RismadarVoice Reporters
July 1, 2026
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has clarified that the private aircraft that landed on a road in the Ogwashi-Uku area of Delta State did not experience any mechanical failure.
According to the minister, the aircraft, with registration number N989BC, mistakenly landed on a road after its pilots reportedly confused a nearby construction road with the runway at Asaba Airport.
Speaking on Politics Tonight, a programme on TVC, Keyamo explained that the aircraft had received clearance from the control tower to land at Asaba Airport but failed to arrive on the designated runway.
He said air traffic controllers became concerned after losing visual contact with the aircraft shortly after issuing landing clearance.
“The control tower cleared the aircraft to land. About two minutes later, controllers attempted to confirm its position because they could no longer see it on the runway or apron,” Keyamo said.
“The pilots responded that they had already landed. When asked where, they explained that they had touched down on a roadway they believed was the runway. It turned out to be a construction road located close to the airport. From the air, the road apparently resembled a runway.”
The minister disclosed that before officials of the relevant aviation agencies could reach the location, the aircraft had already taken off again for Lagos after dropping off its passengers.
“The aircraft was able to depart without difficulty, which confirmed there was no mechanical fault,” he said.
Keyamo added that the incident has since evolved into a national security matter and is now under investigation by security agencies.
“The facts have been forwarded to the Department of State Services (DSS). The matter has gone beyond aviation because it raises security concerns. Investigations are ongoing, and reports will first be submitted to President Bola Tinubu, given the national security implications,” he stated.
Commenting on concerns raised by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) over the high cost of operating airlines in Nigeria, Keyamo acknowledged that multiple taxes, levies and charges remain a major challenge for operators.
He revealed that President Bola Tinubu is set to establish a committee comprising representatives from the aviation, finance and tax authorities, alongside the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), to review the country’s aviation tax regime and recommend measures aimed at reducing operational costs for airlines.
