Senate probes NAF Aircraft Maintenance after 25 killed in Ondo crash

The Senate has resolved to investigate budgetary provisions for the maintenance of Nigerian Air Force, NAF, aircraft following a crash in Igbokoda, Ondo State, that claimed 25 lives.

The resolution followed a motion moved by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Air Force, Senator Osita Ngwu, on recurring military aircraft accidents and the need to strengthen aviation safety.

Presenting the motion during plenary on Tuesday, Ngwu said the NAF ATR-42 aircraft, identified in initial reports by its tail number as NGR 931, crashed near the Naval Base in Igbokoda, Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, on October 5, 2026, while on a routine mission from Benin City to Lagos.

Ngwu expressed concern that recurring military aircraft crashes had resulted in the loss of lives, raising questions about aircraft maintenance, ageing fleets and compliance with safety standards.

He said the operational readiness and airworthiness of military aircraft were critical to national security, intelligence gathering and defence.

The lawmaker warned that failure to conduct a transparent investigation into the crash could undermine efforts to prevent similar tragedies.

Consequently, the Senate urged the Federal Government to prioritise funding for regular maintenance and the replacement of ageing military aircraft to improve safety and protect personnel.

It mandated its committees on Air Force and Aviation to visit the crash site, engage NAF authorities and conduct a comprehensive audit of the serviceability and airworthiness of presidential and military aircraft fleets.

The upper chamber also called on the NAF and the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) to investigate the immediate and underlying causes of the crash and make their findings public.