The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, and the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, have agreed to strengthen collaboration between Nigeria’s civil and military aviation authorities following the Nigerian Air Force aircraft crash in Igbokoda, Ondo State.
Keyamo reached the agreement when he paid a condolence visit to Aneke over the October 5 crash, which claimed the lives of all 25 people on board.
The aircraft, carrying 20 passengers and five crew members, was on a routine mission from Benin to Lagos when it crashed in a swampy area near the Naval Base in Igbokoda, Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State.
The aircraft lost contact at about 9:13am before its wreckage was located near the Naval Base. Search and recovery operations were subsequently launched at the difficult-to-access site.
The Air Force later confirmed that all 25 people aboard the aircraft died and released the names of the five crew members and 20 passengers. Aneke also ordered a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash.
Following the incident, President Bola Tinubu declared three days of national mourning for the victims and directed the Air Force to investigate the cause of the crash.
Against this backdrop, Keyamo and Aneke agreed on the need to bridge the gap between civil and military aviation, with plans to develop a joint framework covering aviation safety, airworthiness, certification, training and capacity building.
The collaboration is expected to strengthen safety standards, technical expertise and institutional capacity across both sectors.
Meanwhile, recovery efforts continue at the crash site, with the Nigerian Navy and Marine Police involved in the search for the victims and recovery of the aircraft wreckage.