Relevant committees in the House of Representatives have been mandated to jointly interface with the Ministries of Defence and Foreign Affairs, as well as relevant intelligence agencies, to ensure the prompt resolution of all issues relating to the NAF aircraft and its crew in Burkina Faso
The House of Representatives has expressed concern over the precautionary landing of a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) C-130 aircraft in Burkina Faso, warning that misinformation surrounding the incident could undermine Nigeria’s diplomatic standing and erode public confidence in national institutions.
Adopting a motion of urgent public importance on Tuesday, the House mandated its Committees on Foreign Affairs, Defence, Nigerian Air Force and National Security to jointly interface with the Ministries of Defence and Foreign Affairs, as well as relevant intelligence agencies, to ensure the prompt resolution of all issues relating to the aircraft and its crew.
The committees were also directed to submit a comprehensive report to the Ministry of Defence and national security authorities and to report back to the House within two weeks.
In addition, lawmakers urged the Federal Government to leverage bilateral mechanisms, alongside ECOWAS and African Union frameworks, to facilitate cooperation, mutual understanding and the expeditious clearance of the aircraft and its personnel.
The House further called on the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) to coordinate inter-agency communication to address national security concerns without escalation, while encouraging the Federal Government to issue factual public briefings where appropriate to counter misinformation, without jeopardising sensitive diplomatic and security processes.
Moving the motion, Rep. Ojuawo Adeniyi (APC, Ekiti) explained that the aircraft was on a duly authorised ferry flight to Portugal for scheduled periodic depot maintenance, a routine and mandatory life-cycle requirement for military transport aircraft of its class.
According to him, the aircraft made a precautionary landing on December 8, 2025, in Burkina Faso strictly on safety grounds, in line with established international aviation protocols.
“The flight was properly documented and conducted in compliance with international aviation standards, including provisions for diversion and safety grants,” Rep. Adeniyi said.
He clarified that the aircraft landed at the Bobo-Dioulasso Airport and was neither on an operational mission nor involved in intelligence gathering or surveillance activities, contrary to claims circulating in the public domain.
He further noted that the personnel onboard were standard air crew and mission support officers, adding that there was no verified evidence that the aircraft violated any airspace, was intercepted, or was compelled to land by Burkina Faso’s security authorities or any other force.
The development followed allegations by the Alliance for Sahel States (AES) that Nigeria violated Burkina Faso’s airspace after the emergency landing of the military transport aircraft.
In a statement, the AES—comprising Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger—claimed that the aircraft, which landed in Bobo-Dioulasso, was carrying two crew members and nine military passengers and lacked authorisation to fly over Burkinabè airspace.
The bloc described the landing as an infringement of national sovereignty and a breach of international aviation norms.
The allegation emerged amid heightened regional tensions following the withdrawal of the three countries from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, all under military rule, exited the regional bloc after it condemned their coups and imposed sanctions, which were later lifted.
The junta leaders have since accused ECOWAS of imposing punitive measures and failing to support them in tackling terrorism.
The three countries formally withdrew from ECOWAS in January 2025 after a year-long effort by the bloc to persuade them to reverse their decision, further straining relations within the sub-region where Nigeria plays a leading role.
However, the Nigerian Air Force has rejected the allegations, insisting that the landing was necessitated by safety considerations and carried out in accordance with international aviation protocols.
It explained that the aircraft was on a ferry mission to Portugal when the crew detected a technical issue that required diversion to the nearest suitable airfield.
Lawmakers cautioned that the spread of unverified narratives could strain regional relations and complicate ongoing diplomatic engagements.
Adeniyi told the House that the matter was already being handled through diplomatic channels by relevant Nigerian ministries and agencies, in line with international norms and bilateral relations.
He warned that prolonged uncertainty over the aircraft and its personnel could affect national morale, civil-military confidence and Nigeria’s image in the sub-region.
“Swift, coordinated and transparent action is necessary to safeguard national security interests and uphold Nigeria’s sovereignty,” he said.
Contributing to the debate, Rep. Ahmed Munir (APC, Kaduna) emphasised the need for accountability and sustained diplomatic engagement to ensure the safe return of Nigerian personnel.
He noted that Nigeria had historically played a stabilising role in restoring democratic order in parts of the sub-region, including Guinea and Benin Republic, and must continue to uphold democratic and diplomatic norms.
“We should ensure that the relevant authorities, from the Chief of Defence Staff to the Chief of Air Staff and the Minister of Foreign Affairs are engaged,” Rep. Munir said, adding that Nigeria must also work with ECOWAS partners to discourage political instability and unconstitutional changes of government.
Rep. Donald Ojogo (APC, Ondo) described the international political system as complex and demanding a high level of professionalism, urging the country to strengthen its foreign service for more effective diplomatic engagement.
“This will help us avoid second-guessing while managing diplomatic situations that will always confront the nation from time to time,” Rep. Ojogo said.
Ruling on the motion, the Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, referred the matter to the Committees on Foreign Affairs, Defence, Nigerian Air Force and National Security for further legislative action.
