Governor Fashola, victims’ families unveil Dana Air crash cenotaph in emotional one year anniversary

The families expressed their dissatisfaction with the Dana.

The Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, and some family members of the victims of last year’s ill-fated Dana Air mishap, unveiled a cenotaph at the site of the crash at Iju-Ishaga, Lagos.

They also unveiled a tomb block engraved with 157 names of the victims of the plane crash.
“This cenotaph which we are unveiling here today will ensure that their memories never die,” said Mr. Fashola.

“This monument will stand as a permanent memorial to these family men, women and children; and we will cherish each of their stories – stories of potential and of fulfilment, stories of true heroes,” he added.

On June 3, 2012, a Dana MD-83 aircraft crashed into a two storey building in the crowded suburb killing all 153 people on board.

The horrific air disaster also claimed the lives about 10 people on the ground.

However, Lagos State government’s records at the anniversary stated that there were four ground victims who perished in the crash.

Mr. Fashola urged the victims’ families not to be crest fallen.

“A year may seem like a long time, but for the families and friends of the men women and children we lost, that day does not feel like history,” Mr. Fashola said. “The memories of that day are probably as fresh as they are painful; particularly today when you are forced to confront the thoughts you may have pushed to the innermost recesses of your minds, just to enable you get from one day to the next.”

“What does one say at a time like this? What does one say when words will never be enough?

“Many of us cannot even begin to imagine how great your suffering must have been this last one year,” he added.

Source: Premium Times