The Senate has postponed indefinitely its two-day National Security Summit scheduled for October 12 and 13, 2026, following the crash of a Nigerian Air Force aircraft in Ondo State.
The summit was postponed in honour of the 25 officers and seven crew members who died in the crash of the NAF ATR-42 aircraft at Igbokoda, headquarters of Ilaje Local Government Area, on Monday.
The Leader of the Senate and Chairman of the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on the National Security Summit, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, disclosed this in a statement he personally signed on Tuesday.
Bamidele said the decision was taken following President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of three days of national mourning for the victims of the crash.
The President had also directed that national flags be flown at half-mast across the country in honour of the fallen military personnel.
The Senate had convened the summit to review Nigeria’s persistent security challenges and develop pragmatic solutions aimed at protecting lives and property across the country.
According to Bamidele, the ad-hoc committee had concluded arrangements for the summit after completing zonal public hearings before the tragedy forced the postponement.
“With the declaration of national mourning, the Senate resolved that the National Security Summit should be deferred till further notice in honour of the victims of the crash,” the statement said.
The Senate expressed condolences to Tinubu, the Nigerian Armed Forces, particularly the Nigerian Air Force, and the families of the deceased officers and crew members.
It described the victims as gallant personnel who paid the supreme price in active service to the country.
The statement added that a new date for the national security summit would be communicated in due course.
The Senate also appealed to all stakeholders expected to participate in the summit to take note of the national tragedy and bear with the upper chamber during the period of mourning.
