The Senate on Tuesday ordered a comprehensive investigation into the maintenance, serviceability and airworthiness of Nigerian Air Force aircraft following the October 5 crash of an ATR-42 aircraft in Igbokoda, Ondo State, which reportedly claimed 25 lives.
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The resolution followed a motion sponsored by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Air Force, Senator Osita Ngwu, who raised concerns over recurring military aircraft accidents and the need to examine possible issues relating to maintenance, ageing fleets, funding and compliance with operational safety standards.
Presenting the motion during plenary, Ngwu recalled that the Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft, with tail number NGR 931, crashed near the Naval Base in Igbokoda, headquarters of Ilaje Local Government Area, while reportedly undertaking a routine flight from Benin City to Lagos.
The Senate expressed concern that repeated military aviation accidents had resulted in the loss of personnel and other lives, stressing that the maintenance and operational readiness of military aircraft were critical to national security, intelligence gathering and defence operations.
Lawmakers warned that failure to conduct a transparent and comprehensive investigation into the latest accident could undermine efforts to identify underlying problems and prevent similar tragedies.
The Senate consequently urged the Federal Government to prioritise adequate funding for the regular maintenance of military aircraft and the replacement of ageing platforms where necessary.
It also mandated its Committees on Air Force and Aviation to visit the crash site, engage the Nigerian Air Force authorities and conduct a comprehensive audit of the serviceability and airworthiness of aircraft in the presidential and military fleets.
The lawmakers further called on the Nigerian Air Force and the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau to investigate both the immediate and underlying causes of the Igbokoda crash and make their findings public.
According to the Senate, such an investigation should identify possible operational or maintenance lapses, establish accountability where necessary and provide recommendations capable of preventing future accidents.
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