LAGOS, Nigeria – The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, called for a comprehensive investigation into the runway excursion of an Enugu Air aircraft at Benin Airport on Friday, July 24, 2026.
Okay News reports that Obi published a statement on the social media platform X confirming the safe evacuation of all 68 passengers and crew members on board.
“I join all Nigerians in thanking God Almighty that all 68 passengers and crew members on board disembarked safely, with no injuries or fatalities recorded. The preservation of human life must always remain our highest priority,” Obi said.
Obi commended the flight crew and ground teams for their handling of the emergency. “I commend the pilot, the flight crew, and the airport emergency response teams at Benin Airport for their swift, professional, and coordinated handling of the situation, which helped avert what could have been a far more serious incident. Their composure and decisiveness under pressure deserve the highest commendation,” he said.
The former governor of Anambra State urged the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau to review the circumstances of the event. “I urge the relevant regulatory and investigative authorities, particularly the NCAA and the NSIBo conduct a thorough, transparent, and timely investigation into the circumstances surrounding this incident and to make their findings and recommendations public,” he said.
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau commenced an investigation into the runway excursion involving the Embraer E170 aircraft in Edo State.
