The Senate has called for a comprehensive audit of Nigerian Air Force (NAF) aircraft and their maintenance funding following a reported crash in Igbokoda, Ondo State, which allegedly killed 25 people.
The upper chamber also directed its relevant committees to scrutinise budgetary allocations for aircraft maintenance to determine whether inadequate funding or other operational lapses contributed to recurring military aviation accidents.
The resolutions followed a motion sponsored by Senator Osita Ngwu, representing Enugu West, concerning the reported October 5 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 carrying 25 passengers and seven crew members on a routine flight from Benin City to Lagos when the incident occurred.
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.
The lawmakers expressed concern over recurring military aviation accidents and the loss of personnel, raising questions about aircraft maintenance, ageing fleets, operational safety procedures and airworthiness standards.
They warned that without a transparent and comprehensive investigation, authorities might be unable to establish the underlying causes of the crash and implement measures to prevent similar incidents.
As part of its resolutions, the Senate observed a minute of 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 families of those who died.
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The chamber urged the Nigerian Air Force and the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation into the immediate and underlying causes of the crash and make their findings public.
It 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 aircraft in the presidential and military fleets.
Furthermore, the Senate urged 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, called on the relevant committees to conduct a comprehensive assessment of aircraft in the Nigerian Air Force fleet.
“The exercise should establish their serviceability, operational readiness and airworthiness to prevent a recurrence,” he said.
Senator Adams Oshiomhole, representing Edo North, proposed an additional prayer directing the Nigerian Air Force leadership to submit its aircraft maintenance budgetary provisions to the relevant Senate committee.
Oshiomhole said the Senate needed to establish the level of funding provided for aircraft maintenance.
Supporting the additional prayer, 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 sufficient to prevent the incident.
The proposed audit is expected to examine the condition, serviceability and operational readiness of military aircraft, alongside the adequacy of funding allocated for their maintenance.
The move comes amid concerns raised by lawmakers over recurring fatal military aviation accidents and the need for stronger oversight of aircraft maintenance, safety standards and the use of public funds.