BAG Ministers Unanimously Sign BAG Legal Instruments

At the 4th Banjul Accord Group (BAG) Council of Ministers Meeting held in Abuja on May 22, 2025, Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo (SAN), was appointed Chairman of the BAG Council of Ministers.

In his welcome address, Keyamo emphasized the importance of regional cooperation for a sustainable and secure air transport system, highlighting Nigeria’s support for BAG goals, aviation liberalization, public-private partnerships, and infrastructure investment. He also commended BAGASOO and BAGAIA for their contributions to aviation safety.

Former Minister of Aviation, Mallam Isa Yuguda, delivered the keynote address, calling for urgent regional collaboration to harmonize regulations, align operations, and fully implement the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM). He stressed that overcoming fragmented policies and inadequate infrastructure is vital for enhancing air connectivity and regional economic integration.

The council meeting, which was hosted by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), also witnessed the consideration and signing of the BAG legal instruments by the BAG Ministers of the member states. Ministers of the BAG member states then signed a communiqué reaffirming their commitment to SAATM and agreeing to support BAG-designated airlines under the Multilateral Air Services Agreement (MASA).

The Ministers approved a BAG Passenger Safety Charge (PSC) of 1 USD, aligned with ECOWAS policy, and decided not to renew the Management Service Agreement (MSA) between ICAO and BAG, which was signed in 2009 and expired in November 2024.