The African Democratic Congress ADC has questioned the management of funds allocated for the maintenance of Nigerian Air Force aircraft following the crash of an NAF ATR-42 aircraft in Ondo State.

The party called for an independent audit of military aviation maintenance contracts and expenditure, particularly in light of the crash of NAF 931, which claimed the lives of all 25 people on board.

The aircraft crashed in the Igbokoda area of Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State on Monday while on a routine mission from Benin to Lagos. The Nigerian Air Force later confirmed that the aircraft had five crew members and 20 passengers, with no survivors.

The ADC reportedly raised questions over the maintenance of the aircraft and the utilisation of funds allocated to keeping military aircraft operational, including a reported N4.5 billion maintenance provision.

It urged the Federal Government to subject military aviation maintenance spending to a transparent review to establish whether aircraft received the required inspections, repairs, upgrades and other safety-related servicing.

The party also called for the release of relevant maintenance records and contracts to enable Nigerians to understand how public funds allocated to aircraft maintenance were spent.

The call comes amid renewed scrutiny of NAF 931’s maintenance history. Aviation records reviewed by the International Centre for Investigative Reporting indicate that the aircraft spent almost four years at a specialist maintenance facility in Germany before returning to Nigeria in late 2024. The records, however, do not establish that a mechanical defect or maintenance failure caused the crash.

The Nigerian Air Force has directed a comprehensive investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the accident, while the Defence Headquarters has also ordered an investigation in compliance with President Bola Tinubu’s directive.

The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau has said it could provide technical assistance if formally invited by the military, noting that military aviation accidents fall outside its statutory mandate unless the military authority requests its involvement.

The crash has intensified calls for greater transparency in military aircraft procurement, maintenance and safety management, with the outcome of the official investigation expected to clarify whether mechanical, operational or other factors contributed to the accident.