President Bola Tinubu has declared a three-day national mourning over the Ondo military aircraft crash and is also calling for a probe into the incident.

He also directed that flags should be flown at half-mast throughout the country as a mark of respect to the officers.

In a statement on Monday, presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga said Tinubu “extends his deepest condolences to the family of the 25 passengers and seven crew members involved, the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, and all officers, airmen and airwomen of the Nigerian Air Force.”

A military source confirmed to Channels Television that all 32 persons on board the aircraft died in the crash.

The passenger aircraft was on a “routine mission” from Benin City in southern Nigeria to the economic hub of Lagos when it went down at Igbokoda in Ondo State shortly after 9:00 am (0800 GMT), the President and the Air Force said.

“This is a painful moment for our Armed Forces and for the entire nation. Our Air Force personnel put their lives on the line every day to secure Nigeria. Their sacrifice will never be forgotten,” Tinubu was quoted as saying.

“I commend the Nigerian Air Force for activating an immediate Search and Rescue operation following the accident. I pray for the repose of the souls of the gallant officers and for Almighty God to grant their families and the Nigerian Air Force the fortitude to bear the unfortunate loss.

“I assure the Nigerian Air Force of the continued support of our administration as they continue their vital role in securing our nation. I also commend the swift response of first responders and the Ondo State Government at the crash site,” the president said.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has confirmed that the 2026 edition of its annual awards ceremony will take place in Lagos, Nigeria, on December 7.

The decision was reached at a virtual meeting of the CAF Executive Committee (EXCO), chaired by the organisation’s president, Patrice Motsepe, on Friday, 2 October.

The meeting also approved the CAF Competitions Calendar for 2026–2030, alongside amendments to the regulations governing the continent’s interclub competitions.

Nigeria will host another major CAF event, the organisation’s Ordinary General Assembly, on 21 November.

The 2026 CAF Awards will bring together leading footballers, coaches, clubs and administrators to celebrate outstanding performances in African football.

The ceremony recognises achievements across men’s and women’s football, including the Player of the Year, Coach of the Year, Goalkeeper of the Year, Young Player of the Year and Club of the Year categories.

Nigeria has enjoyed considerable success at the awards, particularly in the men’s and women’s Player of the Year categories.

Ademola Lookman won the men’s award in 2024, following Victor Osimhen’s triumph in 2023, making them the first Nigerian pair to secure consecutive victories in the category since Nwankwo Kanu and Victor Ikpeba achieved the feat in 1996 and 1997, respectively.

The 2024 ceremony, held in Marrakech, Morocco, also saw Nigeria’s Super Falcons named Women’s National Team of the Year, while goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie received the Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year award.

At the 2025 edition held in Rabat, Morocco dominated the ceremony during a historic night in Rabat, with Achraf Hakimi (Morocco/Paris Saint-Germain) and Ghizlane Chebbak (Morocco/Al Hilal) winning the Men’s and Women’s Player of the Year awards, respectively.

Yassine Bounou (Morocco/Al Hilal) and Nigeria’s Chiamaka Nnadozie (Brighton & Hove Albion) claimed the Men’s and Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year honours, and Othmane Maamma (Morocco/Watford) and Doha El Madani (Morocco/AS FAR) were named Men’s and Women’s Young Players of the Year, respectively.

Beyond the awards announcement, the EXCO approved significant changes to the regulations governing the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup.

Under the revised rules, players will be permitted to represent more than one club during a single CAF interclub season, a change that could provide clubs with greater flexibility in managing their squads.

The committee also approved an increase in the number of players clubs can register, setting the maximum at 40 players at any point during the season.

Clubs will additionally be allowed to replace four players during the final registration window, provided those players have not featured in any CAF interclub match during the season.

Another significant amendment concerns disciplinary proceedings. All disciplinary matters will now be referred to the CAF Disciplinary Board, removing that responsibility from the Interclub Committee.

The changes are expected to influence how clubs approach player recruitment, registration and squad management in continental competitions.

The EXCO also approved the dates for the 2026 CAF Women’s Champions League, with the final tournament scheduled to run from 1 to 15 November.

The competition, which brings together the leading women’s club sides from across Africa, has become a major platform for the development and visibility of women’s football on the continent.

Nigeria’s Edo Queen’s participation in this year’s competition is presently being challenged following the annulment of their victory at the WAFU B tournament after a protest by Ampem Dakoa.

In another decision, CAF confirmed that Senegal will host the 2026 Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations from 28 November to 6 December.

The West African country, which won the previous edition, will host the tournament as it seeks to defend its continental title.

The African Democratic Congress Presidential Campaign Council (ADC PCC) has faulted the claim by Vice President Kashim Shettima that President Bola Tinubu saved Nigeria from economic collapse.

The council said the current administration cannot disown the record of the All Progressives Congress (APC) government under former President Muhammadu Buhari.

Reacting through the Director of Media and Publicity of ADC PCC, Kola Ologbondiyan, it said if Nigeria was heading towards economic collapse before Tinubu assumed office, as claimed by the Vice President, then APC must accept responsibility, having controlled Federal government for eight years under Buhari.

He recalled that Tinubu had said his government would build on Buhari’s legacy.

“Nigerians know APC. It is the APC, on whose platform President Tinubu is seeking second term,” he said.

Ologbondiyan said administration had not delivered on expectations in areas such as roads, electricity, cost of living and public institutions.

He said the immediate concern of Nigerians is access to affordable food and basic necessities.

“President Tinubu has not saved Nigeria from collapse; he has pushed country deeper into economic challenges marked by hunger, inflation and high cost of living,” he said.

He said Nigerians were already experiencing economic hardship, not merely heading towards it.

He also questioned Shettima’s promise to deploy 10,600 electric tricycles, 300 buses and electric taxis under e-logistics programme in coming weeks, and reminded Vice President of his earlier promise that transportation costs would come down by October 1, 2026.

ADC PCC urged APC to acknowledge challenges confronting country and focus on solutions.

Council assured Nigerians that ADC remains committed to providing credible political alternative.

It called on Nigerians to support quest for government that would make life more affordable.