Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has been unanimously elected Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Banjul Accord Group (BAG), a sub-regional aviation body comprising seven West African countries.
Speaking during the 4th Council of Ministers’ Meeting in Abuja, which followed the 18th BAG Plenary Session, Keyamo called for accelerated investment in aviation infrastructure across member states, emphasizing the need for sustainable, secure, and future-ready air transport systems.
“We must take concerted steps toward investments in civil aviation infrastructure that are not just safe and secure, but environmentally sustainable and future-ready,” he stated.
The high-level meeting, hosted by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), brought together aviation ministers and stakeholders from Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, The Gambia, Sierra Leone, Cape Verde, and Guinea Conakry. Delegates discussed regional aviation challenges and opportunities, reaffirming their commitment to deepening cooperation in line with global best practices.
In his acceptance remarks, Keyamo pledged to promote regional aviation integration that supports economic development through enhanced trade, tourism, and air connectivity. He noted that implementing the recommendations from the 18th Plenary could establish the BAG region as a model for other parts of the continent.
Delivering the keynote address on “Strengthening Regional Connectivity,” former Nigerian Minister of Aviation, Mallam Isa Yuguda, described air transport as a cornerstone of Africa’s economic transformation—not a luxury.
“It is unacceptable that over 60% of intra-African air travel relies on non-African hubs. This is draining resources and stifling growth,” Yuguda warned. “We must harmonize regulations and transform political will into concrete action.”
Yuguda highlighted the need to dismantle fragmented aviation policies and called for deeper cooperation among BAG member states under initiatives like the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM). He emphasized that only through genuine collaboration—not competition—can the region unlock its full aviation potential.
As the BAG meeting concluded, stakeholders issued a unified call for urgent action, stressing that the window for dialogue has passed. What is now required, they agreed, is coordinated execution to drive Africa’s aviation sector into a new era of connectivity and resilience.