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President Tinubu Declares Three-Day Mourning For 32 Air Force Personnel Killed in Ondo Aircraft Crash

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President Tinubu Orders Review Of Revenue Deductions By Federal Agencies

President Tinubu Declares Three-Day Mourning For 32 Air Force Personnel Killed in Ondo Aircraft Crash

President Bola Tinubu has declared a three-day national mourning period for Nigerian Air Force personnel who died in the crash of a military aircraft in Ondo State on Monday.
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Tinubu, in a statement issued by his Special Adviser of Information and Communication Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, also directed that national flags be flown at half-mast across the country as a mark of respect for the deceased officers.

The president had earlier expressed profound sadness over the crash of a Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft near a naval base in the Igbokoda area of Ondo State.

The aircraft, which was carrying 25 passengers and seven crew members, was on a routine mission from Benin to Lagos when it crashed.

“This is a painful moment for our Armed Forces and for the entire nation. Our Air Force personnel put their lives on the line every day to secure Nigeria. Their sacrifice will never be forgotten,” Tinubu said in a condolence message to the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, and officers, airmen and airwomen of the Nigerian Air Force.

“The Chief of Air Staff has briefed me, and I have directed the Nigerian Air Force to immediately commence a thorough investigation into the cause of the crash to prevent future occurrences.

President Tinubu Orders Review Of Revenue Deductions By Federal Agencies

President Tinubu

“I commend the Nigerian Air Force for activating an immediate search and rescue operation following the accident.”

The Nigerian Air Force is expected to release the identities of the deceased personnel after their families have been contacted.

The presidency said the three-day mourning period was declared in honour of the Air Force personnel who lost their lives while serving the country.
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Retired Police Officers and Families Again Protest in Abuja, Demand Exit From Contributory Pension Scheme

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Retired Police Officers and Families Again Protest in Abuja, Demand Exit From Contributory Pension Scheme

Retired Nigerian police officers, alongside their wives and children, on Monday took to the streets of Abuja to protest what they described as years of neglect under the Contributory Pension Scheme.
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The protesters, who said they served the country for as long as 35 years before retirement, demanded that the Federal Government urgently remove retired police personnel from the scheme and address what they described as persistent challenges affecting their pensions and welfare.

Carrying placards and voicing their grievances, the retirees said their years of service to Nigeria had not translated into a decent or secure retirement.

According to them, despite dedicating decades of their lives to the Nigeria Police Force, many retired officers are still struggling with pension-related challenges and inadequate welfare.

One of the retired officers lamented that they had become a liability after years of service, questioning why retired police personnel should continue to face hardship after spending decades protecting the country.

The retirees also compared the treatment of former police officers with the government’s response to pension and welfare concerns involving retired military personnel, arguing that retired police officers deserve similar attention and support.

The protesters said their decision to take to the streets followed prolonged neglect of their concerns by relevant authorities.

They called on the President Bola Tinubu-led government to urgently review the pension arrangements affecting retired police officers and consider their demand for a total exit from the Contributory Pension Scheme.

Police

Police

They also appealed to the government to improve the welfare of retired police officers, saying those who spent their productive years serving and protecting the country should not be left to struggle after retirement.

The protesters urged the Tinubu’s administration and relevant government agencies to intervene in the matter and provide a lasting solution to their pension concerns.
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Full List: NAF Mourns 25 Lives Lost in 931 Aircraft Accident in Ondo

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NAF Aircraft

Full List: NAF Mourns 25 Lives Lost in 931 Aircraft Accident in Ondo

The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, has expressed profound condolences to the families of the personnel and passengers who lost their lives following the accident involving Nigerian Air Force (NAF) ATR 42 aircraft, NAF 931, in the Igbokoda area of Ondo State.
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The CAS described the incident as a deeply painful moment for the Nigerian Air Force and the nation, expressing heartfelt sympathies to the families, loved ones and colleagues of those who lost their lives. He assured the bereaved families of the Service’s full support during this difficult period.

