The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called for an audit of defence spending and the implementation of funds earmarked for military aircraft maintenance following Monday’s Nigerian Air Force (NAF) aircraft crash in Igbokoda, Ondo State.
This was just as the opposition party also demanded a thorough investigation into the cause of the crash and the maintenance of military equipment, particularly aircraft operated by the Nigerian Air Force.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday, ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, described the crash as tragic and unfortunate, saying the incident had renewed concerns over the funding and maintenance of military equipment.
Abdullahi said the party would not seek to prejudice the ongoing investigation into the accident but argued that the crash presented an opportunity to examine what he described as the “non-implementation of the defence budget” and the recurring neglect of military equipment.
According to the party, official figures showed that as of December 2025, the Federal Government had released N4.5 billion, representing about 13.98 per cent of the N34.71 billion allocated for the maintenance of Nigerian Air Force aircraft.
The ADC contrasted this with the allocation for the Presidential Air Fleet, saying N20.74 billion was budgeted for its maintenance, while N20.27 billion, representing 97.76 per cent of the allocation, had been released within the same period.
Politics Nigeria reports that the party argued that the disparity warranted scrutiny, particularly given the risks faced by military personnel operating aircraft in the course of their duties.
“Patriotism does not replace spare parts, and condolence messages do not take the place of accountability,” the party said, while stressing that the safety of the President was important but that the welfare and safety of pilots and airmen serving the country also required attention.
ADC subsequently called for investigations into the circumstances surrounding the crash as well as a broader review of the maintenance and funding of defence equipment.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) also expressed condolences over the crash, describing the loss of the service personnel as painful and extending its sympathies to the Nigerian Air Force and the families of the victims.
In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary of the Interim National Working Committee, Ini Ememobong, the party said the aircraft crashed near the Naval Base in Igbokoda, Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State.
The statement quoted PDP National Chairman, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, SAN, as saying the party mourned the personnel who had contributed to the unity and survival of the country.
“Our service personnel have given so much for the unity and survival of this country, and news of their deaths is deeply painful,” Turaki said.
The PDP chairman called for a thorough and transparent investigation into the crash and prayed for the repose of the victims.
Festus Keyamo, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, had said preliminary information indicated that 25 passengers and seven crew members were on board the aircraft, which was conducting a routine mission from Benin, Edo State, to Lagos.
The aircraft, identified as an ATR-42 with tail number NGR 931, reportedly disappeared from radar at about 9:13am before its wreckage was located near the naval base.
President Bola Tinubu has directed the Nigerian Air Force to immediately investigate the cause of the crash and extended condolences to the families of those involved.
The Nigerian Air Force had earlier confirmed that the aircraft was on a routine mission from Benin to Lagos and said search and rescue operations had been activated following the accident.
