A van for removing the remains of victims of Dana plane crash at the scene of the accident; Olaniyi Street, off Toyin, Iju Agege, Lagos State on June 4, 2012. PHOTOS: BJ. BOBBY

Lagos State Governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola (SAN) on Tuesday met with members of the Diplomatic Community whose nationals were involved in the DANA Air mishap in Iju-Ishaga area on Sunday, expressing his personal condolences to them for the unfortunate accident.

Governor Fashola who met the diplomats at the Lagos House, Ikeja said the meeting was convened to enable him convey condolences on behalf of the Government and people of the State and to share with the diplomats the processes by which the foreign missions can identify their nationals who were involved in the mishap.

The Governor said the administration will also like to ask the missions what the Government could do to assist them at this difficult period. He advised that they should contact the Commissioner for Health, Dr Jide Idris, the Commissioner for Special Duties, Dr Wale Ahmed and Special Adviser on Public Health for any enquiries or possible areas of assistance.

The Governor explained to the diplomats that the process of identifying the victims was a complex and painstaking one with many consequences that are economic and legal, and that there are laws that guide the process of possibly releasing remains of some of the identified victims to their relatives.

He added that right now, recoveries of bodies of victims is still going on at the site of the crash and until the regulatory agencies in charge of that decides that rescue operations have ended, Government must exercise every care in dealing with the bodies of victims, very little action can take place in terms of release of bodies.

The Governor directed that a team to be led by the State Deputy Governor join a meeting scheduled for 2pm Tuesday between the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the Dana Air on the air mishap.

Speaking on behalf of the diplomats, the Consul General of China, Liu Xianta said the members of the diplomatic corps were very appreciative of the efforts of the State Government on the incident.

He said the missions will want the bodies of their nationals who have been identified after the necessary tests have been carried out among those in the mortuary to be released to them for burial rites in earnest.

Among the members of the diplomatic community who were present at the meeting were Consul General of France, Mr Francois Sastowrne, head of office of High Commission of India, Mr Rani Malick, Consul General of Lebanon, Mr Dina Haddad, Acting Consul General of the United States of America, Mr Karl Cockburn, Consul General China, Liu Xianta.

Others are Mr Pontab Tobins of the Indonesian Embassy, Mr Stone Shi of CCECC and Agos Sutan, a director at ITPC.

Among the State Government officials that joined the Governor at the meeting were the Deputy Governor, Hon (Mrs) Adejoke Orelope Adefulire, the Head of Service, Prince Adesegun Ogunlewe, the Commissioner for Health, Environment and Special Duties, Dr Jide Idris, Mr Tunji Bello and Dr Wale Ahmed respectively as well as the Special Adviser on Public Private Partnership, Mr Ayo Gbeleyi among others.

PhysicsQED: *Wonders whether it's in any way appropriate for someone to use the aftermath of this tragedy as another avenue to promote Fashola*

*Reaches a conclusion*

*Leaves thread*