The 12th Commission Meeting of the Banjul Accord Group Accident Investigation Agency (BAGAIA) opened in Abuja, Nigeria, with strong calls for improved coordination and investment in regional aviation safety.
A key outcome of the high-level meeting was the establishment of a Board of BAGAIA, comprising the heads of Accident Investigation Bureaus from member states.
The Board, now fully operational following the signing of its charter by five member states on May 22, 2025, will provide policy direction and streamline decision-making within the agency. A Chairperson will be elected among members, while the BAGAIA Commissioner will act as Secretary.
Speaking at the opening session, Engr. Charles Irikefe Erhueh, BAGAIA Commissioner, emphasized ongoing efforts to deepen collaboration across West Africa and beyond. He highlighted partnerships with CASSOA (2023) and SASO (2024), which have expanded the agency’s reach into Eastern and Southern Africa.
However, Erhueh flagged inconsistent funding from member states as a major constraint on progress, even as he commended their dedication to continuous learning and cooperation.
Mr. Fansu Bojang, Head of the Banjul Accord Group Secretariat and Gambia Civil Aviation Authority DG, urged participants to re-focus on the agency’s core mission and deliver impactful results.
Representing Nigeria, host country of the meeting, Captain Alex Badeh Jr, Director General of the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), stressed the importance of regional collaboration.
He cited Nigeria’s assistance to Liberia’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau and support to Ghana’s flight data lab development as examples of capacity building and mutual growth.
“Aviation incidents transcend borders and demand seamless cooperation,” Badeh noted, calling on members to address new risks like bird strikes, operational threats, and emerging technologies with unity and professionalism.
Also addressing the gathering was Mr. Yves Koning, EASA Regional Manager for Sub-Saharan Africa, who represented the EU-ASA/BAGAIA partnership. He praised the meeting’s theme—“Celebrating Our Collective Wins in Capacity Building and Aviation Safety in the BAG Region and Beyond”—as a timely reflection of progress.
Koning acknowledged that the EU-funded project supporting BAGAIA concludes on July 31, 2025, but assured that technical cooperation will continue.
The Abuja meeting, attended by delegates from Nigeria, Ghana, The Gambia, Liberia, Cape Verde, and Sierra Leone, will run for several days. Discussions will include performance evaluations, funding strategies, regional lab development, and investigator training.
As new resolutions are expected to be adopted, this meeting signals a renewed collective commitment to safer skies across West Africa and reinforces BAGAIA’s role as a continental hub for aviation safety collaboration.
