Ondo Air Crash: ADC Calls for Scrutiny of Military Aircraft Maintenance Funding
Behind every military aircraft is a crew whose lives depend on the machine being properly maintained, and families who expect their loved ones to return safely from duty.
The African Democratic Congress, ADC, has therefore called for greater scrutiny of the funding and maintenance of Nigerian Air Force aircraft following Monday’s crash involving an ATR-42 aircraft at Igbokoda in Ondo State.
The party, while commiserating with the families of those who lost their lives in the incident, said the crash should prompt a wider conversation about how funds allocated for the maintenance of military aircraft are released and spent.
In a statement issued in Abuja and signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC described the incident as tragic and unfortunate.
The party stressed that it did not intend to prejudge the ongoing investigation into the cause of the crash, but argued that maintenance and defence equipment funding should form part of the issues examined.
Citing official figures, the ADC claimed that by December 2025, the Federal Government had released N4.5 billion out of the N34.71 billion budgeted for the maintenance of Nigerian Air Force aircraft, representing 13.98 per cent of the allocation.
The party contrasted this with the N20.27 billion it said had been released out of the N20.74 billion allocated for the maintenance of the Presidential Air Fleet during the same period, representing 97.76 per cent.
“While the fleet that serves a handful of people in power got almost every kobo it asked for, the fleet that serves and protects 200 million Nigerians was left with crumbs,” the ADC said.
The party acknowledged that protecting the President and other government officials is important, but argued that the safety of pilots, airmen and other military personnel who operate aircraft in the service of the country deserves equal attention.
For the ADC, the crash therefore presents an opportunity to look beyond the immediate incident and examine whether defence equipment is receiving adequate and timely maintenance funding.
The party called for the investigation into the crash to include a review of the maintenance history of the aircraft and the broader Nigerian Air Force fleet.
It also demanded an audit of maintenance expenditure and budgetary releases for military aviation equipment.
The ADC said such an exercise would help determine whether funding gaps, delays in releases or other maintenance-related challenges played any role in the condition of military aircraft.
As investigations into the Igbokoda crash continue, the party said the priority should remain establishing the facts, protecting the lives of military personnel and ensuring that lessons from the incident are used to prevent future tragedies.
For the families affected by the crash, however, the debate over budgets and maintenance goes beyond figures on government documents. It is ultimately about ensuring that those who leave home to serve the country have the safest equipment possible when they take to the skies.
