Senate suspends security summit over Ondo air crash

The Nigerian Senate has postponed its two-day National Security Summit, which was set to take place on October 12 and 13, 2026, due to the tragic crash of a Nigerian Air Force aircraft in Ondo State. The crash resulted in the loss of 25 officers and seven crew members, prompting the Senate to declare three days of national mourning and postpone the summit.

Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, the Leader of the Senate and Chairman of the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on the National Security Summit, announced the decision in a statement issued in Abuja. The Senate had planned the summit to bring together key stakeholders to address the country's security challenges and develop strategies to enhance the protection of lives and property.

The ad hoc committee had already completed preparations for the summit following public hearings held ahead of the event. President Bola Tinubu declared three days of national mourning and ordered a thorough investigation into the crash. The Senate leaders expressed condolences to the President, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, and the families of the deceased military personnel.

A new date for the summit will be announced at a later date, and the Senate appealed to participants and stakeholders to bear with the proceedings during this period of national mourning.