The tragic Nigerian Air Force aircraft crash in Igbokoda, Ondo State, has prompted a renewed push for closer collaboration between Nigeria’s civil and military aviation authorities.
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, and the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, have agreed to deepen cooperation on aviation safety, airworthiness, certification, training and capacity building.
The agreement was reached when the minister paid a condolence visit to the Chief of Air Staff over the October 5 crash.
The Nigerian Air Force aircraft, with 25 people on board — 20 passengers and five crew members — was on a routine mission from Benin to Lagos when it crashed in a swampy area near the Naval Base in Igbokoda, Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State.
The aircraft lost contact at about 9:13am, after which its wreckage was located near the Naval Base. Search operations were subsequently launched to recover the victims and wreckage.
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The Air Force later confirmed that all 25 people aboard the aircraft died and released the names of the five crew members and 20 passengers. The Chief of Air Staff also ordered a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash.
President Bola Tinubu subsequently declared three days of national mourning for the victims and directed the Air Force to investigate the cause of the crash.
Against this backdrop, Keyamo and Aneke say the incident underscores the need to bridge the gap between civil and military aviation, with plans for a joint framework to strengthen safety standards, technical expertise and capacity across both sectors.
The move also comes as the search for the victims and the aircraft wreckage continues at the difficult-to-access crash site, with the Nigerian Navy and Marine Police involved in recovery efforts.
