*Barr. Festus Keyamo, SAN, Minister for Aviation and Aerospace Development, and Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, Chief of Air Staff, renew push for closer collaboration between the Nigerian civil and Military aviation authorities
Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect
Barr. Festus Keyamo, SAN, Honourable Minister for Aviation and Aerospace Development has paid a condolence visit to Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, Chief of Air Staff (CAS) over the recent Military aircrash that occurred in Igbokoda, Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, South-West Nigeria.
The tragic Nigerian Air Force (NAF) crash is said to have prompted a renewed push for closer collaboration between the country’s civil and Military aviation authorities.
Barr. Keyamo and Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, Chief of Air Staff (CAS), have agreed to deepen cooperation on aviation safety, airworthiness, certification, training and capacity building.
ConsumerConnect reports the Minister and the CAS reached the agreement when the Minister paid a condolence visit to the Chief of Air Staff over the crash October 5,
The Nigerian Air Force aircraft, with 25 people on board — 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 9:13a.m., after which its wreckage was located near the Naval Base.
Search operations were subsequently launched to recover the victims and wreckage.
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.
Subsequently, the Chief of Air Staff also ordered a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu subsequently, declared three days of national mourning for the victims and directed the Air Force to investigate the cause of the crash.
In regard to this, Keyamo and Aneke say the incident underscores the need to bridge the gap between civil and Military aviation, with plans for a joint framework to strengthen safety standards, technical expertise and capacity across both sectors.
The move also comes as the search for the victims and the aircraft wreckage continues at the difficult-to-access crash site, with the Nigerian Navy and Marine Police involved in recovery efforts.