Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, and the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, on Wednesday agreed to strengthen cooperation between civil and military aviation authorities following the fatal NAF aircraft crash in Igbokoda, Ondo State.
The two officials reached the agreement in Abuja? after Keyamo paid a condolence visit to Aneke over Monday’s crash in Igbokoda, headquarters of Ilaje Local Government Area, which claimed the lives of 20 military personnel and five crew members.
The proposed collaboration between the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and the Nigerian Air Force will cover airworthiness, certification, training, capacity building and other aviation safety measures.
The officials said the initiative was necessary to improve safety standards and prevent avoidable aviation disasters.
Speaking after a private meeting with Aneke, Keyamo described the crash as a national tragedy.
He said civil and military aviation authorities must work together because aviation accidents could affect both military personnel and civilians.
> “It is one country, one people. When disaster happens, it affects everybody.”
Keyamo said the NAF already depended on some civil aviation infrastructure, including air traffic control.
He said the existing relationship should therefore be strengthened through a more structured partnership.
The minister disclosed that he had contacted the Director-General of the NCAA to establish direct communication with the Chief of Air Staff.
He also announced plans for a joint NCAA-NAF committee to coordinate cooperation on airworthiness, certification, training and related safety matters.
“There is no reason why we cannot take some names from the Air Force. We have a lot of training we go for,” Keyamo said.
He added that the military also had specialised expertise that could benefit the civil aviation sector.
“This is a kind of cross-pollination and symbiotic relationship we have decided to build for the safety of the lives of Nigerians,” he said.
Aneke welcomed the initiative, saying both institutions had a shared responsibility to improve aviation safety.
The Chief of Air Staff said discussions had begun on a framework that would enable civil aviation personnel to contribute to the military’s safety systems, particularly in airworthiness and certification.
He added that NAF personnel would also make their expertise available to the civil aviation sector where necessary.
“We have both agreed that we need to move the aviation industry, whether military or civil, to a higher level,” Aneke said.
The Air Chief said the proposed training opportunities would strengthen professional capacity across the aviation industry.
“We are serving the same government; we are protecting the same Nigerians. So, we are just a blend of each other,” he said.
The partnership is expected to improve information sharing, technical cooperation and professional training between Nigeria’s civil and military aviation authorities.
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