By Ade Oyeyemi
The Senate has ordered an investigation into funding for the maintenance of Nigerian Air Force aircraft following a crash in Igbokoda, Ondo State, which reportedly claimed 25 lives.
The decision was taken during plenary on Tuesday after a motion by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Air Force, Senator Osita Ngwu, who called for urgent action to address recurring military aircraft accidents and improve aviation safety.
While presenting the motion, Ngwu said a 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, on October 5, 2026.
He said the aircraft was reportedly on a routine mission from Benin City to Lagos when the incident occurred.
The senator expressed concern over repeated military aviation accidents, warning that they raised serious questions about aircraft maintenance, ageing fleets and adherence to established safety standards.
According to him, the airworthiness and operational readiness of military aircraft are essential to national security, intelligence operations and the country’s defence capabilities.
Ngwu warned that without a transparent and thorough investigation into the latest crash, the authorities could miss important lessons needed to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Following the motion, the Senate urged the Federal Government to prioritise adequate funding for routine aircraft maintenance and the replacement of ageing military aircraft to improve safety and protect military personnel.
The chamber also mandated its committees on Air Force and Aviation to visit the crash site, engage with NAF authorities and conduct a comprehensive audit of the serviceability and airworthiness of presidential and military aircraft fleets.
In addition, the Senate called on the Nigerian Air Force and the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau to investigate both the immediate and underlying causes of the crash.
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It further urged the relevant agencies to make their findings public to promote transparency and help strengthen aviation safety measures.
The probe is expected to examine whether maintenance funding, aircraft conditions and compliance with safety requirements played any role in the incident.
