Igbokoda Crash: Keyamo, Air Chief Move to Strengthen Civil-Military Aviation Safety

Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, and the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, have agreed to deepen cooperation between the country’s civil and military aviation authorities following the fatal Nigerian Air Force aircraft crash in Igbokoda, Ondo State.

The agreement was reached on Wednesday when Keyamo paid a condolence visit to Aneke following Monday’s crash of an NAF ATR-42 aircraft in the Igbokoda area of Ilaje Local Government Area.

The Nigerian Air Force later confirmed that 25 people; 20 passengers and five crew members, died in the crash. The aircraft had been on a routine mission from Benin to Lagos when it disappeared from radar before crashing near a naval base. The cause of the accident remains under investigation.

After signing the condolence register at the Air Force headquarters, Keyamo held a private meeting with the Chief of Air Staff before both officials announced plans for a more structured relationship between the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and the Nigerian Air Force.

The proposed collaboration will cover aviation safety, airworthiness, certification, training and capacity building, while both institutions will retain their respective statutory responsibilities.

Keyamo described the Igbokoda crash as a national tragedy and expressed sympathy to the Nigerian Air Force and the families of those who died.

He said the tragedy had demonstrated the need for civil and military aviation authorities to share expertise and strengthen their existing relationship.

According to the minister, aviation accidents can affect both military personnel and civilians, making safety a shared national responsibility.

Keyamo also noted that the Nigerian Air Force already relies on aspects of Nigeria’s civil aviation infrastructure, including air traffic control, and argued that the relationship should be expanded beyond existing arrangements.

He disclosed that he had facilitated direct communication between the Director-General of the NCAA and the Chief of Air Staff as part of the process.

A joint committee involving the NCAA and the Nigerian Air Force is expected to facilitate cooperation in areas including airworthiness, certification, training and other aviation safety measures.

Keyamo also offered to make relevant civil aviation training programmes available to Air Force personnel, saying there was no reason military personnel could not benefit from training opportunities available through the civil aviation sector.

The minister further acknowledged that the Air Force possesses specialised knowledge that could also benefit civilian aviation.

He described the proposed arrangement as a mutually beneficial exchange of expertise aimed at improving the safety of Nigerians.

Responding, Air Marshal Aneke thanked Keyamo for the condolence visit and welcomed the proposed partnership.

The Air Chief said discussions had already begun on a framework that would allow personnel from both sectors to contribute their expertise to one another, particularly in areas such as airworthiness and certification.

Aneke said the two institutions had a shared responsibility to improve aviation safety because both ultimately serve the same government and protect Nigerian lives.

“We have both agreed that we need to move the aviation industry, whether military or civil, to a higher level,” the Chief of Air Staff said.

The proposed collaboration is expected to improve information sharing, technical cooperation, professional training and safety practices between Nigeria’s civil and military aviation sectors.

The move comes as recovery and investigative efforts continue following the Igbokoda crash. Authorities have said a comprehensive investigation is being conducted to establish the circumstances surrounding the accident and help prevent similar tragedies.