compensated on Tuesday with N20m.

The acquired land measured 2,834.917 square metres. Those compensated by the government were people with approved landed documents.

Those who benefitted from the compensation were Mr. Isaac Aduroja, Pastor Daniel Omowumi, Alhaja Ramota Akinwusi, Pastor Ezekiel Akin-Jesu and Alhaji Wahab Oshinaya.

They received their cheques at a short ceremony at the state Lands Bureau in Ikeja.

Permanent Secretary, Lands Bureau, Hakeem Muri-Okunola, said between N4 and N5m was paid per plot of land, in accordance with fair market value.

Muri-Okunola, who was represented by the Executive Secretary, Lands Bureau and acting Permanent Secretary, Aina Salami, said after the Dana Air crash, the damaged buildings had to be demolished because they were no longer safe for human habitation.

He said, “Governor Babatunde Fashola approved that a cenotaph and epitaph be erected on the crash site as a memorial to the departed souls. The monument is also serving as a place where relations, friends and loved ones could visit to relieve pains and agony associated with the mishap.

“It should remind Nigerians to be cautious and to do all in their power to prevent such occurrence as well as ensuring that the lessons of the incident are not lost on us as a people.

“Since the crash also caused destruction of structures and personal property, it is expected that the management of Dana Airlines will compensate all those who were affected in that regard.”

However, one of the beneficiaries, Omowunmi, told our correspondent in an interview that he was still meeting with his lawyers on the offer by the government, adding that he had not made up his mind on the offer.