The Senate on Tuesday called for a comprehensive audit of Nigerian Air Force (NAF) aircraft and their maintenance funding following a crash in Igbokoda, Ondo State, which killed 25 people.
The upper chamber also directed its relevant committees to scrutinise budgetary provisions for aircraft maintenance to determine whether inadequate funding or other lapses contributed to recurring military air crashes.
The resolutions followed a motion sponsored by Senator Osita Ngwu (Enugu West) on the 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, tail number NGR 931, was on a routine flight from Benin City to Lagos when it crashed.
Air traffic controllers lost contact with the plane at about 9:13 am, and attempts to reach the crew by radio failed before a search-and-rescue operation 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 protocols and airworthiness.
They warned that failure to conduct a transparent and comprehensive investigation could prevent authorities from identifying the underlying causes and taking steps to avert future occurrences.
In its resolutions, 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 families of those who died.
It urged the Nigerian Air Force and the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau to conduct a thorough, transparent and comprehensive investigation into the immediate and remote 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 NAF authorities and conduct a holistic audit of the serviceability and airworthiness of aircraft in the presidential and military fleets.
The Senate further urged the Federal Government to prioritise funding for regular maintenance and the replacement of ageing military aircraft.
Seconding the motion, Senator Tahir Monguno (Borno North) called on the relevant committees to “conduct a comprehensive audit of aircraft in the NAF fleet” to establish their serviceability, operational readiness and airworthiness.
Senator Adams Oshiomhole (Edo North) proposed an additional prayer directing the leadership of the Nigerian Air Force to submit its aircraft maintenance budgetary provisions to the relevant Senate committee so lawmakers could establish what had been provided for maintenance.
Senator Titus Zam (Benue North-West) supported the request, saying 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 would therefore examine not only the condition and operational readiness of military aircraft but also the adequacy of funds allocated for their upkeep, amid concerns over the recurrence of fatal military aviation accidents.
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