The Banjul Accord Group Aviation Safety and Security Oversight Organisation (BAGASOO) has celebrated its 15th anniversary with notable achievements in aviation safety across West Africa. During its 2025 Safety Conference held in Abuja, Nigeria, Executive Director Jailza Soraya Silva announced that BAGASOO had improved the region’s effective implementation of international safety standards from 40% in 2009 to 63% in 2024.
Themed “Consolidation on Current Gains for Enhancement of Aviation Safety,” the two-day conference brought together key stakeholders, including ministers, regulators, and global aviation partners, to assess progress and chart the future of aviation safety and regional integration.
BAGASOO comprises seven West African nations—Cape Verde, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone—and works closely with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) to build regulatory capacity, oversight, and accident investigation systems.
Silva highlighted the expansion of BAGASOO’s mandate to include security oversight systems and unveiled a new $1 safety levy approved by the Council of Ministers. The levy, to be phased in over five years starting in January 2026, is aimed at strengthening regional safety and security architecture.
Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, praised BAGASOO’s achievements, calling the organisation a model for regional cooperation. He reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to aviation safety and used the platform to announce the 1st Nigeria International Airshow, scheduled for December 2–4, 2025, in Lagos or Abuja.
Director General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and BAGASOO Board Chairman, Capt. Chris Najomo, hailed the 63% milestone as a result of visionary leadership and collaborative partnerships. He encouraged member states to recommit to deeper cooperation, innovation, and sustained growth in aviation oversight.
Global partners also lent their support. Yves Koniig of the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) noted that EASA has supported BAGASOO with regulatory guidance, training, and technical partnerships. Similarly, Richard Gatete, Executive Director of the East African Community’s Civil Aviation Safety Oversight Agency (CASOA), called for the creation of a unified African aviation regulatory framework and described the event as a “springboard for concrete action.”
The conference concluded with a renewed commitment to harmonised regulation, safer skies, and enhanced intra-African collaboration in aviation.
