Ondo Air Crash: Senate Orders Audit of NAF Aircraft, Maintenance Funds
The Senate has called for a comprehensive audit of Nigerian Air Force (NAF) aircraft and their maintenance funding following the October 5 air crash in Igbokoda, Ondo State, which reportedly killed 25 people.
The upper chamber also mandated its relevant committees to examine budgetary allocations for aircraft maintenance to determine whether funding shortfalls or other lapses contributed to recurring military aviation accidents.
The resolutions followed a motion sponsored by Senator Osita Ngwu, representing Enugu West Senatorial District, concerning the crash of a Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft near the Naval Base in Igbokoda, headquarters of Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State.
According to the motion, the aircraft, with tail number NGR 931, was on a routine flight from Benin City to Lagos when it crashed. The aircraft was reportedly carrying 25 passengers and seven crew members.
The Senate noted that air traffic controllers lost contact with the aircraft at about 9:13 a.m. Attempts to establish radio communication with the crew were unsuccessful before a search-and-rescue operation eventually located the wreckage.
Lawmakers expressed concern over recurring military aviation accidents and the loss of personnel, raising questions about aircraft maintenance, the condition of ageing fleets, operational safety procedures and airworthiness standards.
They warned that without a transparent and comprehensive investigation, the authorities might fail to establish the underlying causes of the crash and implement measures to prevent similar incidents.
The Senate observed a minute’s silence in honour of the victims and extended condolences to President Bola Tinubu, the Chief of the Air Staff, the Nigerian Air Force, the Ondo State Government and the bereaved families.
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It urged the Nigerian Air Force and the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau to conduct a thorough, transparent and comprehensive investigation into the immediate and underlying causes of the crash and make their findings public.
The chamber also mandated its committees on Air Force and Aviation to visit the crash site, engage with NAF authorities and conduct a comprehensive assessment of the serviceability and airworthiness of aircraft in the presidential and military fleets.
Furthermore, the Senate called on the Federal Government to prioritise funding for regular aircraft maintenance and the replacement of ageing military aircraft.
Seconding the motion, Senator Tahir Monguno, representing Borno North, urged the relevant committees to conduct a comprehensive audit of the NAF fleet.
He said the exercise should establish the serviceability, operational readiness and airworthiness of the aircraft to help prevent a recurrence.
Senator Adams Oshiomhole, representing Edo North, proposed an additional resolution directing the Nigerian Air Force leadership to submit its aircraft maintenance budgetary provisions to the relevant Senate committee for scrutiny.
Oshiomhole said the Senate needed to establish the extent of government funding provided for aircraft maintenance.
Supporting the additional resolution, Senator Titus Zam, representing Benue North-West, said the inquiry should determine the amount allocated to the Air Force for maintenance and whether the funding was adequate to ensure operational safety.
The proposed audit is expected to examine both the technical condition and operational readiness of military aircraft and the adequacy of the resources allocated to maintaining them.
The Senate’s intervention comes amid renewed concerns about military aviation safety and the need for stronger oversight, transparent investigations and sustained investment in aircraft maintenance to reduce the risk of future accidents.
By PRNigeria
