Qatar's Amir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, has expressed condolences to President Bola Tinubu over the tragic loss of life in a Nigerian Air Force aircraft crash in Ondo State. The crash occurred on October 5, when an ATR-42 aircraft went down in a swampy area near the Nigerian Navy's Forward Operating Base in Igbokoda. The aircraft was on a routine mission from Benin City to Lagos when the accident occurred.
The Deputy Amir, Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al-Thani, and the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani, also sent separate messages of condolence to President Tinubu. The Qatar News Agency reported that the three Qatari leaders sent cables of condolence to Tinubu over the victims of the crash. However, further details of the messages were not disclosed.
According to the Nigerian Air Force, 25 people were aboard the aircraft, comprising five crew members and 20 passengers, and unfortunately, there were no survivors. However, Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo initially stated that 32 people were aboard, comprising 25 passengers and seven crew members. The cause of the discrepancy is unclear.
In response to the tragedy, President Tinubu declared three days of national mourning and directed that flags be flown at half-mast across the country. He also ordered a thorough investigation into the cause of the crash. The Nigerian Air Force has since begun efforts to recover the aircraft's flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder.
The recovery of the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder is expected to help investigators establish the circumstances surrounding the accident. This will likely involve a thorough analysis of the data and voice recordings to determine the cause of the crash.
Qatar's condolence message comes amid efforts to deepen its diplomatic and economic relations with Nigeria and other African countries. In May 2025, President Tinubu welcomed fresh investment initiatives from Qatar, particularly in agriculture and food security, and reaffirmed Nigeria's commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation.
The Qatari government has also expressed interest in expanding collaboration in other critical sectors, including peace, security, regional integration, and development. These engagements reflect Doha's wider efforts to strengthen diplomatic, economic, and development ties across Africa, with Nigeria serving as an important partner in its engagement with West Africa.
Key points
- Qatar's Amir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, sent a condolence message to Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu over the deaths of passengers and crew members in a Nigerian Air Force aircraft crash in Ondo State.
- The Nigerian Air Force aircraft crash occurred on October 5, resulting in the deaths of all 25 people on board.
- Qatar and Nigeria are strengthening diplomatic and economic relations, with a focus on agriculture, food security, and other critical sectors.
