West Africa Aviation Ministers’ Group appoints Keyamo as Chairperson

Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, has been appointed as chairperson of the West Africa Banjul Accord Group (BAG).

He confirmed his appointment in a statement on his official X account on Thursday.

Keyamo takes over the position from the Minister of Transport and Aviation, Republic of Sierra Leone, Alhaji Fandey Turay.

“In recognition of our bold and innovative policies in the aviation sector under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, a few hours ago, I was appointed as the new chairman of the West Africa Banjul Accord Group (BAG) by the ministers of transport/aviation in the West African states,” he wrote.

He added, “The announcement was made during the ongoing BAG meeting in Abuja, reinforcing Nigeria’s leading role in improving air travel across West Africa,” Keyamo added.

DAILY POST reports that the group is made up of seven West African states that signed the BANJUL ACCORD on January 29, 2004.

BAG was founded to promote safe, efficient use and development of civil aviation within the member states such as Cabo Verde, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone.

Earlier in a speech at the BAG meeting in Abuja, Keyamo told Ministers of Aviation on the continent to brace up for heavy investment in aviation infrastructure.

“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,” Keyamo stated.