NIGERIA: Governor Fashola meets with SA govt officials, approves repatriation of 54 dead South Africans in Synagogue tragedy

Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babatunde Fashola yesterday approved the repatriation of 54 dead bodies of South Africans who were among the 116 that died in the Synagogue Church of All Nations Guest House collapse that occurred on September 12th at Ikotun area of the state.

Addressing the South African delegation-- at a meeting--led by South Africa's Minister in the Presidency Mr Jeffrey Radebe, Governor Fashola said the DNA test on 70 bodies retrieved from the scene of the incident have been concluded and gave the go-ahead for the release of the 54 South Africans which have been identified by the DNA test results.

The governor also, apologized for the delay in the release of the bodies, stating that the state government was being careful in releasing the bodies so as not to hand the body of any victim to a wrong family.

"We regret that this has happened here. Unfortunately, I have managed such issue during the Dana plane crash and I understand the anxiety of families who want closure and the religious undertone as well. Our responsibility is to ensure that families get closure. And those culture exist here. I know that this is an issue that has attracted global attention. I understand the call by South Africans to get the bodies of their relatives but we cannot at this time get the process wrong because if we release a body, we want to ensure that each family takes the body of their relative. It will be unpardonable for us to make mistake."

Out of the 70, 54 are South Africans while the remaining were from Nigeria, Benin republic, Togo and other countries. May their souls rest in peace.