Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has called for the full institutionalisation of the Banjul Accord Group (BAG), aiming to transform it into a permanent and well-structured entity.

Speaking at the opening of the 18th Plenary Session of BAG, held in Abuja from May 19 to 21, 2025, Keyamo highlighted the group’s achievements in strengthening aviation safety, operational efficiency, and regulatory oversight across the region.

He commended BAG’s role in ensuring compliance with international best practices and promoting regional collaboration.

Keyamo urged stakeholders to support the group's transformation, emphasising that a fully institutionalised BAG would serve as a beacon of excellence, guiding the African aviation sector towards greater efficiency, innovation, and global competitiveness.

“Let us leave this meeting with a shared determination to elevate BAG into a true model of African aviation solidarity,” he said, stressing the need to implement the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) to unlock the immense potential of air connectivity across the continent.

In his welcome address, the Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Captain Chris Najomo, reaffirmed Nigeria’s unwavering commitment to BAG and its ideals of cooperation, safety, and integration.

He underscored the importance of enhancing aviation safety, security, regulatory harmonisation, and sustainable development throughout the region.

“Nigeria, as a driving force in this sub-regional group, remains steadfast in its strong support for BAG’s laudable objectives. We are committed to playing an active and constructive role in realising a robust air transport sector in West Africa and beyond,” Najomo stated.

“As we chart a bold path forward for BAG, and for African and global aviation more broadly, let us keep our eyes on the prize: a safe, secure, and unified aviation sector in West Africa,” he added.

For his part, the Head of the BAG Secretariat and Director General of the Gambia Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), Fansu Bojang, acknowledged the progress made but noted that more work lies ahead to unlock the region’s full potential.

“As a group, we have advanced the vision of BAG’s founding fathers. We have lifted the industry from the depths where it once stood and placed it on a new pedestal,” he said. “Now, we must continue to tackle the challenges we’ve identified and build on the momentum.”

Meanwhile, Ghana’s Acting Commissioner of the Aircraft Accident and Incident Investigation and Prevention Bureau (AIB), John M.K. Wumborti, attended the 18th Plenary Session of the Banjul Accord Group in Nigeria.

Also in attendance was the Acting Director General of the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), Reverend Stephen Wilfred Arthur.



SP/MA

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