THE National Assembly has called for a comprehensive audit of the serviceability and airworthiness of Nigerian Air Force (NAF) aircraft.
It also demanded investigation into funds allocated for their maintenance.
The calls followed the NAF’s latest aircraft crash in Ondo State on Monday, October 5.
The Senate and House of Representatives made the calls on Tuesday, raising concerns over recurring military aircraft accidents, the safety of ageing fleets and the need to strengthen maintenance systems, operational safety protocols, and legislative oversight.
The lawmakers warned that a thorough probe was necessary to establish the causes of the latest crash, identify possible lapses and prevent similar tragedies in the future.
In the Senate, the resolution followed a motion sponsored by Osita Ngwu, representing Enugu West, during plenary.
Lawmakers expressed concern that recurring military aircraft crashes had claimed the lives of officers, raising questions about aircraft maintenance, the condition of ageing fleets, operational safety procedures and airworthiness.
The Senate warned that without a transparent and comprehensive investigation, lessons from the recent incident might not be learnt, potentially exposing military personnel to similar risks.
The upper legislative chamber observed a minute’s silence in honour of the victims.
It also extended condolences to President Bola Tinubu, the Chief of Air Staff, the Nigerian Air Force, the Ondo State Government, and the families of those who died.
It urged the NAF 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 their findings public.
The Senate also mandated its committees on Air Force and Aviation to visit the crash site, engage with NAF authorities and conduct a holistic audit of the serviceability and airworthiness of aircraft in the presidential and military fleets.
It further urged the Federal Government to prioritise funding for regular aircraft maintenance and the replacement of ageing military aircraft.
The senator representing Borno North, Tahir Monguno, seconded the motion and called on the relevant committees to undertake a comprehensive assessment of aircraft in the NAF fleet.
The senator representing Edo North, Adams Oshiomhole, proposed that NAF leadership should submit its aircraft maintenance budgetary provisions to the Senate, while the senator representing Benue North-West, Titus Zam, seconded the prayer, saying the inquiry should establish how much the NAF received for aircraft maintenance and whether the funding was adequate to prevent the incident.
Similarly, members of the House of Representatives called for stronger aircraft maintenance systems and airworthiness management following a motion moved by Alhassan Rurum.
After adopting the motion, the House urged the NAF to strengthen its maintenance procedures, particularly for ageing aircraft, and ensure that only aircraft meeting prescribed safety standards were deployed for operations.
A member of the House, Donald Ojogo, commended the pilot, saying the pilot’s actions helped minimise the destruction that could have occurred had the aircraft crashed in a densely populated area.
The chairman of the House Committee on Army, Babajimi Benson, described the crash as a painful reminder of the risks military personnel face while defending the country..
The ICIR reported that 25 people were killed on Monday when NAF 931, an ATR-42 aircraft, crashed in the Igbokoda area of Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State on October 5, 2026.
The crash has renewed attention on the safety of Nigeria’s military aviation operations and the financial implications of losing aircraft that are often worth millions of dollars.
President Bola Tinubu and the NAF had earlier ordered a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash.
Nanji is an investigative journalist with the ICIR. She has years of experience in reporting and broadcasting human angle stories, gender inequalities, minority stories, and human rights issues. She has documented sexual war crimes in armed conflict, sex for grades in Nigerian Universities, harmful traditional practices and human trafficking.