The Senate has postponed its planned National Security Summit indefinitely following the tragic crash of a Nigerian Air Force aircraft in Ondo State that claimed the lives of military personnel.
The two-day summit, which was scheduled to hold on October 12 and 13, 2026, was expected to bring together key stakeholders to deliberate on Nigeria’s security challenges and consider measures to strengthen the country’s security architecture.
The decision to postpone the event followed the crash of a Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft in the Igbokoda area of Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State on Monday. The crash resulted in the deaths of 25 officers and seven crew members.
In a statement, Senate Leader and Chairman of the Senate Ad Hoc Committee on the National Security Summit, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, said the postponement was necessary in view of the national mourning declared following the incident.
President Bola Tinubu had declared three days of national mourning in honour of the victims and directed that the national flag be flown at half-mast across the country. He also ordered a thorough investigation into the cause of the aircraft crash.
The Senate had already concluded preparations for the security summit after completing its zonal public hearings. The summit was expected to provide a platform for discussions on the country’s persistent security concerns and possible solutions to improve the protection of lives and property.
Bamidele said a new date for the summit would be communicated in due course, while expressing condolences to the families of the deceased personnel, the Nigerian Air Force and the wider Armed Forces.
The postponement comes as the country continues to mourn the military personnel who died in the crash, with investigations into the circumstances surrounding the incident ongoing.
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