The Banjul Accord Group Aviation Safety Oversight Organisation (BAGAIA) on Monday said it recorded zero hull losses in West Africa for six consecutive years.
This is even as the Nigeria Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) revealed its ongoing technical assistance to the Liberian Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau and discussions with the Ghana AIB to establish a flight recorder laboratory.
The accomplishment, BAGAIA said, was a testament to the organisation’s commitment to capacity building, technical cooperation, and practical training.
The Commissioner of BAGAIA, Charles Erhueh, disclosed Thai on Monday at the Commission 12th meeting in Abuja.
He added that BAGAIA has successfully harmonised safety regulations and policies across its member states, resulting in a significant reduction in accidents and incidents.
Erhueh, while highlighting the statistical milestones of the group, stated that the organisation has conducted 96 accident investigations, 67 serious incident investigations, and issued 316 safety recommendations, contributing to a safer West African sky.
His words:: “BAGAIA’s achievement of six years without hull losses is a significant milestone that demonstrates the effectiveness of regional cooperation and capacity building in improving aviation safety.
“The organisation’s commitment to sustainable funding, advanced training, and technology sharing will be crucial in maintaining and enhancing its safety records.”
Erhueh stressed that the organisation has trained dozens of investigators and conducted numerous workshops, technical missions, and peer reviews to enhance the capabilities of its member states.
He explained that BAGAIA has established partnerships with regional safety bodies, such as CASSOA and SASO, to promote inter-regional collaboration and joint investigations, noting: “Our work is not done—it evolves. Every occurrence we investigate is a lesson. Every lesson implemented is a life potentially saved.”
Erhueh noted that BAGAIA faces challenges in securing consistent funding from its member states, which could impact its operations and activities.
According to him, The major problem we have faced over the years is commitment from member states in terms of meeting obligations, in terms of responding to correspondence and every other obligation as member states.
The BAGAIA boss opined that the organisation plans to provide advanced training to its investigators, particularly in tools like ECCAIRS 2.0 and CVR/FDR data recovery.
“BAGAIA aims to promote regional lab infrastructure and smart, cost-effective partnerships to enhance aviation safety,” he said.
On his part, The Director General, NSIB, Capt. Alex Badeh said that the Banjul Accord Group has long served as a beacon of regional cooperation, uniting member states in a shared mission to enhance the safety, reliability, and accountability of air transportation.
He emphasised that the meeting provides a vital platform to deepen our partnerships, exchange best practices, and align our efforts with international standards, such as those outlined in ICAO Annex 13.