Aviation safety in West Africa has improved, with a 63% safety profile among member states of the Banjul Accord Group Aviation Safety and Security Oversight Organisation (BAGASOO).
This improvement, from 40% in 2009, was announced at the BAGASOO Safety Conference 2025 in Abuja. According to itsnigeria.org, Executive director of BAGASOO, Jailza Soraya Rodrigues Silva, said since its establishment in 2009, BAGASOO’s support with the implementation of international safety protocols has helped to significantly improve safety in aviation within the region from 40 percent to 63 percent.
BAGASOO comprises seven West African countries, like Cabo Verde, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone. Silva said, “Today, we have improved that figure to 63 percent, a testament to the sustained efforts in building technical capacity and enhancing oversight mechanisms across our member states.”
She further noted that “This conference is an opportunity to reflect on our journey and shape the future of aviation safety in the BAG region. “We have also expanded BAGASOO’s mandate to include security oversight systems, a significant milestone in strengthening our aviation governance architecture”. Declaring the conference open, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development Festus Keyamo commended BAGASOO for its impactful contributions to aviation safety in the sub-region.
Keyamo noted that BAGASOO has evolved into a model of regional cooperation, strengthening safety oversight, regulatory harmonisation, and capacity building across its member states. Director General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and Chairman of the Board of Directors of BAGASOO, Capt. Chris Najomo, described the milestone as a testament to the visionary leadership, dedication, and strategic partnership that have sustained the organisation through changing times.
“As we reflect on the journey so far, let us also recommit ourselves to the goals ahead, which include deepening collaboration, embracing innovation, and consolidating gains we made for a safer, more resilient aviation sector in our region, he said.
