The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called for an audit of funds released for the maintenance of Nigerian Air Force aircraft following Monday’s crash involving an ATR-42 aircraft at Igbokoda, Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State.
The opposition party also raised questions over the disparity between funds released for the maintenance of the Nigerian Air Force fleet and those allocated to the Presidential Air Fleet, urging the Federal Government to review its funding priorities for military aviation.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday and signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC commiserated with the families of those who lost their lives in the crash.
The party described the incident as tragic and unfortunate but said it would not pre-empt the ongoing investigation into the cause of the accident.
It, however, urged authorities to include the aircraft’s maintenance history and broader military equipment maintenance practices in the investigation.
According to the ADC, official figures showed that, as of December 2025, the Federal Government had released N4.5bn, representing about 13 per cent of the N34.71bn budgeted for the maintenance of Nigerian Air Force aircraft.
By comparison, the party said N20.74bn was allocated for the maintenance of the Presidential Air Fleet, of which N20.27bn, representing 97.76 per cent, had reportedly been released during the same period.
The ADC argued that the figures raised questions about the disparity in funding between the two fleets.
The party said the funding gap should be examined alongside other factors that may have contributed to the crash, while stressing that it did not intend to prejudice the ongoing investigation.
It also called for greater accountability in defence spending, particularly in relation to the procurement, maintenance and operational readiness of military aircraft.
The ADC said the issue was not about questioning the need to maintain aircraft used by the President, but about ensuring that military personnel operating aircraft in demanding and potentially hazardous conditions were provided with properly maintained equipment.
It urged the Federal Government to ensure that the investigation examines the crashed aircraft’s maintenance records, defence procurement and maintenance practices, budgetary releases and actual expenditure.
The party specifically demanded an audit of maintenance expenditure and budgetary releases for Nigerian Air Force aircraft.
The ATR-42 aircraft operated by the Nigerian Air Force crashed on Monday in the Igbokoda area of Ondo State while on a routine mission from Benin, Edo State, to Lagos. Emergency and recovery operations were subsequently launched at the scene.
The cause of the crash had not been established as of Tuesday, with authorities expected to rely on a formal investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The ADC said the investigation should be allowed to run its course, while ensuring that questions surrounding the funding and maintenance of military aircraft were not overlooked.
It maintained that greater accountability in defence spending was essential not only to establish the circumstances surrounding the Ondo crash but also to help prevent similar incidents and safeguard military personnel involved in national security operations.
