Ondo aircraft crash: Keyamo, air chief agree on safety collaboration

File: Aviation Minister, Festus Keyamo

The tragic Nigerian Air Force aircraft incident at Igbokoda has prompted a fresh push for closer cooperation between Nigeria’s civil and military aviation authorities, with the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, and the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, agreeing to deepen knowledge sharing and safety collaboration.

According to a statement released by the Minister’s media aide, Tunde Moshood, the agreement was reached on Wednesday when Keyamo paid a condolence visit to the Chief of Air Staff following the crash.

After signing the condolence register, the minister reportedly met privately with Aneke before both leaders addressed journalists on plans to strengthen cooperation between the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and the Nigerian Air Force.

Keyamo expressed sympathy to the Air Force, describing the incident as a national tragedy and commending the courage and sacrifice of personnel.

“We value the Air Force. We value the efforts of the gallant men and women of the Air Force and what they do for the country,” the minister said.

He said the incident underscored the need to bridge the traditional divide between civil and military aviation, noting that accidents do not distinguish between the two sectors.
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The minister said the Air Force already uses parts of the country’s civil aviation infrastructure, including air traffic control, making closer cooperation a natural next step.

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

Keyamo said, “It is one country, one people. When disaster happens, it affects everybody. There were civilians in that air crash and when there’s an air crash in the civil aviation too, there can be military personnel. And so, it is important that we cooperate in the area of safety.

“We have decided that we will cooperate in terms of capacity building.”

As part of the arrangement, Keyamo said a joint committee involving the NCAA and NAF would be established to promote cooperation in airworthiness, certification, training and other aviation safety areas, while respecting the statutory responsibilities of both institutions.

He also offered Air Force personnel access to relevant training programmes organised by the civil aviation authorities.

He stated, “There is no reason why we cannot take some names from the Air Force. We have a lot of training we go for, so there is no reason why we cannot,” he said.

Keyamo said the partnership would not be one-sided, stressing that the Air Force also possesses specialised expertise that could strengthen the civil aviation sector.

“This is a kind of cross-pollination and symbiotic relationship we have decided to build for the safety of the lives of Nigerians,” he stated.

Aneke thanked the minister for the condolence visit and his support for the Air Force, describing the gesture as evidence of the growing relationship between the two aviation sectors.

He said discussions were already underway on a framework that would allow civil aviation professionals to support the Air Force in areas such as airworthiness and certification, while military aviation personnel could also share their expertise with the civil sector.

Aneke welcomed the training opportunities offered to Air Force personnel, saying stronger professional capacity would ultimately improve aviation safety across the country.

He stressed that both institutions had a common duty to protect Nigerians, regardless of whether they operate in the civil or military aviation space.

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

“We are serving the same government; we are protecting the same Nigerians. So we are just a blend of each other.”

Olasunkanmi Akinlotan

Akinlotan is a journalist at Punch Newspapers with over eight years of experience reporting on politics, social justice, motoring, railways, and aviation. His work focuses on accountability, public interest, and social change, producing stories that inspire reform and amplify underrepresented voices. Akinlotan’s reporting reflects extensive newsroom experience, editorial insight, and a strong commitment to accurate, impact-driven journalism.

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