Vice-President, Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, Mr. Taiwo Otitolay, and the Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association, Ilorin, Kwara State chapter, Mr. Rafiu Balogun, have described the ill-fated crash of the Dana Airline aircraft in which 153 people died as a national tragedy.

The two spoke with our correspondent after the Dana aircraft that left Abuja for Lagos crashed on a residential building in Iju area of Lagos on Sunday.

They urged the Federal Government and Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority to ensure that the country aviation industry adhered strictly to international aviation standards and regulations.

In a telephone interview with our correspondent on Sunday on the plane crashes in Lagos and Ghana, Balogun described the plane crash as a national tragedy.

He called for a comprehensive investigation into the crash.

The NBA chairman also appealed to the Federal Government and the NCAA to ensure the safety of the Nigerian airspace.

Balogun said, "This ugly incident is quite unfortunate and very sad indeed. It has been a long time we recorded plane crash in Nigeria after the ADC and Sosoliso crashes.

"I implore the constituted authorities concerned or the agencies to conduct full investigation with a view to unraveling the causes of the crash. Our airspace must be safe at all times. We must beam a search light on the planes to see how worthy they area. The crash is devastating and a national tragedy."

Otitolaye urged the Federal Government and aviation authorities to improve on security in Nigeria's aviation sector.

He lamented the deaths of the victims of the crash and commiserated with the families they left behind.

He said, "All security measures and all facilities at the airport and the plane as regards to aviation matters, should be upgraded. The international standard on aviation should be met.

"Within the Nigerian aviation sector, there are some experts that have retired; their services should be brought on board to strengthen aviation security. Issues of this should not be politicised."