The National Assembly has called for a comprehensive audit of Nigerian Air Force (NAF) aircraft and an investigation into funds allocated for their maintenance following a fatal military aircraft crash in Ondo State.
Gatekeepers News reports that the Senate and House of Representatives made the call on Tuesday amid concerns over recurring military aviation accidents, the condition of ageing aircraft and compliance with safety standards.
In the Senate, the resolution followed a motion sponsored by Osita Ngwu, senator representing Enugu West, who raised concerns over the loss of military personnel and the need to strengthen aircraft maintenance and operational safety.
The lawmakers urged the Nigerian Air Force and the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation into the immediate and underlying causes of the crash and make their findings public.
The Senate also mandated its committees on Air Force and Aviation to visit the crash site, engage NAF authorities and conduct a comprehensive audit of the serviceability and airworthiness of aircraft in the presidential and military fleets.
Senator Adams Oshiomhole, representing Edo North, proposed an additional resolution directing the Air Force leadership to submit its aircraft maintenance budget to the relevant Senate committee for scrutiny.
Oshiomhole said the exercise would help lawmakers establish the amount allocated for aircraft maintenance and assess how the funds were being utilised.
Titus Zam, senator representing Benue North-West, supported the proposal, saying the investigation should determine whether the funding provided was sufficient to prevent such incidents.
The Senate further urged the Federal Government to prioritise funding for routine aircraft maintenance and the replacement of ageing military aircraft. It also observed a minute’s silence in honour of the victims.
In the House of Representatives, lawmakers similarly called for stronger aircraft maintenance systems and improved airworthiness management.
The House urged the Air Force to ensure that only aircraft meeting prescribed safety standards were deployed for operations. Lawmakers also stressed the need for adequate funding and effective oversight of military aviation assets.
The resolutions followed the October 5 crash of a Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft in Igbokoda, headquarters of Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State. The aircraft was on a routine mission from Benin City to Lagos when it crashed, killing those on board.
The incident prompted search and recovery operations, with investigators seeking to establish the circumstances surrounding the accident and recover the aircraft’s flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder.
Nigerian Air Force has also constituted a 12-member Aircraft Accident Investigation Board to determine the cause of the crash and recommend measures to prevent a recurrence.
The legislative calls come as authorities face pressure to establish the circumstances behind the tragedy and address concerns about aircraft safety, maintenance funding and operational readiness.
