Plane Crash: Keyamo, Air Chief Move To Bridge Civil-Military Aviation Safety Gap

The minister of aviation and aerospace development, Festus Keyamo, and the chief of air staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, have agreed to strengthen collaboration between Nigeria’s civil and military aviation authorities following the tragic crash of a Nigerian Air Force aircraft at Igbokoda, Ondo State.

The agreement was reached on Wednesday when Keyamo paid a condolence visit to the chief of air staff over the incident, which claimed the lives of personnel and civilians aboard the ill-fated aircraft.

The meeting is expected to pave the way for a closer working relationship between the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) in aviation safety, airworthiness, certification, training and capacity development.

After signing the condolence register, Keyamo held a private meeting with the air chief before both officials addressed journalists on the outcome of their discussions.

The minister described the Igbokoda incident as a national tragedy and expressed sympathy to the Nigerian Air Force, commending its personnel for their sacrifices and service to the country.

Keyamo said the incident underscored the need to narrow the gap between civil and military aviation, noting that aviation accidents affect Nigerians regardless of whether the aircraft is operated by civilian or military authorities.

“It is one country, one people. When disaster happens, it affects everybody,” he said, adding that there could be civilians aboard military aircraft just as military personnel could be involved in civil aviation incidents.

He said the two sectors must therefore share expertise and strengthen cooperation, particularly in safety-related matters.

According to the minister, the Nigerian Air Force already relies on some civil aviation infrastructure, including air traffic control services, making deeper institutional cooperation both necessary and beneficial.

Keyamo disclosed that he had contacted the director-general of the NCAA and facilitated direct communication between the NCAA and the chief of air staff as part of efforts to establish a more structured partnership.

He said a joint committee involving the NCAA and NAF would be established to drive cooperation in areas including airworthiness, certification, training and other aviation safety matters, while respecting the statutory responsibilities of both institutions.

The minister also offered to extend relevant civil aviation training opportunities to NAF personnel.

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

Keyamo added that the collaboration would not be one-sided, stressing that the Nigerian Air Force also possesses specialised knowledge and experience that could benefit the civil aviation sector.

He described the proposed arrangement as a “cross-pollination and symbiotic relationship” aimed at improving the safety of Nigerians.

Responding, Aneke thanked the minister for the condolence visit and his support for the Nigerian Air Force, describing the gesture as a reflection of the growing relationship between civil and military aviation authorities.

The chief of air staff said discussions had already commenced on a framework under which civil aviation professionals could contribute their expertise to the Air Force, particularly in airworthiness and certification, while NAF personnel could also support the civil aviation sector where their expertise was required.

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

He welcomed the proposed access to civil aviation training programmes for Air Force personnel, saying it would help strengthen professional capacity and improve aviation safety.

The air chief stressed that both institutions ultimately have the same responsibility of protecting 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.