Timothy Omobude 
By: (I.T): Martins Adesida
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, and the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, have agreed to strengthen cooperation between Nigeria’s civil and military aviation authorities following the fatal Nigerian Air Force aircraft crash in Igbokoda, Ondo State.
The agreement was reached on Wednesday when Keyamo paid a condolence visit to Aneke over the October 5 crash, which claimed the lives of all 25 people aboard the NAF 931 aircraft.
The ATR-42 aircraft was on a routine mission from Benin City to Lagos when it lost contact at about 9:13 a.m. before crashing in a swampy area near the Naval Base in Igbokoda, Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State. The Nigerian Air Force later confirmed that five crew members and 20 passengers were on board, with no survivors.
Following a private meeting with the Chief of Air Staff, Keyamo said the tragedy had highlighted the need for closer coordination between Nigeria’s civil and military aviation sectors.
The proposed cooperation will cover key areas including aviation safety, airworthiness, certification, professional training and capacity building. A joint framework involving the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the Nigerian Air Force is expected to facilitate greater exchange of technical knowledge and expertise between both sectors.
Keyamo explained that aviation accidents do not distinguish between civilian and military operations, stressing that both sectors ultimately have a common responsibility to protect Nigerian lives.
He also disclosed plans for Air Force personnel to benefit from relevant training programmes organised by civil aviation authorities, while specialised knowledge within the military aviation sector could equally be made available to the civil aviation industry.
Responding, Aneke welcomed the initiative, saying stronger cooperation between the two sectors would help improve aviation standards and professional capacity.
He said discussions had already begun on a framework that would allow civil aviation professionals to contribute to areas such as airworthiness and certification within the Air Force, while military aviation specialists could also support the civil sector where necessary.
The initiative comes as recovery efforts continue at the Igbokoda crash site, while the circumstances surrounding the accident remain under investigation. Authorities are expected to use the outcome of the investigation, alongside the proposed safety collaboration, to strengthen aviation safety across the country.
