Nigeria Unbans Dana Airline

Nigeria’s federal authorities on Wednesday lifted the suspension of the operating licence of Dana Airline, withdrawn after the fatal crash of one its planes in a Lagos suburb 3 June. About 158 people, including ground victims died in the crash.

The Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah, announced the lifting of the suspension in a statement, signed by the Special Assistant to the Minister, Mr Joe Obi, in Abuja.
The statement said that the lifting of the suspension followed the Federal Government’s satisfaction with the air-worthiness of the airline’s planes after a rigorous technical, operational and financial audit of the company.
“By this development, DANA Airlines is free to resume its normal commercial flight operations,” the statement said.

It added that government would continue to strengthen its oversight and regulatory functions to ensure that all airlines operating in the country adhered strictly to safety procedures as required by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Act.
The statement said that government would ensure that other relevant local and international regulations were followed to ensure and promote sustainable air safety.

Mr Kayode Adeniran, the Station Manager of DANA Air at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, told NAN in a telephone interview that the development was welcome.
He said that the airline would ensure that all regulations were followed strictly.