VP Shettima Pledges FG's Continued Support for Ondo Air Crash Families

Vice President Kashim Shettima on Tuesday offered assurances to the families of the 25 Nigerian Air Force personnel who tragically lost their lives in Monday’s plane crash in Ondo State. He affirmed that the Federal Government’s commitment to them extends beyond mere words of sympathy.

In a statement released on Tuesday by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communications, Stanley Nkwocha, Shettima declared that the nation is bound by an “enduring debt of gratitude” to the deceased servicemen and women. He guaranteed that the government would stand by their loved ones long after the period of mourning has passed.

“Thirty-two of our compatriots embarked on a routine mission in service to their country,” the Vice President stated. “They were colleagues, friends, and comrades. Yet, beyond their uniforms and ranks, they were also husbands and wives, fathers and mothers, sons and daughters, brothers and sisters.”

Shettima further reflected on the profound impact of the loss: “Somewhere today, there is an empty chair. Somewhere, a family is still trying to grasp the sudden void left by someone who was expected to return home. These represent the human aspect of the ultimate sacrifice we speak of as a nation.”

He reasoned that any nation requiring such service from its citizens “must also remember those who pay the ultimate price in that service.” Shettima emphasized that this loss places a lasting obligation on Nigeria to honor both the service of the departed and the families they left behind. “We cannot instruct the bereaved to be strong today. Grief does not heed commands. We can only assure them that Nigeria remembers, Nigeria mourns with them, and Nigeria will stand beside them beyond these days of mourning,” VP Shettima reiterated.

The Vice President also extended his condolences to all officers, airmen, and airwomen of the Nigerian Air Force, acknowledging that this calamity has taken members from “a professional family bound together by duty and sacrifice.” He added, “To the men and women of the Nigerian Air Force, we understand this loss is particularly personal for you. Your fallen colleagues have made the supreme sacrifice. A grateful nation honors their courage, their service, and the families who shared them with Nigeria.”

Shettima concluded by offering prayers for the peaceful repose of the deceased souls and for strength and comfort for their families, colleagues, and friends. He also reaffirmed President Bola Tinubu’s earlier response to the unfortunate incident. President Tinubu had previously declared three days of national mourning, instructing that flags nationwide be flown at half-mast, and ordered a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash.

The President described the event as “a painful moment for our Armed Forces and for the entire nation,” while commending the swift search-and-rescue efforts initiated by the Air Force, the Ondo State Government, and other first responders.

The ill-fated aircraft, an ATR-42 with tail number NGR 931, went down near a naval base in the Igbokoda area of Ilaje Local Government Area, Ondo State, on Monday. It was on a routine flight originating from Benin, Edo State, and destined for Lagos. All 32 individuals on board, comprising 25 passengers and seven crew members, perished in the accident. As of the latest update, the Nigerian Air Force has released the names of those who died.