*** Senate demands explanations over defence maintenance budget

By Nkem Okereh

The Nigerian Air Force said it has constituted a 12-member Aircraft Accident Investigation Board to investigate the October 5, Airfoce ATR 42 aircraft, NAF 931, crash in Igbokoda, Ilaje local government area of Ondo State, that killed 25 officers, including five crew members and 20 passengers on board.
This is even as the Senate has begun a probe into the tragic crash, with a mandated to the Senate Committees on Air Force and that of Aviation to, as a matter of urgency, carry out an oversight visit to the crash site, interface with the Nigerian Air Force NAF authorities, and conduct a holistic audit of the serviceability and airworthiness of aircraft in the presidential and military fleet.
It would be recalled that the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC) had earlier called for an audit of the it’s alleged “non-implementation of defence budgets needed for the regular maintenance of aircraft in service with the Nigerian Air Force.”
The party in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, said the incident, which he described as “tragic and unfortunate”, highlights the poor funding of defence budgets in the country.
“While we do not intend to prejudice ongoing investigations into the cause of this tragic crash, we believe that this sad moment also provides an opportunity to raise, yet again, questions about the non-implementation of the defence budget and the perennial neglect of military equipment,” the statement read.
Citing official figures, the opposition party stated that, by December 2025, the Federal Government had released a paltry N4.5 billion, representing only about 13.98 per cent of the N34.71 billion budgeted for the maintenance of Nigerian Air Force aircraft.
This, the party said, “stood in sharp contrast to the N20.74 billion allocated for the maintenance of the Presidential Air Fleet, of which N20.27 billion had been released over the same period, representing 97.76 per cent.
NAF, which disclosed the constitution of the 12 mam investigation panel in a press release on Tuesday, said the board would establish the circumstances surrounding the accident, determine its causes and recommend measures to prevent a recurrence.
The statement signed by the Director of Public Relations and Information, Headquarters Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, said the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, had directed sustained search and recovery efforts alongside a comprehensive probe
The statement named Air Vice Marshal FO Ankeli as president of the Aircraft Accident Investigation Board, while Air Vice Marshal EOE Ebiowe, head of the Investigation and Recovery Team, would coordinate the wider response.
“The 12-member board comprises experienced personnel with specialist expertise in aviation operations, flight safety, piloting, air traffic control, aircraft engineering, maintenance, medical services and other relevant technical disciplines,” the statement read.
It added that the board included representatives of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau to provide additional civilian aviation expertise.

“Its work will involve the systematic examination, documentation and preservation of relevant evidence to establish the facts and determine the immediate and underlying causes of the occurrence,” the statement read.

The investigation will also assess the emergency response, including search and rescue, medical response, recovery operations and management of the crash site.

The NAF said the board would make evidence-based recommendations to address any identified deficiencies, strengthen aviation safety and reduce the likelihood of similar accidents.

The statement further stated that the Service had established a direct helpline at its headquarters, within the Office of the Directorate of Veterans Affairs, to provide recorded next of kin with information and clarification.

It added that administrative arrangements had been activated, including meetings with affected families and other support measures.

“The NAF recognises the public’s legitimate interest in the ongoing process and remains committed to providing appropriate updates as verified information becomes available,” the statement noted

The Service cautioned against drawing conclusions about the cause of the accident before the the report of the investigation board

“Conclusions regarding the cause of the accident would be premature until the investigation is completed and its findings are duly considered,” the statement added.

The NAF said search, recovery and investigative efforts remained a priority, pledging to implement appropriate safety recommendations arising from the board’s findings.

The Senate in a motion sponsored by Senator Osita Ngwu, APC, Enugu West, also urged the Nigerian Air Force and the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) to conduct a thorough, transparent and comprehensive investigation into the immediate and remote causes of the crash and make its findings public.

Senator Ngwu expressed his worry that recurring military air crashes have claimed the lives of gallant officers, raising serious concerns over the nations military maintenance

The red chamber further directed the leadership of the Nigerian Air Force to make available to it through the relevant Senate committee the budgetary provisions for the maintenance of the aircraft and to establish the amount provided and whether it was sufficient to prevent the incident, as such provisions were made.

It urged the federal government to prioritise funding for regular maintenance and replacement of ageing military aircraft to safeguard lives of the country’s gallant personnel.

The Senate observed a one-minute silence in honour of the passengers and crew members who lost their lives in the ill-fated aircraft.