The Nigerian Senate has suspended its planned National Security Summit indefinitely following the deadly Nigerian Air Force aircraft crash in Ondo State.
The summit, originally scheduled for October 12 and 13, 2026, was expected to bring together key stakeholders to deliberate on Nigeria’s worsening security challenges and develop practical measures to protect lives and property across the country.
However, the Senate Leader and Chairman of the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on the National Security Summit, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, announced on Tuesday that the event had been postponed until further notice.
The decision followed the crash of a Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft in Igbokoda, Ondo State, which resulted in the deaths of 25 officers and seven crew members.
The postponement also comes as Nigeria observes a three-day period of national mourning declared by President Bola Tinubu in honour of the military personnel who lost their lives in the incident.
Bamidele said the Senate considered it appropriate to defer the summit in solidarity with the bereaved families, the Nigerian Armed Forces and the nation during the period of mourning.
The Senate expressed condolences to President Tinubu, the Nigerian Air Force, the Armed Forces and the families of the deceased personnel, describing the victims as gallant officers who paid the ultimate price in service to the country.
The Senate said a fresh date for the summit would be announced in due course and urged all stakeholders to bear with the legislature as the country mourns the fallen military personnel.
