THUR OCT 15 2026-theGBJournal| The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) says it will work with environmental and public health authorities to address concerns raised by residents of Igbokoda, Ondo State, following an aircraft accident in the community.
Residents have reported an offensive odour and expressed fears about possible environmental damage at the crash site.
In a statement on Thursday, the Air Force said it was taking the concerns seriously and would engage relevant agencies to assess the situation once search and recovery operations had been completed.
The NAF said it was working with partner agencies to ensure the safe recovery of the wreckage, adding that appropriate measures would be taken to address any environmental concerns identified.
Meanwhile, specialist divers from the Nigerian Navy and the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) are continuing underwater search and recovery operations at the site of the Nigerian Air Force ATR 42-500 aircraft accident.
The operation is being supported by hydrographic surveys, satellite-based search-and-rescue imagery, mud excavation and the removal of excess water to improve access to areas of interest.
The Air Force said additional aircraft components had been recovered as teams continued efforts to locate and preserve materials relevant to the investigation.
It did not specify what might be causing the reported odour or whether any environmental contamination had been confirmed.
The NAF said it remained concerned about the wellbeing of residents and was committed to working with relevant stakeholders to protect public health, safety and the environment.
In a separate development, The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, has directed strengthened flight safety oversight across the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), reaffirming the Service’s commitment to personnel safety, professional standards and institutional accountability following the tragic accident involving NAF ATR 42-500 aircraft NAF 931 on 5 October 2026.
The directive was issued during a meeting with Branch Chiefs, Air Officers Commanding (AOCs), Principal Staff Officers and other senior commanders on 14 October 2026, where the CAS emphasised the need for sustained vigilance, strict adherence to established procedures and continuous improvement in safety management.
Expressing profound sorrow over the loss of personnel, Air Marshal Aneke acknowledged the grief of the bereaved families and the entire NAF community.
He stressed that operational effectiveness must be underpinned by sound judgement, professional discipline and the highest standards of flight safety.
Accordingly, he directed commanders to maintain rigorous oversight of aircraft airworthiness, maintenance quality assurance, operational procedures and aircrew competence.
He also emphasised proactive safety monitoring, prompt reporting of potential hazards and effective implementation of safety measures, noting that flight safety remains a shared command responsibility.
The CAS further highlighted that a substantial amount of resources has already been invested in personnel training, aircraft spares and maintenance resources to support airworthiness and operational readiness.
X-@theGBJournal|email:gbj@govbusinessjournal.com|govandbusinessj@gmail.com
