On October 22, 2005, Bellview Airlines Flight B3210 crashed down at Lisa, Ogun, Nigeria, claiming the lives of all those on board including 111 passengers and 6 crew members. Till the time of the report, no Chinese citizen has been confirmed on board, and the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria and the Consulate-General in Lagos are still going all out to track the details of the victims of the accident. To throw the nation into deeper sorrow, Mrs. Stella Obasanjo, the First Lady of Nigeria passed away on October 23 at a hospital in Spain at the age of 59. For the victims of the air crash and the late First Lady, the Federal Government of Nigeria declared 3 days of National Mourning from October 24 to 26.

 

 

    On October 24, H.E. Mr. Hu Jintao, President of the People's Republic of China, extended to H.E. Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, two messages of sympathy respectively on the air crash and the deceased First Lady. On October 22, H.E. Mr. Wang Yongqiu, Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, wrote to President Obasanjo expressing deep sympathy and sincere condolence, and went to the State House to sign the condolence book. The Chinese Embassy flies the National Flag at half mast for 3 days of mourning.