Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo (SAN) has urged the Banjul Accord Group (BAG) member states to prioritise aviation infrastructure development and create a conducive environment to attract investments.
Speaking during the 4th Council of Ministers after the 18th Plenary Session of BAG in Abuja on Thursday, Keyamo said BAG member States should be prepared to make more concerted efforts for more investments in the provision of infrastructure and facilities for safe, secure, environmentally friendly and sustainable civil aviation.
TheHintsNews reports that the Council of Ministers meeting, hosted by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), witnessed participation of the seven member countries of the BAG.
The States include: Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, Guinea Conakry, Gambia, Cape Verde and Sierra Leone. Barr. Keyamo was also voted as the Chairman of the Council of Ministers.
Keyamo stressed that the recommendations of the 18th Plenary, if implemented, would help improve connectivity within the sub-region.
He said: The outcomes, if approved by this meeting, would provide coordinated solutions and framework to resolving the identified challenges in the area of air connectivity and accelerate the growth and development of air transport in the sub-region.
“It is believed that the successes that will be achieved in the medium-and long-term period as a result of these efforts would be models and examples to be emulated by other regions in Africa.”
The immediate past Chairman of BAG, who is also the Minister of Transport and Aviation for Sierra Leone, Amb. Fanday Turay lauded Nigeria’s improving air safety among BAG states and the sub region in general.
According to him, As he reflects on the activities BAG, Banjul Accord Group Safety Oversight Organisation (BAGASOO) and Banjul Accord Group Accident Investigation Agency (BAGAIA), he took pride in the significant and positive contributions these institutions have made towards enhancing aviation safety and security in our region.