Even If Dana Air Bribes Their Way ... ....

Scene of Plane crash on June 3, 2012

It is no more news that Nigerian Ministry of Aviation has through announced through its media adviser, Joe Obi to the minister that the ministry has  lifted the flight ban slammed on the Indian aviation company, Dana Air. Consequently, Dana can resume flight operations. On June 3 this year, one of Dana planes Mc Donnell (MD 83) which was coming to Lagos from Abuja had its two engines failed when it was about to land at
Muritala Mohammed Airport, Ikeja.  It crash landed  on a residential area of Iju area of Lagos killing all the 153  passengers on board inclusive of  6 cabin crew. The plane was piloted by american pilot who lost his pilot job abroad before he was engaged by Dana Air.

Nigeria has had so many tales of woos about air disaster which was predominant in 2005 and 2006. The chronology of passenger air disaster is described below:

a. November 13, 1995: Nigeria Airways Boeing 737  crashed on landing in Kaduna killing all the nine passengers on board.

b.November 7, 1996, Boeing 727 belonging to ADC Airline crashed as it flew from Port Harcourt to Lagos. All 142 passengers and 9 crew members died.

c. May 4, 2002: An EAS operated airplane, BAC 1-11 crashed at Gwammaja Area of Kano as it was taking off from Kano airport. About 148 people were killed.

d. October 22, 2005: Aircraft belonging  to Bellview Airline Boeing 737, crashed at Ifo Area of Ogun State killing all the 111 passengers and 6 crew members.

e. October 10, 2005: Air plane operated by Sosoliso Airline DC9 en route from Abuja to Port Harcourt crash landed and broke into two killing all the 106 children on board mainly School Children travelling home for Christmas. Prominent among them are the Irabo family who lost about three children and  late Pastor  Odukoya Bimbo of Singles and Married.

f. October 29, 2006: An ADC Airliner with 114 passengers on board crashed as it was about to leave Abuja Airport, burning and killing 96 people. Prominent was Sultan of Sokoto,  Mohammed Maccido

g. June 3, 2012: Dana Air: Crashed into a residential Area of Iju -Agege Lagos as it was about to land killing 153 on board.

The question is: What is the fate of all these air lines in aviation business? Where is Nigeria Airways? Where is ADC Airline?Where is EAS airline? Is Bellview still doing well? What of Sosoliso? Where do you describe their activity?

The evil deed has been done but factually, all these incidents are still fresh in the memory of Nigerians and  Air travelers at large. Do you expect air travelers not to have a second thought in the air ticket they purchase for their air travels? Once an aviation company has any of its planes involved in air disaster and especially killing all the people on board, then there is this disenchantment or indifferent attitude shown by air travelers in purchasing the company's tickets. In the case of Dana, it was quite pathetic. There were so many damning revelations from so many eye witnesses that the plane's engine have been having problems long before the accident. It was reported that it was equally having hydraulic faults. One of the witness is incumbent Governor of Akwibom State, Dr Godswill Akpabio who gave stern warning to the management of Dana Air through phone calls and also official letter after people of Akwaibom kept complaining to the governor after their subsequent trips. 

My School mate Phiz Patrick said that he would be going for thanksgiving after Dana accident. Why?? because he would have been a victim having used the plane two days before,he used it on  Friday to go to Abuja from Lags and back. He said  '' My seat was close to the engine and the noise was too much to bear as the plane about taking off''.  When asked why he did not report it to the management; he said ''they wouldn't listen, they were just saying thank you for choosing Dana''.

Having seen all these gross negligence and taking Nigerians for a ride by the Indian company,  how do you think travelers will elect to purchase Dana ticket to travel by air? It was reported that the plane was over 22 year of age but the management of Dana denied it. 

So many families of the victims have not even identified the corpses of their beloved ones, some families have not been compensated example Pastor Daniel Omowunmi a pastor with Living faith church and a business man whose house was reduced to rubble in the disaster. He was given N500,000 which he refused to accept.

''The wounded hearts are still bleeding and they have not been taken into consideration''- Obinna Ajuonuma, first son of late Levi Ajuonuma, former NNPC spokesman. 

Is it to avoid losing Dana business in Nigeria? or what? why will government restore Dana license just after two months after the airline wasted 153 passengers Nigerians and foreigners. If it were abroad that this has happened  do you think this is the way foreign governments will act. So may corpses are still in  Lagos state university teaching hospital Morgue. Corona Inquest into the Dana accident has been suspended!! Government has given Dana Air a marching order to resume using their flying coffins called aeroplane to transport passengers.  Apparently, there is compromise on the side of federal government. How will the Anyene family (from Ndiowu, Orumba North Local Governement Area of Anambra State and inlaw to Dr Alex Ekwuee)who lost about nine persons feel when they hear that Dana is back?

Finally, even if Dana Air bribes their way back into aviation business in Nigeria, Nigerians should not be quick to forget the past. Even if Dana changes business name, people should open their eyes.