As the Banjul Accord Group Aviation Safety and Security Oversight Organisation (BAGASOO) marked its 15th anniversary, the Federal Government of Nigeria reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to supporting air safety in West Africa. The milestone celebration, held during the 2025 BAGASOO Safety Conference in Abuja, brought together aviation stakeholders, international partners, and regulatory authorities to review the organisation’s progress and chart new strategies for strengthening aviation governance.
BAGASOO, a regional body comprising Cabo Verde, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone, was established in 2009 to enhance aviation safety and oversight through collaboration. Since its inception, the group has made significant strides, with the implementation rate of international aviation safety standards across member states increasing from 40% to 63%.
In a major announcement during the conference, BAGASOO’s Executive Director, Jailza Soraya Rodrigues Silva, unveiled a new $1 passenger safety levy, approved by the Council of Ministers, set to take effect in January 2026. The levy will be implemented in phases over five years and is intended to support BAGASOO’s strategic reforms and expand its technical oversight capacity.
“The $1 safety levy is a key step toward ensuring sustainable funding for robust aviation safety oversight across the region,” Silva explained. She emphasised that the organisation’s growth and performance improvements have attracted international recognition, thanks to consistent partnerships and policy alignment with global aviation standards.
Silva also credited support from the European Union through its aviation agency, the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), for playing a significant role in BAGASOO’s capacity-building. EASA’s Senior International Cooperation Officer for Sub-Saharan Africa, Yves Koniig, confirmed the agency’s ongoing technical assistance through regulatory guidance, training, and regional coordination efforts.
Representing the Nigerian government, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, through the Permanent Secretary, Ibrahim Abubakar Kana, reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to BAGASOO’s mission. He stressed the importance of a unified regional approach to aviation oversight and commended the organisation’s achievements.
“Together, we can build an aviation ecosystem that is resilient, inclusive, and forward-looking,” Kana said, reiterating Nigeria’s dedication to improving air safety standards across the sub-region.
He also used the platform to announce the inaugural Nigeria International Airshow, scheduled to hold in either Lagos or Abuja from December 2 to 4, 2025. According to Kana, the event will serve as a hub for showcasing technological innovation, attracting global investors, and promoting intra-African trade through the aviation sector.
Adding a continental viewpoint, Executive Director of the Civil Aviation Safety Oversight Agency for the East African Community, Richard Gatete, highlighted discussions at the conference around developing a unified regulatory framework for Africa’s aviation industry. “Regional integration and knowledge sharing are critical for building a stronger, safer African aviation market,” Gatete noted.
Also present were stakeholders from Nigeria’s Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), West African regulatory agencies, representatives of regional airlines, and various private sector players. The Director General of the NCAA, Capt. Chris Najomo, who also chairs the BAGASOO Board of Directors, praised the organisation’s leadership and its role in harmonising safety oversight across the region.
The conference concluded with renewed commitments from all member countries to enhance regulatory compliance, increase investments in aviation infrastructure, and expand training programmes for technical personnel.
As BAGASOO charts its path for the next decade, its leadership expressed optimism that initiatives such as the $1 levy, expanded international partnerships, and upcoming regional policies will provide the momentum needed to elevate aviation safety and security standards in West Africa to global best practices.