Ondo Air Crash: Senate Seeks Audit of NAF Aircraft, Maintenance Funds

The Senate has called for a comprehensive audit of Nigerian Air Force (NAF) aircraft and maintenance funding following the October 5 crash in Igbokoda, Ondo State, that killed all 25 people on board.

The resolution followed a motion sponsored by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Air Force, Senator Osita Ngwu, during plenary on Tuesday.

The aircraft, an ATR-42 with registration number NAF 931, was on a routine mission from Benin City, Edo State, to Lagos when it crashed near a naval base in Igbokoda, headquarters of Ilaje Local Government Area.

The Senate expressed concern over recurring military aircraft accidents, raising questions about the condition of ageing aircraft, maintenance practices and compliance with operational safety standards.

Lawmakers mandated the Senate 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.

The chamber also directed the Nigerian Air Force leadership to provide relevant committees with details of budgetary provisions for aircraft maintenance. The review is expected to establish how much was allocated and released, and whether the funding was sufficient to support safe operations.

Senators further urged the Federal Government to prioritise regular maintenance and the replacement of ageing military aircraft to improve operational readiness and protect personnel.

The Senate called on the Nigerian Air Force and the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau to conduct a thorough, transparent investigation into the immediate and underlying causes of the crash and make their findings public.

The motion highlighted the importance of aircraft serviceability to national defence, intelligence gathering and security operations. Lawmakers warned that without a credible investigation, lessons from the tragedy might not be properly applied to prevent future accidents.

The House of Representatives has also called for an investigation into the crash and an audit of the Air Force fleet.

The crash has intensified scrutiny of military aviation safety and defence spending. However, the cause of the incident has not yet been established, and the investigation is expected to determine whether technical, operational or other factors contributed to the tragedy.

The Senate said improving maintenance funding, accountability and safety oversight would be essential to reducing the risk of similar incidents.