Nigeria’s civil and military aviation authorities are set to deepen technical cooperation on aircraft airworthiness, certification, safety training and capacity building following the tragic Nigerian Air Force aircraft incident at Igbokoda, Ondo State.
The proposed partnership emerged from a meeting between the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, and the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, during the Minister’s condolence visit to the Nigerian Air Force.
The two leaders agreed to strengthen collaboration between the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), with a joint committee expected to coordinate cooperation in critical areas of aviation safety while respecting the statutory responsibilities of both institutions.
During the visit, Keyamo signed the condolence register before holding a private meeting with Aneke. Both leaders subsequently addressed the media on plans to establish a more structured relationship between the country’s civil and military aviation authorities.
Expressing sympathy to the Air Force over the incident, Keyamo described the tragedy as a national loss and commended the courage and sacrifices of military personnel in the service of the country.
“We value the Air Force. We value the efforts of the gallant men and women of the Air Force and what they do for the country”, the Minister said.
He emphasised that aviation accidents affect the country as a whole, regardless of whether the aircraft involved belongs to a civilian operator or the military.
“It is one country, one people. When disaster happens, it affects everybody. There were civilians in that air crash and when there’s an air crash in the civil aviation too, there can be military personnel. And so, it is important that we cooperate in the area of safety”, he said.
According to the Minister, the incident has reinforced the need for both sectors to share expertise, strengthen professional relationships and adopt a more coordinated approach to aviation safety.
He noted that the Nigerian Air Force already depends on certain civil aviation services, particularly air traffic control, adding that existing ties should be expanded to cover a broader range of technical and operational areas.
Keyamo disclosed that he had contacted the Director-General of the NCAA and facilitated direct communication between the agency’s leadership and the Chief of Air Staff as part of efforts to advance the proposed partnership.
“We have decided that we will cooperate in terms of capacity building”, he said.
Under the proposed framework, a joint committee comprising representatives of the NCAA and NAF would coordinate collaboration in aircraft airworthiness, certification, training and other aviation safety matters.
The Minister also pledged to open relevant training opportunities provided by civil aviation authorities to qualified Air Force personnel.
“There is no reason why we cannot take some names from the Air Force. We have a lot of training we go for, so there is no reason why we cannot”, he said.
He added that cooperation would be mutually beneficial, noting that the Air Force possesses specialised knowledge and experience that could also strengthen 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”, Keyamo stated.
Responding, Aneke thanked the Minister for the condolence visit and his continued support for the Nigerian Air Force, describing the gesture as evidence of the growing relationship between the country’s civil and military aviation sectors.
The Chief of Air Staff said discussions had already begun on a framework that would enable civil aviation professionals to contribute to the Air Force’s safety systems, particularly in airworthiness and certification.
He added that Air Force personnel would also be able to share their specialised expertise with 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.
He welcomed the proposed training arrangements, noting that improved access to professional development and technical expertise would strengthen institutional capacity and support aviation safety nationwide.
The Air Chief stressed that both institutions ultimately share the 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.
The proposed framework is expected to encourage greater information sharing, technical cooperation, professional training and coordination between Nigeria’s civil and military aviation authorities.
If effectively implemented, the initiative could strengthen safety oversight and technical capacity across both sectors while creating a more integrated approach to protecting lives and improving aviation standards.