Mr Jackie Hathiramani, the Managing Director of Dana Air, said on Monday that 23 families had  been paid full compensation of $100,000 each as at last Friday.

Hathiramani disclosed this to journalists in Ikeja, shortly after a solemn procession to mark the first anniversary of the crash of its MD83 aircraft flight 9J 992.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the aircraft flying to Lagos from Abuja, killed about 159 people on June 3, 2012, at Iju Ishaga, Lagos, where it crashed into a residential building.

The procession took off from the domestic terminal 2 and terminated at the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) headquarters within the Murtala Mohammed Airport, Lagos.

Hathiramani said that the delay in paying full compensation to many families of the deceased was caused by incomplete documentation by some, in-fighting among family members and multiple documentation.

He also disclosed that the airline had made another offer to Pastor Daniel Omowumi, one of those who lost property to the crash at Olaniyi Street, Iju Ishaga, aside the palliative measure of US$30,000 given last year.

Hathiramani, however, did not disclose the amount involved in the latest offer made by the airline.

The managing director also expressed Dana Air’s sympathy to the families of the victims of the crash.

“We are praying that God should not allow accident to happen again in the sector,” he said.

Mr Joyce Nkemakolam, the Acting Director General of NCAA, said shortly after the procession that the regulatory agency appreciated the effort made by Dana Air to remember the victims of the crash.

Nkemakolam added that the NCAA sympathised with the families of those who lost their lives, and prayed that such a calamity would not happen again.

He assured the airline that it should not hesitate to seek the regulatory body’s assistance, as NCAA‘s doors were opened 24 hours.

Nkemakolam was represented by the agency’s Director of Human Resources and Administration, Mr Austin Amadi.

At the NCAA headquarters, Mr Basil Agboarumi, a staff member of Skyway Aviation Handling Company (SAHCOL), prayed that God should not allow such an accident to happen in the aviation industry again.

Also, Alhaji Abubakar Saruku, also offered Islamic prayers, urged the Almighty Allah to give the bereaved families the fortitude  to bear the loss.

Alhaji Muneer Bankole, the Managing Director of Med-View Airline, management staff of Dana Air– led by Capt. Oscar Wason, its Director of Flight Operations– and members of staff of the airline, attended the procession.

Also present at the procession were members of staff of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), and Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA).

The Aviation Round Table (ART), Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), and National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE), were also represented at the procession.

Read more: Vanguard