The National Assembly has called for a thorough assessment of the serviceability and airworthiness of Nigerian Air Force (NAF) aircraft following a recent crash in Ondo State.
The Senate and the House of Representatives made the call on Tuesday amid concerns over repeated military aviation accidents and the need to improve aircraft maintenance, safety procedures and supervision of ageing fleets.
In the Senate, the resolution followed a motion sponsored by Osita Ngwu, who represents Enugu West, during plenary.
Senators expressed concern that recurring military aircraft crashes had resulted in the deaths of military personnel, prompting questions about the condition of aircraft, maintenance practices and operational safety measures.
The lawmakers warned that failure to conduct a detailed and transparent investigation could prevent the military from identifying lessons needed to avert similar incidents.
The Senate observed a minute’s silence in honour of those who died in the crash and conveyed its condolences to President Bola Tinubu, the Chief of Air Staff, the NAF, the Ondo State Government and the bereaved families.
It called on the NAF and the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) to carry out a comprehensive and transparent investigation into the immediate and underlying causes of the accident, with a directive to make the findings public.
The upper chamber also mandated its committees on Air Force and Aviation to visit the crash site, consult NAF officials and undertake a comprehensive audit of the serviceability and airworthiness of aircraft in presidential and military fleets.
It further urged the Federal Government to give priority to funding routine aircraft maintenance and replacing ageing military aircraft.
Tahir Monguno, senator representing Borno North, seconded the motion and stressed the importance of examining the condition of aircraft in the Air Force fleet.
“It is high time for our relevant committees to conduct a comprehensive audit to determine the serviceability and readiness of the aircraft in the fleet of the Nigerian Air Force, to determine their airworthiness, so that we will prevent a future occurrence of this ugly scenario,” he said.
Adams Oshiomhole, senator representing Edo North, proposed an additional resolution directing the NAF leadership to provide details of funds allocated for aircraft maintenance.
“It is my prayer that the senate directs the leadership of the Nigerian Air Force to make available to the senate, through the relevant senate committee, the budgetary provisions for the maintenance of the aircraft,” he said.
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Titus Zam, senator representing Benue North-West, supported the proposal, saying the investigation should establish the amount provided for aircraft maintenance and whether the funding was adequate to prevent such accidents.
Reps Call For Improved Aircraft Maintenance
At the House of Representatives, lawmakers also advocated stricter maintenance procedures and better management of aircraft airworthiness.
The resolution followed a motion moved by Alhassan Rurum, after which the House urged the NAF to strengthen its maintenance systems, particularly for older aircraft, and ensure that only aircraft meeting the required safety standards were deployed for operations.
Donald Ojogo, a member of the House, praised the pilot, noting that the actions taken helped reduce the potential damage that could have resulted if the aircraft had crashed in a densely populated area.
“We have to give kudos to the pilot. It is a very sad incident,” he said.
Similarly, Babajimi Benson, chairman of the House Committee on Army, described the crash as a painful reminder of the dangers military personnel encounter while carrying out their duties to protect the country.
“We must never take their service and courage for granted,” Benson said.