State House Press Release, June 3, 2012 - –
PRESIDENT JONATHAN DECLARES THREE DAYS OF NATIONAL MOURNING FOR VICTIMS OF DANA
PLANE CRASH -
President
Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has declared a three-day period of national mourning
for all those who lost their lives in the Dana plane crash in Lagos today.
President Jonathan who has cancelled all his public engagements scheduled for
tomorrow, has also directed that the Nigerian flag be flown at half-mast for
the three days of national mourning.
Meanwhile,
the President has ordered the fullest possible investigation into the crash. In
compliance with the President’s directive, the Minister of Aviation, Princess
Stella Oduah has already left Abuja for Lagos to oversee the crash
investigations and present an interim report to the Federal Government as
quickly as possible.
The
President joins all Nigerians in mourning all those who lost their lives in the
plane crash which has sadly plunged the nation into further sorrow on a day
when Nigerians were already in grief over the loss of many other innocent lives
in the church bombing in Bauchi State.
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.
He
prays that God Almighty will grant the families of the victims of the plane
crash the courage and fortitude to bear their irreparable loss.
Reuben
Abati Special Adviser to the President (Media & Publicity) June 3, 2012