A former Director of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mike Ejiofor, has identified poor maintenance culture and possible training gaps as factors that could be contributing to recurring military aircraft crashes in Nigeria.
Speaking during an interview on Arise Television on Friday, Ejiofor expressed concern over the repeated incidents and called for improved maintenance standards within the Nigerian Air Force (NAF).
He advocated a comprehensive internal audit of both aircraft and personnel to ensure airworthiness and adequate training.
His remarks followed a recent Nigerian Air Force aircraft crash in Ondo State that reportedly killed several people.
Ejiofor described the recurring crashes as troubling and urged the government and Air Force authorities to take proactive measures to prevent further losses of personnel and equipment.
“So this crash is just one too many, and I think we need to do internal auditing of the Nigerian Air Force to ensure that the aircraft are airworthy and that the people receive training,” he said.
He added that poor maintenance culture was a broader problem in Nigerian society, stressing the need to determine whether maintenance shortcomings or training issues were contributing to the incidents.
“And the Air Force authorities also have to look inwards to see what it actually is. Is it lack of maintenance or training? I’m sure they are trained,” he stated.
Ejiofor maintained that a thorough assessment of aircraft and personnel was necessary to help address the recurring crashes and prevent further losses.
