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