Former Director of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mike Ejiofor, has called for a comprehensive audit of the Nigerian Air Force following repeated military aircraft crashes in the country.
Ejiofor said poor maintenance practices and possible gaps in personnel training must be examined to determine the factors contributing to the incidents.
He also urged the Federal Government and military authorities to adopt a more proactive approach to aircraft safety and the protection of military personnel.
The former DSS director made the remarks during an interview on Arise Television on Friday, following a recent Nigerian Air Force aircraft crash in Ondo State that reportedly claimed several lives.
He described the recurring crashes as a serious concern and argued that the military should investigate its aircraft, maintenance procedures and personnel to establish whether preventable failures contributed to the incidents.
“So this crash is just one too many, and I think we need to do internal auditing of the Nigerian Air Force to ensure that the aircraft are airworthy and that the people receive training. Don’t forget that it’s not only the Air Force; the various parts of society also have this lack of maintenance culture in Nigeria.
“I call for comprehensive internal auditing of both the aircraft and men, because we can’t just continue to lose men, lose equipment, materials, and all that. I think it’s high time the government stepped up its proactive approaches.
“And the Air Force authorities also have to look inwards to see what it actually is. Is it lack of maintenance or training? I’m sure they are trained,” he said.
Ejiofor’s comments place renewed attention on aircraft maintenance, operational safety and the need for a thorough examination of the circumstances surrounding military aviation accidents in Nigeria.
He did not establish a definitive cause for the Ondo State crash during the interview.
Rather, he called for an internal review to determine whether maintenance shortcomings, training issues or other operational factors may have contributed to the incident.
The distinction is important because aircraft crashes can result from several factors, including technical failure, adverse weather, human error and operational challenges.
Investigators must examine the available evidence before identifying the cause of any particular accident.
His recommendation for an audit also raises questions about the procedures used to inspect military aircraft, document maintenance activities and confirm that aircraft remain fit for service before being deployed on operations.
The aircraft involved in the latest incident was an ATR-42 operated by the Nigerian Air Force.
It crashed on October 5, 2026, in the Igbokoda area of Ilaje Local Government Area, Ondo State, while travelling from Benin City, Edo State, to Lagos on a routine mission.
The Nigerian Air Force later confirmed that 25 people were on board, comprising five crew members and 20 passengers. No survivors were reported.
The crash prompted grief within the military and renewed calls for a detailed examination of the circumstances surrounding the accident.
President Bola Tinubu ordered a comprehensive investigation into the incident and declared three days of national mourning for the military personnel who died.
He also directed that national flags be flown at half-mast as a mark of respect for the deceased.
The Nigerian Air Force subsequently announced that it would investigate the crash. The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, also visited the crash site on October 8 as recovery and investigative operations continued.
The calls for an audit have also drawn attention to the resources allocated to military equipment.
In a related development, POLITICS NIGERIA reported on Wednesday that the African Democratic Congress had demanded an audit of defence spending following the Ondo crash.
The party called for scrutiny of funds allocated to military aircraft maintenance and a thorough investigation into the accident.
However, the cause of the crash remains subject to investigation, and no final determination has been announced.
