President Jonathan Declares Three Days of National Mourning For Victims of Dana Plane Crash

 President Goodluck Jonathan has declared three days of national mourning in honour of the lives lost in the Dana plane crash in Lagos today.

According to a State House press statement, President Jonathan has cancelled all his public engagements scheduled for tomorrow, and directed that the Nigerian flag be flown at half-mast for the mourning period.  He has also ordered the fullest possible investigation into the crash.

In compliance with the President’s directive, the Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah has travelled to Lagos to oversee the crash investigations.

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

It has been a traumatic and tragic 24 hours for Nigeria.  In Ghana yesterday, an Allied Air Boeing 727-200 plane from Nigeria crashed at Kotoka Airport; 10 people were reported to have been killed.

This morning in the Yelwan Tudu area of Bauchi, a suicide bomber drove a car into the Harvest Field Church of Christ, leaving 10 dead and at least 40 injured.