National Assembly Orders NAF Aircraft Audit, Demands Probe of Maintenance Funds After Ondo Crash
Daud Olatunji
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 military aircraft crash in Ondo State.
The Senate and the House of Representatives made the demand on Tuesday, expressing concerns over recurring military aircraft accidents and the need to strengthen aviation safety, maintenance procedures and accountability within the military.
The lawmakers said a thorough examination of the airworthiness of aircraft in the NAF fleet was necessary to establish their operational readiness and prevent future accidents.
The Senate’s resolution followed a motion sponsored by Senator Osita Ngwu, representing Enugu West, during plenary.
The lawmakers expressed concern that repeated military aviation accidents had claimed the lives of officers, raising questions about the condition of ageing aircraft, maintenance standards, operational safety measures and the adequacy of funding for aircraft maintenance.
They warned that failure to conduct a transparent and comprehensive investigation into the latest crash could prevent the country from identifying the causes of such incidents and implementing measures to avert a recurrence.
As part of its resolutions, the Senate observed a minute’s silence in honour of the victims and extended its condolences to President Bola Tinubu, the Chief of Air Staff, the Nigerian Air Force, the Ondo State Government and the bereaved families.
The upper chamber urged the NAF and the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation into the immediate and underlying causes of the crash.
It also called for the findings of the investigation to be made public to promote accountability and strengthen confidence in the military’s aviation safety systems.
The Senate further mandated its committees on Air Force and Aviation to visit the crash site, engage relevant NAF authorities and conduct a comprehensive assessment of the serviceability and airworthiness of aircraft in the presidential and military fleets.
The lawmakers also urged the Federal Government to prioritise funding for regular aircraft maintenance and the replacement of ageing military aircraft.
Contributing to the debate, Senator Tahir Monguno, representing Borno North, supported the call for a comprehensive audit of the Air Force fleet, stressing the need to establish the operational readiness of military aircraft.
He said, “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.”
Similarly, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, representing Edo North, called for greater transparency in the management of funds allocated for aircraft maintenance.
Oshiomhole proposed an additional resolution directing the NAF leadership to submit its aircraft maintenance budgetary provisions to the Senate through the relevant committee.
“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.
Senator Titus Zam, representing Benue North-West, seconded the proposal, saying the investigation should establish the amount allocated for aircraft maintenance and determine whether the funding was sufficient to meet the operational and safety requirements of the Air Force.
The lawmakers’ intervention underscores growing concerns about the need for effective oversight of military aviation operations, particularly as aircraft remain critical to security operations across the country.
The House of Representatives also called for improved aircraft maintenance and stricter enforcement of airworthiness standards following a motion moved by Alhassan Rurum.
