The House of Representatives has resolved to meet with senior officials from the Ministries of Defence and Foreign Affairs over the continued detention of a Nigerian military aircraft and personnel in Burkina Faso. The decision followed the adoption of a motion raised by an Ekiti lawmaker, Rufus Ojuawo, during plenary.
Lawmakers urged the Federal Government under President Bola Tinubu to use regional platforms such as the Economic Community of West African States and the African Union to speed up cooperation and secure the release of the aircraft and its crew. They also called on the Office of the National Security Adviser to coordinate communication among relevant agencies to address security concerns without causing further tension.
The House further asked the government to provide clear and factual public updates when necessary in order to curb false information, while still protecting sensitive diplomatic and security matters.
While leading the debate, Ojuawo explained that the Nigerian Air Force C-130 aircraft was on an approved ferry flight to Portugal for routine maintenance. He said the aircraft made a precautionary landing in Burkina Faso on December 8, 2025, due to safety reasons and in line with international aviation rules.
He added that the flight was properly documented and was not connected to any military operation, intelligence work, or surveillance activity. Lawmakers expressed concern over the continued holding of both the aircraft and the security personnel on board.
Following the resolution, the House directed its Committees on Foreign Affairs, Defence, National Security, and the Nigerian Air Force to engage the Ministry of Defence and relevant security agencies. The committees were asked to address the matter fully and report back to the House within two weeks.