The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has partnered with the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, to strengthen civil-military collaboration on aviation safety in the country.
The partnership, sealed during a meeting in Abuja, seeks to enhance airspace coordination and prevent air mishaps between civil and military aircraft.
The Aviation Minister’s subsequent condolence visit to Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, the Chief of Air Staff, following an airforce aircraft crash in Igbokoda, Ondo State evolved into something more than protocol.
The two men agreed to deepen collaboration between the Civil Aviation Authority and the Air Force on safety, airworthiness, certification and training—formalizing a partnership long informal.
Keyamo, in a statement released through his media adviser Tunde Moshood, called the crash a national tragedy and praised the “gallantry and sacrifices” of Air Force personnel.
However, he also framed the incident as a catalyst for structural change.
“It is one country, one people. When disaster happens, it affects everybody,” Keyamo said.
“There were civilians in that air crash and when there’s an air crash in civil aviation too, there can be military personnel.”
The Minister noted that the Air Force relies on civilian air-traffic control and other infrastructure, making closer coordination not just prudent but necessary.
He said he had already put the Director-General of the Civil Aviation Authority in direct contact with Chief of Air Staff Aneke to accelerate the process.
Air Marshal Aneke welcomed the overture, describing it as evidence of the strong relationship that has developed between civil and military aviation under his leadership.
He said both institutions had begun discussions on a framework that would allow civil-aviation personnel to contribute directly to the Air Force’s safety environment.
The agreement covers five key areas:
Aviation safety oversight,
airworthiness certification,
joint training programs,
capacity building,
information sharing on incidents and best practices.
The move reflects a broader trend in emerging aviation markets, where military and civilian authorities increasingly recognize overlapping interests in airspace management and safety standards.
The aviation sector has faced scrutiny over maintenance and regulatory enforcement in recent years, the partnership could help raise standards across both domains.
For Keyamo, the Igbokoda crash was a reminder that aviation safety is indivisible.
“We value the Air Force. We value the efforts of the gallant men and women of the Air Force and what they do for the country,” he said.
The Minister’s visit closed with a commitment to turn sympathy into systems, ensuring that the next time an aircraft goes down, the response is shaped by shared expertise rather than separate silos.
