The management of Dana Air, yesterday, said that it has commenced the final payment of $70,000 (about N10.5 million) to families of each of the victims of its June 3 Lagos air crash.
Head of Corporate Communications, Dana Air, Mr Tony Usidamen, made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.
It will be recalled that a Dana air flight from Abuja to Lagos crashed on June 3 at Iju-Ishaga, Lagos, killing all 153 persons aboard, and some others on the ground.
Usidamen explained that $70,000 were being paid to each of the families of the victims by Prestige Assurance Ltd., Insurer of Dana Air.
“The final payment is necessary after the advance payments of $30,000 (about N4.7 million) to over 80 families,” he said.
Usidamen noted that the Civil Aviation Act stipulated that the sum of $100,000 (about N15 million), be paid as compensation to families of victims of air disasters.
“Following receipt of Letter of Authentication from the Probate Registry, our insurer has begun the balance payment of $70,000 to affected families.
“Only four other families have, so far, presented the requisite Grant of Probate or Letter of Administration, and payment will shortly be made to them too.
“In order to assess and verify full compensation, it is necessary for claimants to produce the required Grants of Probate or Letters of Administration,” he said.
Usidamen noted that the letter should be authenticated by the Probate Registry before the final payment.
“This is a customary procedure to ensure that just compensation is paid to the right next-of-kin.
“Dana Air has no control over the speed with which the Probate Registry deals with the verification process, although maximum pressure is being exerted to expedite this.