The October 5 Nigerian Air Force aircraft crash in Igbokoda, Ondo State, has prompted renewed efforts to strengthen cooperation between Nigeria’s civil and military aviation authorities.

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, and the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, agreed to deepen collaboration on aviation safety, airworthiness, certification, training and capacity building.

The agreement was reached when Keyamo paid a condolence visit to Aneke following the crash, which claimed the lives of all 25 people aboard the aircraft.

The Nigerian Air Force aircraft, carrying 20 passengers and five crew members, was on a routine mission from Benin to Lagos when it crashed in a swampy area near the Naval Base in Igbokoda, Ilaje Local Government Area.

The aircraft lost contact at about 9:13am before its wreckage was located near the naval facility. Recovery operations were subsequently launched at the difficult-to-access crash site.

The Air Force later confirmed the deaths of all 25 occupants and released the names of the five crew members and 20 passengers. Aneke also ordered a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash.

President Bola Tinubu subsequently declared three days of national mourning for the victims and directed the Air Force to investigate the cause of the accident.

Against this backdrop, Keyamo and Aneke said the tragedy highlighted the need for closer coordination between civil and military aviation authorities.

The proposed collaboration is expected to provide a joint framework for strengthening safety standards, technical expertise, certification processes and capacity across both sectors.

The development comes as recovery efforts continue at the crash site, with the Nigerian Navy and Marine Police participating in the operation.