President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has declared a three-day national mourning period for the Nigerian Air Force personnel who died in an aircraft crash in Ondo State.
The President also directed that the national flag be flown at half-mast across the country in honour of the deceased personnel.
The directive was contained in a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
Tinubu had earlier expressed sadness over the crash involving a Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft near a naval base in the Igbokoda area of Ondo State.
According to the statement, the aircraft, which was carrying 25 passengers and seven crew members, was on a routine mission from Benin to Lagos when the crash occurred.
The President described the incident as a painful moment for the Armed Forces and the nation, while commending the Nigerian Air Force for immediately activating search and rescue operations.
He also directed the Air Force to conduct a thorough investigation into the cause of the crash, with a view to preventing similar incidents in the future.
The Nigerian Air Force has said the names of the deceased personnel will be released after their families have been formally contacted.
