The member states of the Banjul Accord Group (BAG) have been called upon to urgently prioritize aviation infrastructure development and foster an investment-friendly environment to enhance air connectivity and economic growth across West Africa. Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo (SAN), made this call during the 4th Council of Ministers Meeting held alongside the 18th Plenary Session of BAG in Abuja.
Speaking at the high-level gathering attended by civil aviation leaders from Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, Guinea Conakry, Gambia, Cape Verde, and Sierra Leone, Keyamo emphasized the need for intensified collaborative efforts to upgrade infrastructure, strengthen regulatory frameworks, and attract sustainable investment into the region’s aviation sector.
“In order to ensure safe, secure, and environmentally sustainable aviation services, BAG member states must be ready to take concerted actions in expanding infrastructure and creating the right climate for investments,” Keyamo said.
During the meeting, Nigeria was also elected to chair the Council of Ministers, with Keyamo pledging continued leadership in advancing regional aviation goals. He noted that the adoption of the 18th Plenary recommendations would significantly improve intra-regional connectivity and position the sub-region as a model for aviation development in Africa.
“The outcomes from this meeting, if properly implemented, will provide practical solutions to longstanding challenges in air connectivity and accelerate the growth of air transport in West Africa. Success here can serve as a benchmark for other regions in Africa,” he stated.
Sierra Leone Lauds Nigeria’s Aviation Leadership
The immediate past Chairman of BAG and Sierra Leone’s Minister of Transport and Aviation, Ambassador Alhaji Fanday Turay, commended Nigeria’s unwavering commitment to enhancing air safety standards and infrastructure in the sub-region.
Turay acknowledged the pivotal role played by BAG institutions such as the Banjul Accord Group Safety Oversight Organisation (BAGASOO) and the Banjul Accord Group Accident Investigation Agency (BAGAIA) in advancing regional aviation safety.
Former Minister Calls for Immediate Action on Regional Air Connectivity
Delivering a keynote address titled “Strengthening Regional Connectivity Through Collaborative Partnerships,” former Nigerian Aviation Minister, Mallam Isa Yuguda, stressed that regional air connectivity is no longer a luxury but an economic and social necessity.
“Our collective commitment, innovative policy frameworks, and harmonized regulations are critical—not just for improving air travel—but for unlocking broader economic potential in West Africa and across the continent,” Yuguda remarked.
He raised concerns about the limited progress in intra-African air connectivity, noting that over 60% of African air travel still relies on non-African hubs for transit, which drains regional resources and limits economic growth.
Yuguda also pointed to resource imbalances among BAG member states, urging immediate action to translate commitments into measurable outcomes.
“We must move from rhetoric to results. True partnership means aligning operational frameworks, harmonizing regulations, and fully embracing initiatives like the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM),” he said.
Call for Unified Air Transport Strategy in West Africa
The meeting underscored the need for BAG member states to work as a cohesive unit, eliminating policy inconsistencies, upgrading infrastructure, and fostering political will to liberalize regional airspace.
Stakeholders agreed that collaboration—not competition—among regional airlines, civil aviation authorities, and governments is essential to achieving sustainable air connectivity and driving West Africa’s socio-economic transformation.
As Nigeria assumes leadership of the BAG Council of Ministers, regional aviation experts remain hopeful that the sub-region will witness tangible progress in air transport development, investment attraction, and operational safety enhancements.
