Ondo crash: N’Assembly seeks NAF aircraft audit, probe of maintenance funds

The National Assembly has called for a comprehensive audit of Nigerian Air Force (NAF) aircraft to determine their safety and fitness to fly following a recent crash in Ondo State.

The Senate and House of Representatives made the call on Tuesday amid growing concerns over repeated military aircraft accidents and the need to improve maintenance, strengthen safety measures and increase oversight of ageing aircraft.

In the Senate, the resolution followed a motion sponsored by Osita Ngwu, who represents Enugu West Senatorial District, during plenary.

The lawmakers stressed the need for a thorough assessment of the Air Force fleet to ensure that aircraft meet required safety standards and that proper maintenance procedures are followed.

Lawmakers expressed concern that recurring military air crashes had claimed the lives of officers, raising questions about aircraft maintenance, ageing fleets, operational safety protocols and airworthiness.

The senate also warned that without a transparent and comprehensive investigation, lessons from the incident might not be learnt to prevent future occurrences.

In its resolutions, the senate observed a minute’s silence in honour of the victims and extended condolences to President Bola Tinubu, the chief of air staff, the NAF, 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 upper legislative chamber also mandated its committees on air force and aviation to visit the crash site, engage NAF authorities and conduct a holistic audit of the serviceability and airworthiness of aircraft in the presidential and military fleets.

The senate also urged the federal government to prioritise funding for regular maintenance and the replacement of ageing military aircraft.

Tahir Monguno, senator representing Borno north, seconded the motion and called on the relevant committees to conduct a comprehensive audit of aircraft in the NAF 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 prayer asking the senate to direct the leadership of the NAF to submit its aircraft maintenance budgetary provisions.

“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.

Titus Zam, senator representing Benue north-west, seconded the additional prayer, saying the inquiry should determine the amount allocated to the NAF for maintenance and whether the funding was sufficient to prevent the incident.

REPS CALL FOR STRONGER AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE

In the house of representatives, lawmakers also called for stronger aircraft maintenance and airworthiness management following a motion moved by Alhassan Rurum.

After adopting the motion, the house urged the NAF to strengthen its maintenance systems, particularly for ageing aircraft, and ensure that only aircraft that meet prescribed safety standards are deployed for operations.

Donald Ojogo, a member of the house, commended the pilot, saying their actions helped minimise the destruction that could have occurred had the aircraft crashed in a densely populated area.

“We have to give kudos to the pilot. It is a very sad incident,” he said.

Babajimi Benson, chairman of the house committee on army, described the crash as a painful reminder of the risks military personnel face in the course of defending the country.

“We must never take their service and courage for granted,” Benson said.

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