NAF 931 had 25 persons on board, comprising five crew members and 20 passengers. The aircraft was on a routine mission from Benin to Lagos when the accident occurred. Search-and-rescue procedures were immediately activated, with response efforts conducted in coordination with relevant authorities to locate and account for all persons on board. No survivors have been found. The crew members were:

CREW
1. Squadron Leader MI Aburime (Flight Captain)
2. Squadron Leader AP Man-Ugwueje (Co-pilot)
3. Flight Lieutenant IS Bako (Co-pilot)
4. Warrant Officer Abubakar A (Aircraft Technician)
5. Corporal Uguru HC (Aircraft Technician)

PASSENGERS
6. Flight Lieutenant TL Lazarus
7. Flight Lieutenant M Akinloye
8. Flying Officer IM Adeshina
9. Master Warrant Officer Onwuka F
10. Master Warrant Officer Matini BA
11. Warrant Officer Nuhu FS
12. Flight Sergeant James RB
13. Flight Sergeant Mohammed AI
14. Sergeant Ani AE
15. Sergeant Izibenikien SI
16. Sergeant Alafuka C
17. Sergeant Mbadugha AN
18. Lance Corporal Ugwuba FC
19. Lance Corporal Eledan GE
20. Mrs Ezeh Nneka
21. Godstmine Tarabina
22. Joy Micheal
23. Sunday Micheal
24. Ukeme David
25. Gideon Omotola

The CAS has directed a comprehensive investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the accident. The Nigerian Air Force will continue to provide timely and verified updates as the investigation progresses and urges the public to refrain from speculation and the circulation of unverified information, while respecting the privacy and dignity of the affected families.

NAF Aircraft

NAF Aircraft

A condolence register has also been opened at Headquarters Nigerian Air Force, Abuja, for senior government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, heads of security agencies, and other well-wishers who may wish to pay their respects and convey messages of sympathy to the families of the deceased and the Nigerian Air Force.

Ehimen Ejodame
Air Commodore
Director of Public Relations and Information
Headquarters, Nigerian Air Force

6 October 2026
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Governor Eno Declares State of Emergency on Education, Approves N2.1bn Teachers’ Welfare Package

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Umo Eno

Governor Eno Declares State of Emergency on Education, Approves N2.1bn Teachers’ Welfare Package

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has declared a state of emergency on education in the state, approving a major welfare package for public school teachers and financial support for registered private schools.
Governor Eno made the declaration on Monday during the 2026 World Teachers’ Day celebration held at the Uyo Township Stadium.
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Under the new intervention, the Governor approved a N50,000 wardrobe allowance and N10,000 transport allowance for each of the 21,167 public school teachers across Akwa Ibom State.

He also approved a N500,000 support grant for each of the 1,776 registered private schools in the state.
The Governor further approved the recruitment of 2,000 additional teachers into the state civil service, saying the recruitment portal would be opened soon.
He urged qualified Akwa Ibom indigenes to take advantage of the opportunity when the recruitment process begins.

As part of the emergency measures, Governor Eno announced the constitution of an Education Emergency Committee, headed by the Deputy Governor, Senator Akon Eyakenyi, with the Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ubong Umoh, and other members.
The committee is expected to undertake a comprehensive turnaround of the state’s education sector by identifying and addressing critical gaps and repositioning the system to meet the objectives of the administration’s ARISE Agenda.

Speaking on teachers’ welfare, Governor Eno rejected the traditional saying that teachers’ rewards are only received in heaven, insisting that teachers deserve to benefit from their service while still alive.

“Teachers’ reward is in heaven, but I say no. Teachers’ reward is here. My belief is that your reward begins here,” the Governor said.

Governor Eno also highlighted other interventions by his administration in the education sector, including the construction of 38 model primary schools across the 31 local government areas, payment of WAEC and NABTEB fees for secondary school students and the clearance of outstanding contributory pension obligations.
He disclosed that about N2.4 billion in outstanding teachers’ gratuities had also been paid, stressing that teachers’ welfare remained a major component of his administration’s investment in education.

The Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ubong Umoh, commended the Governor for what he described as significant interventions in the education sector, particularly measures aimed at improving teachers’ welfare and creating a conducive environment for teaching and learning.

The Chairman of the Akwa Ibom State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT, Comrade Edet Emenyi, also expressed the union’s support for the administration, citing its interventions in the education sector and attention to teachers’ welfare.

Umo Eno

Umo Eno

Similarly, the State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Comrade Sunny James, commended the administration for addressing outstanding teachers’ gratuities.

At the event, Governor Eno also announced the formal transition of the Akwa Ibom State College of Education into the Akwa Ibom State University of Education, following the passage of the enabling law by the State House of Assembly.
He subsequently announced Professor Philip Afaha as the pioneer Vice Chancellor of the newly established university.

The Governor reiterated his administration’s commitment to sustained investment in education, describing the sector as a long-term investment in the future of Akwa Ibom rather than an avenue for political competition.
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