Nigeria’s improving aviation safety standards is expected to rub off on BAGASOO members as the body met in Abuja.
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has called for the institutionalization of Banjul Accord Group (BAG) which promotes safe, efficient use and development of civil aviation within and outside its member states to enhance regional cooperation and innovation.
He made this known while declaring the 18th Plenary and Meeting of the Council of Ministers of the Banjul Accord Group (BAG) of States in Abuja.
The Director General of Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Capt. Chris Najomo made emphasis on this call, while stating the need for harmonized regulations and infrastructure development.
The Senate Committee Chairman on Aviation, Senator Buhari Abdulfatai, who was represented by Augustine Akobundu, reiterated the National Assembly’s support for BAG’s goals and reiterated policy harmonization and regional collaboration.
Mr. Fansu Bojang, Head of the BAG Secretariat, praised the founding vision of BAG as a catalyst for regional integration through air transport liberalization.
He commended regional safety bodies like Banjul Accord Group Aviation Safety Oversight Organisation (BAGASOO) and Banjul Accord Group Accident Investigation Agency (BAGAIA) but warned that sustainable funding remains a major challenge, urging member states to support efforts for practical financial solutions.
Other notable speakers included African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC) Secretary General Adefunke Adeyemi, who stressed the urgent need to implement the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM), and Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) representative Marieme Sy, who highlighted ongoing aviation security and safety oversight efforts.
The event featured delegates from seven BAG member states-Cabo Verde, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone, alongside Regional and International partners including International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), AFCAC, the EU Aviation Safety Agency, and ECOWAS.
The event brought together Aviation Ministers, Directors General of Civil Aviation, International Organizations, and key Stakeholders to deliberate on the future of air transport safety, integration, and sustainability in West Africa.
Banjul Accord Group Aviation Safety Oversight Organisation (BAGASOO), is the BAG Regional Safety Oversight Organization (RSOO) which metamorphosed from the Cooperative Development of Operational and Continuing Airworthiness Program (COSCAP) project of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in collaboration with BAG.
The primary objective of COSCAP-BAG was to strengthen the safety oversight capabilities of the BAG Member States and enhance the safety of air transport operations within the BAG sub-region by pooling of resources.
Information obtained by JournalNG from the organisation’s website indicates that Nigeria has the highest number of international airports with air operating certificates(AOC) .
Nigeria has a total of 26 AOCs, 4 international airports and 22 domestic airports; Ghana has 10 AOCs, 2 international airports with 3 domestic airports
Cape Verde has 2 AOCs, 4 international airports and 3 domestic airports; Guinea has 3 AOC Holders, 1 international airport and 4 domestic airports. There are no AOC holders in Liberia but it has 1 international airport and 1 domestic airport while Sierra Leone has 1 international airport, no AOC holder, no domestic airport same as the Gambia.
The event featured talks on the institutionalization of the BAG Secretariat, proposed legal amendments, identification of sustainable funding sources for BAG, BAGASOO, and BAGAIA, the critical role of service providers within the BAG Secretariat.
There was also a presentation by the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT) highlighting its new course offerings relevant to the industry.
