The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, has ordered stronger flight safety oversight across the Nigerian Air Force to prevent air crashes, following the NAF ATR 42-500 accident of October 5.
Air Marshal Aneke directed commanders to strengthen checks on aircraft airworthiness, maintenance, operating procedures and crew competence.
He also called for faster reporting of hazards and more active safety monitoring, describing flight safety as a shared command responsibility.
The directive followed the October 5 crash of NAF aircraft 931 near Igbokoda in Ondo State where the aircraft was carrying 20 passengers and five crew members, killing all.
Air Marshal Aneke expressed condolences to the victims’ families and said the force must pair operational effectiveness with discipline and high safety standards.
This was contained in a statement by Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, the Air Force’s Director of Public Relations.
Search-and-recovery work continued at the swampy crash site, where teams have used excavation and water-pumping equipment to reach the area.
Air Vice Marshal EOE Ebiowe, who leads the recovery and investigation team, said the operation remained ongoing.
In a related development, the Ondo State government has ordered fumigation of the river around the site after residents reported a strong stench and feared contamination.
Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa instructed the environment and health ministries to begin fumigation and distribute face masks and health kits.
The state also asked the Ilaje Local Government to provide tanker-delivered drinking water if tests confirm the river is unsafe.
Residents said the odor had reached nearby homes more than a week after the crash.
The measures reflect mounting pressure on authorities to manage both the investigation and the public-health risks surrounding the disaster.
