Festus Keyamo, Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, has been appointed as Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Banjul Accord Group (BAG), a sub-regional aviation bloc comprising seven West African countries.
The announcement was made during the 4th meeting of the council held at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, Nigeria, according to a statement released Thursday by Tunde Moshood, Keyamo’s special adviser on media and communications.
The BAG council includes transport and aviation ministers from Nigeria, Cabo Verde, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone.
In attendance were:
- Dr. Jose Luis S.A. Nogueira (Cabo Verde)
- Hon. Ebrima Sillah (The Gambia)
- Hon. Joseph Bukari Nikpe (Ghana)
- Hon. Ousmane Gaoual Diallo (Guinea)
- Hon. Sirleaf Ralph Tyler (Liberia)
- Amb. Alhaji Fanday Turay (Sierra Leone)
Keyamo succeeds Alhaji Fandey Turay of Sierra Leone and is expected to lead efforts in harmonising aviation policies, boosting regional cooperation, and advancing air safety and development in line with ICAO standards.
In a media post, Keyamo said:
“This appointment reinforces Nigeria’s leadership role in improving air travel across West Africa.”
The Banjul Accord Group, established to promote safe, efficient, and sustainable aviation in the region, views Keyamo’s appointment as a step toward revitalising regional air transport and addressing common aviation challenges.