Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has urged African countries to go beyond policy declarations and take real steps towards implementing the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM). He made this call on Monday during the opening of the three-day Plenary Session and Council of Ministers Meeting hosted by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) in Abuja.
Speaking to aviation stakeholders and representatives from several African nations, Keyamo said it was time to turn promises into action. He stressed that although there have been several political commitments over the years, implementation of the SAATM has been slow, leaving regional skies fragmented and slowing down integration in Africa’s aviation sector.
“I want to highlight the urgent need to implement the Single African Air Transport Market; despite our strong political will and numerous declarations, progress has been slow, and fragmentation remains a barrier to our regional integration,” he said.
Keyamo called on African states to embrace the vision of open skies that will foster opportunities and strengthen regional connectivity. “Our skies must no longer be defined by closed borders but by open opportunity,” he added.
The Minister also spoke on the importance of the Banjul Accord Group (BAG) framework in strengthening aviation safety, cooperation, and economic development across member countries. He noted significant achievements made through regional cooperation, including the transition of COSCAP-BAG into the Banjul Accord Group Aviation Safety Oversight Organisation (BAGASOO) and the creation of the Banjul Accord Group Accident Investigation Agency (BAGAIA).
“It is heartwarming to state that through these organisations a lot has been achieved for the region, ensuring compliance with international best practices and reinforcing regional collaboration,” Keyamo noted.
He proposed a stronger structure for the BAG initiative by calling for its institutionalisation. According to him, turning BAG into a permanent, fully structured organisation will help it achieve its long-term goals more effectively.
“The time has come for us to institutionalise BAG to transform it into a permanent and fully structured entity. A structured BAG will serve as a beacon of excellence, guiding our aviation sector towards greater efficiency, innovation, and competitiveness,” he said.
Keyamo reaffirmed Nigeria’s full commitment to regional cooperation, saying, “I wish to reaffirm Nigeria’s unwavering commitment to the Banjul Accord Group and the ideals of cooperation, safety, and integration.”
Also speaking at the event, the Director-General of Civil Aviation Nigeria, Capt. Chris Najomo, expressed Nigeria’s pride in hosting the meeting and commended the unity among BAG member states. He praised the work done so far to improve safety, harmonise aviation regulations, and promote sustainable development in the region.
“Your presence here reaffirms our shared commitment to advancing aviation safety, security, regulatory harmonisation, and sustainable development across our region,” Capt. Najomo said.
He recalled the signing of the agreement to establish BAGASOO and BAGAIA on June 30, 2009, by the aviation ministers of the seven BAG member states. He noted that the swift development of these institutions, which took less than five months, was a sign of the region’s strong will and shared vision.
Capt. Najomo also highlighted some of the challenges still facing the region, such as infrastructure deficits, shortage of trained personnel, and emerging safety risks. He called for unity and collective action to address these issues, particularly in the face of increasing demands for digital transformation in aviation.
“This 18th plenary serves as an opportunity to not only reflect on our collective achievements but also renew our focus on the challenges ahead,” Najomo said.
He described BAG as a “beacon of sub-regional cooperation” and urged member countries to work together in unity. “Let us use this platform to engage candidly, share experiences, and align our efforts in a spirit of unity and purpose,” he concluded.
