The Senate has postponed its two-day National Security Summit, earlier scheduled for October 12 and 13, following the death of 25 officers and seven crew members in the Nigerian Air Force aircraft crash in Ondo State.
The Leader of the Senate and Chairman of the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on the National Security Summit, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, announced the postponement in a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday.
He said the decision was taken in honour of the victims of the crash and in line with the three-day national mourning declared by President Bola Tinubu.
Bamidele said, “The Senate has announced the postponement of its two-day National Security Summit scheduled for Monday, 12th and Tuesday, 13th October, 2026, until further notice.
“The upper chamber postponed the summit consequent upon the tragic crash of a Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft in Igbokoda, headquarters of Ilaje Local Government Area, Ondo State, which claimed the lives of 25 officers and seven crew members on Monday.”
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The Senate had planned the summit to bring together key stakeholders to examine the country’s persistent security challenges and develop practical measures to strengthen the protection of lives and property across the country.
The ad hoc committee had also completed preparations for the summit following the conclusion of zonal public hearings held ahead of the national event.
However, the crash involving the NAF ATR-42 aircraft in Igbokoda on Monday forced the Senate to suspend the planned meeting.
The crash claimed the lives of 25 officers and seven crew members, prompting widespread mourning and renewed calls for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.
Following the incident, President Bola Tinubu declared three days of national mourning for the deceased officers and crew members and directed that the national flags be flown at half-mast across the country.
The President also ordered a thorough investigation into the crash to determine its cause.
Bamidele said the Senate considered it appropriate to defer the security summit during the period of national mourning as a mark of respect for the deceased military personnel who died in active service.
“The Senate also extended its heartfelt condolences to the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Nigerian Armed Forces, particularly the Nigerian Air Force; and the families of the gallant officers and crew members who paid the supreme price in active service to the fatherland,” the statement said.
The Senate Leader said a new date for the summit would be announced later.
He appealed to participants and other stakeholders expected to attend the summit to “take note of the national disaster and bear with the Senate during this period of national mourning.”