The Senate has postponed its National Security Summit scheduled for October 12 and 13 following the Nigerian Air Force aircraft crash in Ondo State that killed everyone on board. The decision was announced in honour of the victims and in line with the three days of national mourning declared by President Bola Tinubu.
Key Highlights
- Senate postpones National Security Summit scheduled for October 12 and 13.
- The decision follows the Nigerian Air Force aircraft crash in Ondo State.
- President Bola Tinubu declared three days of national mourning over the deaths.
- The President also ordered that national flags be flown at half-mast.
- The crashed aircraft was an ATR-42 registered NAF 931.
- The Nigerian Air Force said 25 people were on board and that there were no survivors.
- Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele said a new date for the summit would be announced later.
- The summit was expected to examine Nigeria’s security challenges and measures to protect lives and property.
- The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, ordered an investigation into the crash.
Senate Postpones National Security Summit
Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, who chairs the ad-hoc committee organising the National Security Summit, announced the postponement in a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday.
Bamidele said the decision was taken out of respect for the victims of the air crash and in accordance with the three days of national mourning declared by President Tinubu.
He said the organising committee had already completed the summit’s zonal public hearings and was prepared to proceed with the national event before the crash occurred.
However, he said it would be inappropriate to hold the summit during the mourning period.
A new date for the National Security Summit will be announced by the Senate at a later time.
Senate Mourns Victims of Ondo Air Force Crash
The Senate extended condolences to President Bola Tinubu, the Armed Forces of Nigeria, the Nigerian Air Force and the families of those who lost their lives in the crash.
The postponement allows the Senate and other stakeholders to observe the national mourning period declared following the tragedy.
The National Security Summit was expected to bring together government officials, security agencies, lawmakers, experts and other stakeholders to discuss Nigeria’s security challenges.
NAF ATR-42 Crashes in Ondo State
The aircraft involved in the tragedy was an ATR-42 with registration number NAF 931.
The Nigerian Air Force said the aircraft was travelling on a routine flight from Benin to Lagos when it crashed at Igbokoda, headquarters of Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State.
According to the Air Force, 25 people were on board, comprising five crew members and 20 passengers.
Search-and-rescue teams were deployed following the crash, but the Nigerian Air Force subsequently confirmed that there were no survivors.
Nigerian Air Force Orders Investigation
Following the crash, the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, ordered a full investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the accident.
The Nigerian Air Force also opened a condolence register at its headquarters in Abuja in honour of the personnel and civilians who died.
The Air Force released the names of the crew members, including Flight Captain Squadron Leader MI Aburime, co-pilots Squadron Leader AP Man-Ugwueje and Flight Lieutenant IS Bako, as well as technicians Warrant Officer Abubakar A and Corporal Uguru HC.
Military personnel and civilian passengers were also among those listed as victims.
Conflicting Figures Emerge Over Crash Death Toll
There have been differing figures in public statements concerning the number of people who died in the accident.
The Nigerian Air Force’s published account stated that 25 people were on board, comprising five crew members and 20 passengers.
Some Senate statements, however, referred to a combined figure of 32 personnel, leading several media reports to publish the higher number.
The discrepancy has created uncertainty in some reports about the final death toll. The Air Force’s official passenger-and-crew figure remains the clearest published account of those aboard the aircraft pending any further clarification from the authorities.
Read also:
- Tinubu Declares Three Days Mourning After NAF Plane Crash Kills 32 in Ondo
- Ondo Deploys Swamp Buggies to Recover NAF Crash Victims in Igbokoda
- Newlywed NAF Pilot Among 25 Killed In Ondo Air Force Crash
National Security Summit Agenda Put on Hold
The postponed summit was designed to examine Nigeria’s security challenges and develop practical recommendations for protecting lives and property.
The event was expected to build on consultations conducted during the zonal public hearings organised by the Senate’s ad-hoc committee.
Its postponement means discussions on the country’s security situation will now continue after the national mourning period and once a new summit date is announced.
Tinubu Declares Three Days of National Mourning
President Bola Tinubu declared three days of national mourning following the deaths in the Nigerian Air Force aircraft crash.
The President directed that the Nigerian flag be flown at half-mast during the mourning period as a mark of respect for the victims.
The development has triggered condolences from government officials, political leaders, security agencies and members of the public.
Senate to Announce New Summit Date
The Senate is expected to announce a new date for the National Security Summit after the mourning period.
The postponement comes at a time when insecurity remains a major national concern, making the summit an important platform for lawmakers and security stakeholders to review existing strategies and propose additional measures.
The Senate said the event would proceed at a later date as the country honours those who lost their lives in the Ondo air crash.
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