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The Senate has launched a probe into the October 5 Nigerian Air Force (NAF) aircraft crash in Igbokoda, Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, which claimed the lives of military personnel and other passengers on board.
The upper chamber has mandated its committees on Air Force and Aviation to conduct an urgent oversight visit to the crash site, engage NAF authorities and carry out a comprehensive audit of the serviceability and airworthiness of aircraft in the presidential and military fleets.
The resolutions followed a motion sponsored by Senator Osita Ngwu, representing Enugu West, during plenary on Tuesday over the crash, which reportedly killed 32 people, comprising 25 passengers and seven crew members.
The Senate also called on the Nigerian Air Force and the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) to conduct a thorough, transparent and comprehensive investigation into the immediate and underlying causes of the crash and make their findings public.
Senators said an independent and transparent investigation was necessary to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident and identify measures to prevent similar tragedies.
Demand for maintenance funding details
The lawmakers directed the leadership of the Nigerian Air Force to provide the relevant Senate committee with details of the budgetary provisions for maintaining the aircraft involved in the crash.
They also requested an assessment of whether the funds allocated for maintenance were adequate to meet the aircraft’s operational and safety requirements.
The directive followed concerns over the maintenance culture of the military, the condition of ageing aircraft and the adequacy of safety procedures.
The Senate further urged the Federal Government to prioritise funding for regular maintenance and the replacement of ageing military aircraft to protect the lives of personnel and improve operational readiness.
The additional prayer was adopted following an amendment proposed by Senator Adams Oshiomhole, representing Edo State, and seconded by Senator Titus Zam, representing Benue North-West.
During the debate, lawmakers expressed concern over recurring military aviation accidents, warning that such incidents had raised questions about aircraft maintenance, airworthiness and operational safety.
The Senate observed a minute’s silence in honour of the victims and extended its condolences to President Bola Tinubu, the Chief of Air Staff, the Nigerian Air Force, the Ondo State Government and the families of those who died.
Background to the crash
Presenting the motion, Ngwu said the Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft, with tail number NGR 931, crashed on Monday, October 5, while on a routine mission from Benin City to Lagos.
He said the aircraft was carrying 25 passengers and seven crew members when it crashed near the Naval Base in Igbokoda, the headquarters of Ilaje Local Government Area.
According to the lawmaker, air traffic controllers lost contact with the aircraft at about 8:13 a.m. GMT, equivalent to 9:13 a.m. Nigerian time, after which attempts to reach the crew by radio proved unsuccessful.
He said the wreckage was subsequently located following search-and-rescue operations involving the Nigerian Air Force and other relevant authorities.
Ngwu described the incident as one of the deadliest military aviation accidents in Nigeria in recent years, noting that it had intensified scrutiny of flight safety and the operational readiness of military aircraft.
He stressed that the Nigerian Air Force’s role in national defence and intelligence made the serviceability and airworthiness of its fleet critical to national security.
The senator warned that recurring military aircraft crashes had claimed the lives of personnel and raised serious concerns about maintenance practices, ageing aircraft and compliance with operational safety protocols.
He added that without a transparent and comprehensive investigation, the lessons needed to prevent future occurrences might not be adequately established.
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