The Senate has suspended its planned National Security Summit indefinitely following the death of 32 Nigerian Air Force personnel in a tragic aircraft crash in Igbokoda, Ondo State.
The two-day summit, originally scheduled for October 12 and 13, 2026, was postponed following the crash and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s declaration of three days of national mourning for the fallen military personnel.
Senate Leader and Chairman of the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on the National Security Summit, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, announced the postponement in a statement on Tuesday.
The Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft crashed in Igbokoda, headquarters of Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, on Monday, killing 25 officers and seven crew members.
The devastating incident came as the Senate was finalising arrangements for the high-level security summit aimed at confronting Nigeria’s worsening security challenges.
The summit was expected to bring together key stakeholders to examine the country’s persistent security threats and develop practical strategies to strengthen the protection of lives and property across the federation.
Preparations for the summit had already been substantially concluded, including the completion of zonal public hearings across the country.
However, the scale of the tragedy and the declaration of national mourning compelled the Senate to defer the meeting out of respect for the deceased personnel.
President Tinubu had directed that national flags be flown at half-mast across the country during the three-day mourning period in honour of the fallen officers and crew members.
Explaining the decision, Bamidele said the Senate considered it appropriate to postpone the summit in honour of the military personnel who paid the supreme price in active service to the nation.
The Senate expressed condolences to President Tinubu, the Nigerian Armed Forces, particularly the Nigerian Air Force, as well as the families, colleagues and loved ones of the deceased personnel.
Bamidele described the victims as gallant Nigerian military personnel who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to the fatherland.
The Senate assured stakeholders that a new date for the National Security Summit would be announced in due course.
It also appealed to all stakeholders and participants to take note of the national tragedy and bear with the Senate as the nation mourns the fallen personnel.
