NAF crash: Senate suspends national security summit

The Senate has indefinitely postponed its planned National Security Summit following the fatal crash of a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) ATR-42 aircraft in Igbokoda, headquarters of Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State.

The crash, which occurred on Monday, claimed the lives of 25 officers and seven crew members, prompting a period of national mourning and renewed attention to the sacrifices of military personnel serving the country.

The National Security Summit was originally scheduled to hold on Monday, October 12, and Tuesday, October 13.

The two-day event was convened by the upper chamber to examine Nigeria’s security challenges and develop practical measures to strengthen the protection of lives and property.

Summit postponed over national mourning

The Senate Leader and Chairman of the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on the National Security Summit, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, announced the postponement in a statement he personally signed on Tuesday in Abuja.

Bamidele said the decision followed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s declaration of three days of national mourning in honour of the military personnel who died in the aircraft crash.

The President also directed that the national flag be flown at half-mast across the country as Nigeria mourns the fallen officers and crew members.

Explaining the decision, Bamidele said the summit had already been fully planned following the completion of zonal public hearings, but the tragedy involving the NAF aircraft made it necessary for the Senate to suspend the event.

“The Senate has resolved to defer the National Security Summit till further notice in honour of the victims of the tragic crash involving a Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft in Igbokoda, Ondo State,” he said.

New date to be announced

The Senate Leader said the postponement was also in recognition of the gravity of the national tragedy and the period of mourning declared by the President.

He said a fresh date for the summit would be announced in due course, urging stakeholders who had made preparations to participate in the event to bear with the Senate.

Bamidele appealed to all stakeholders to take note of the national disaster and understand the decision to defer the meeting during the mourning period.

“We appeal to all stakeholders to take note of the national disaster and bear with the Senate during this period of national mourning,” he added.

Senate mourns fallen military personnel

Bamidele expressed the Senate’s condolences to President Tinubu, the Nigerian Armed Forces, particularly the Nigerian Air Force, and the families of the deceased personnel.

He described the officers and crew members who died in the crash as gallant personnel who paid the supreme price in active service to the country.

“The Senate extends its heartfelt condolences to the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR; the Nigerian Armed Forces, particularly the Nigerian Air Force; and the families of the gallant officers and crew members who paid the supreme price in active service to the fatherland,” he said.

Security summit had undergone preparations

The summit was designed to bring together key stakeholders to review Nigeria’s perennial security challenges and develop pragmatic recommendations capable of addressing threats to lives, property and national stability.

As part of preparations, the Senate had already conducted zonal public hearings to gather views and recommendations from stakeholders across the country.

The ad hoc committee had subsequently concluded arrangements for the national gathering before the aircraft crash occurred.

The planned summit was expected to provide a platform for federal and state authorities, security agencies, lawmakers, security experts and other stakeholders to assess the country’s security architecture and propose measures for improving the safety of Nigerians.

With the indefinite postponement, the Senate’s planned national conversation on the country’s security challenges will now await a new date.

The Senate did not announce a specific date for the rescheduled summit, saying details would be communicated to stakeholders in due course.