By Aminat Bakare
The 18th Plenary Session of the Banjul Accord Group (BAG), held in Abuja, Nigeria, from May 19-21, 2025, adopted far-reaching recommendations. The event brought together delegates from the seven BAG member states, including Nigeria, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Gambia, Liberia, Guinea and Cabo Verde, as well as stakeholders and representatives from related aviation bodies.
The Plenary was opened by Nigeria’s Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Barrister. Festus Keyamo, SAN. Present at the Plenary were the Director Generals of the Gambia Civil Aviation Authority (also the Head of BAG Secretariat), Mr. Fansu Bojang; the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Capt. Chris Najomo; Cabo Verde Civil Aviation Authority, Mario M. Delgado Gomes, the Acting DG of the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority, Reverend Stephen Wilfred Arthur and representatives of the Liberia and Sierra Leone Civil Aviation Authority. It also had in attendance the Executive Director of the Banjul Accord Group Aviation Safety Oversight Organisation (BAGASOO), Jailza Silva, the Commissioner for the Banjul Accord Group Accident Investigation Agency (BAGAIA), Engr. Charles Irikefe Erhueh and Directors from the NCAA and other aviation parastals in Nigeria. The event also had in attendance representatives from the Airline Operators of Nigeria.
A Focus on Cooperation and Development
The Plenary Session was marked by robust discussions and resolutions aimed at strengthening cooperation and promoting development in the aviation sector. The BAG Secretariat presented the draft agenda for the 18th Plenary Session, which was adopted by the Plenary. The Secretariat also presented the Secretariat and Financial Reports, which were reviewed by the Plenary. Member States were urged to settle outstanding financial contributions to ensure the effective functioning of the BAG Secretariat.
The Plenary Session also made significant progress towards institutionalizing the BAG Secretariat. The proposed organogram of the Secretariat which comprises of the Executive Secretary, Air Transport Manager, Finance and Administration Manager, Legal Adviser, ICT Support Officer, Driver and Office Assistant was adopted with minor modifications to be implemented.
SAATM Implementation
A key highlight of the Plenary Session was the keynote address by Secretary General of the African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC), Ms. Adefunke Adeyemi, who joined the Plenary session virtually. She commended the BAG Member States for their “active participation and forward-looking deliberations during the SAATM Pilot Implementation Project (PIP) Airshow held in Freetown, Sierra Leone, in July 2024.”
Ms. Adeyemi, however, noted that the Airshow in Freetown underscored several factors that cannot be ignored. She stressed that “a liberalized airspace leads to more routes, increased flight frequencies, lower fares and expanded tourism and trade.” However, issues such as high aviation taxes, charges and fees remain a constraint. Adeyemi urged the “BAG States to adopt rationalised cost structures and invest in modern infrastructure that supports growth and safety.” She also emphasized the need for “multisectoral integration and institutionalizing collaboration between civil aviation, finance, trade, tourism, Immigration and Customs.”
Also, the presentation by the representative of the Ms. Adeyemi, Mr. Stephen Musa, on “fast-tracking SAATM implementation in the BAG sub-region” gave more insights on how SAATM implementation can be accelerated.
According to AFCAC, if successfully implemented, the benefits of SAATM will include: “SAATM will generate $4.2B in GDP and 588,750 jobs across Africa, fares drop 26%, increase in passenger traffic” amongst others. However, Musa noted that “West Africa is the most proactive” followed closely by the “Central and South Africa” leaving “North Africa as the most restrictive for the traffic within Africa.” He noted challenges such as “slow policy adoption, weak enforcement, lack of regional airline development plans, fragmented regulations and limited synergy” as the major obstacles slowing SAATM implementation in the BAG states.
AFCAC called for urgent action and the Plenary agreed that while challenges exist, there is an urgent need to accelerate SAATM implementation across the sub-region. Member States were encouraged to use SAATM as a vital tool for strengthening the competitive position of West Africa in the global aviation market.
Sustainable Funding for BAG
A major issue that was resolved at the Plenary was finding a sustainable means of funding for BAG, BAGASOO and BAGAIA which have been struggling due to inconsistent contributions from Member States.
In a presentation by Jailza Silva, the Executive Director of BAGASOO, she discussed several means of sustainable funding for the bodies, one of which was the introduction of “a one-dollar Passenger Safety Charge (PSC) on international commercial departing flights.” The Plenary adopted this proposal as a sustainable funding mechanism. The implementation of the PSC is scheduled to commence on January 1, 2026, with full implementation expected by 2030 according to BAG is expected to serve as a sustainable funding stream for the bodies.
Also, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency announced an increase in its financial assistance to BAG from “5 Million Euros to 10 Million Euros”, this increase was welcomed by BAG in appreciation and is expected to serve as another sustainable funding stream for the body.
Capt. Chris Najomo emphasized that the additional funding would have far-reaching benefits beyond financial stability as “it would enhance the region’s capacity for safety oversight and accident investigation while also supporting goals such as SAATM and the YD.”
Human Capacity Development
The Plenary Session also highlighted the importance of human capacity development in the aviation sector. A presentation was delivered by Dr. Danjuma Adamu Ismaila, the Rector of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria, outlining available training programs offered by the school.
Country Reports and BAGASOO, BAGAIA Status Reports
Member States, except Guinea, presented their Country Reports, the reports highlighted progress made by each Member States in improving air transport safety, security and sustainability. The Plenary noted the progress and encouraged continued collaboration and knowledge sharing among the States.
The Plenary noted the challenges faced by BAGASOO and BAGAIA including funding, and lack of a harmonized regulatory framework within the sub-region. The Plenary commended both bodies on the remarkable work being done to support Member States and encouraged all Member States to commit to the growth and development of BAGASOO and BAGAIA.
Conclusion and Next Plenary
The 18th Plenary Session of the Banjul Accord Group was a significant milestone in the organization’s journey towards promoting aviation development and cooperation in West Africa. The resolutions and agreements reached during the Plenary Session are expected to have a lasting impact on the region’s aviation sector, and stakeholders are optimistic about the future prospects of BAG and its member States.