Senate probes Ondo aircraft crash

…Asks Air Force leadership to provide budgetary provisions for the maintenance of the aircraft

By Henry Umoru, Abuja

The Senate has begun a probe into the penultimate Monday tragic crash of a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) aircraft in the Igbokoda area of Ilaje Local Government Area, Ondo State, which resulted in the loss of military personnel and other passengers on board.

Consequently, the Senate has mandated its Committees on Air Force and that of Aviation to, as a matter of urgency, carry out an oversight visit to the crash site, interface with the Nigerian Air Force NAF authorities, and conduct a holistic audit of the serviceability and airworthiness of aircraft in the presidential and military fleet.

Resolutions of the Senate on Tuesday were a sequel to a motion on the tragic crash of Nigerian Airforce Aircraft in Igbokoda, Ondo State, resulting in the loss of 32 lives, sponsored by Senator Osita Ngwu, APC, Enugu West.

The upper chamber also urged the Nigerian Air Force and the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) to conduct a thorough, transparent and comprehensive investigation into the immediate and remote causes of the crash and make its findings public.

The Senate then directed the leadership of the Nigerian Air Force to make available to it through the relevant Senate committee the budgetary provisions for the maintenance of the aircraft and to establish the amount provided and whether it was sufficient to prevent the incident, as such provisions were made.

It also unanimously adopted the additional prayer by Senator Adams Oshiomhole, APC, Edo, and seconded by Senator Titus Zam, APC, Benue North-West.

The Upper Chamber has also urged the Federal Government to prioritise funding for regular maintenance and replacement of ageing military aircraft to safeguard lives of the country’s gallant personnel.

The Senate observed a one-minute silence in honour of the passengers and crew members who lost their lives in the ill-fated aircraft.

The Upper Chamber condoled with the President and Commander-in-Chief, the Chief of Air Staff, the Nigerian Air Force, the Government and the families of the victims of this national tragedy.

Earlier in his presentation of the motion, Senator Ngwu said that “the Senate notes that on Monday, 5th October 2026, a Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft with tail number NGR 931, carrying 25 passengers and 7 crew members, crashed close to the Naval Base in Igbokoda, headquarters of Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, while on a routine mission from Benin City to Lagos;

“Further notes that this crash, involving military personnel and some civilian passengers, is one of the deadliest military aviation accidents in Nigeria in recent years and has intensified scrutiny of flight safety and operational readiness;

“Aware that the air traffic controllers lost contact with the aircraft at about 0813 GMT (that is 9:13 am, local time) and all efforts to reach it on radio proved abortive before the wreckage was located following an immediate search and rescue operation by the Nigerian Airforce in collaboration with other relevant authorities;

“Recognise that the Nigerian Air Force plays a crucial role in national defence and intelligence; therefore, operational readiness, serviceability and airworthiness of its aircraft are of strategic importance;

“Worried that recurring military air crashes have claimed the lives of gallant officers, raising serious concerns about maintenance culture, ageing fleet, operational safety protocols and airworthiness of military aircraft;

“Concerned that without a transparent, thorough and independent investigation, lessons will not be learnt to prevent future occurrences.”