Igbokoda Crash: Keyamo, Air Force Chief Move To Close Civil-Military Aviation Safety Gap

In the wake of the fatal Nigerian Air Force aircraft crash at Igbokoda, the Federal Government, on Wednesday, moved to close the safety gap between Nigeria’s civil and military aviation sectors.

According to the statement by the Special Adviser, Media and Communication to the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, Tunde Moshood, he said the Minister and the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, agreeing to establish a joint framework for airworthiness, certification, training and aviation safety.

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Moshood said the agreement was reached when Keyamo paid a condolence visit to the Chief of Air Staff over the tragedy, in a move that both officials said would deepen technical cooperation between the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the Nigerian Air Force (NAF).

Under the proposed framework, personnel from the two sectors are expected to share expertise and participate in relevant training programmes, while a joint NCAA-NAF committee will coordinate cooperation in critical aviation safety areas.

Keyamo, who described the Igbokoda incident as a national tragedy, said the crash had reinforced the need to break down the barriers between civil and military aviation safety systems.

“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 stressed that aviation accidents affect both military and civilian operators and therefore require a coordinated national safety response.

“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,” Keyamo said.

The minister noted that the Nigerian Air Force already relies on civil aviation infrastructure, particularly air traffic control, arguing that the existing relationship should now be expanded into a formalised technical partnership.

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

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

Keyamo said the proposed joint committee would focus on airworthiness, certification, training and other aviation safety measures while respecting the statutory mandates of both institutions.

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

“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.

According to the minister, the collaboration would also allow the civil aviation sector to benefit from the specialised expertise available within the Nigerian Air Force.

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

Responding, Aneke thanked the minister for the condolence visit and described the initiative as further evidence of the strengthening relationship between civil and military aviation authorities.

He disclosed that discussions had already commenced on a framework under which civil aviation personnel could contribute to the Air Force’s safety environment, particularly in airworthiness and certification, while Air Force personnel would equally make their expertise available to the civil aviation sector.

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

The Chief of Air Staff welcomed the offer of training opportunities for NAF personnel, saying the initiative would enhance technical capacity and improve aviation safety.

He stressed that the two institutions have a shared responsibility to protect Nigerian lives.

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

The new framework is expected to strengthen information sharing, technical cooperation, professional training and safety coordination between Nigeria’s civil and military aviation authorities.