Nigeria Strengthens Aviation Safety Leadership by Hosting West Africa’s BAGAIA Summit

Nigeria has once again demonstrated its growing leadership in the African aviation space as it hosted the 12th Commission Meeting of the Banjul Accord Group Accident Investigation Agency (BAGAIA) in Abuja. The summit brought together top officials and aviation safety experts from six West African countries to discuss strategies for enhancing air transport safety across the region.

The two-day meeting, which held in the nation’s capital, was facilitated by the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) and had representatives from The Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Cape Verde, and Nigeria. The gathering focused on strengthening cooperation among member states in air accident investigation, developing uniform safety standards, and enhancing investigative capacities through shared training and resources.

In his opening remarks, the Director-General of the NSIB, Captain Alex Badeh Jr., said that Nigeria’s commitment to regional aviation safety goes beyond rhetoric. He stressed that safety in air transport is a shared responsibility and that collaboration among countries is key to achieving lasting impact. Badeh also noted that Nigeria has been supporting neighbouring states by providing technical assistance and helping build investigative infrastructure.

A key highlight of the summit was the activation of BAGAIA’s Board of Directors. This newly formalized body is tasked with providing policy oversight and strategic direction for the agency. It comprises heads of aviation investigation agencies from each member state and is expected to strengthen transparency, accountability, and institutional continuity across the region.

The summit also allowed stakeholders to review progress made since the last meeting and identify new priorities. Among the critical issues discussed were cross-border training programs, improved data sharing protocols, and the urgent need to tackle emerging threats such as drone incursions and cyber vulnerabilities within aviation systems.

Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, who attended the meeting, reaffirmed the federal government’s dedication to regional cooperation. He noted that Nigeria has consistently played a leadership role within West Africa’s aviation ecosystem and is committed to providing the necessary support to BAGAIA and other multilateral aviation platforms.

Delegates from participating countries praised Nigeria’s efforts in hosting the event and commended the NSIB for its growing reputation as one of the most efficient investigative bodies in Africa. Some pointed to the NSIB’s track record in timely and detailed air accident investigations, while others highlighted its investment in cutting-edge investigative technology and human capacity development.

Badeh used the occasion to unveil plans by the NSIB to deepen its engagement with member countries through joint simulation exercises and regional workshops. He said the Bureau will also explore the possibility of creating a regional incident database that could help detect patterns and enhance the quality of investigations across West Africa.

Participants also emphasized the importance of sustainable funding for BAGAIA’s operations. Without consistent financial backing from member states, several officials warned, many of the summit’s ambitious goals could remain unrealized. They called for the establishment of a dedicated safety development fund to support ongoing projects and capacity-building initiatives.

Throughout the summit, recurring themes included institutional trust, transparency, and the need to adapt to rapidly evolving technologies in aviation. Delegates agreed that more effort must be made to train investigators in handling digital black boxes, satellite-based tracking systems, and AI-enabled flight data analysis tools.

On the sidelines of the event, aviation professionals lauded Nigeria’s leadership role in the region. They noted that the country’s ability to convene and host a high-level technical summit is evidence of its growing stature in African aviation. Several experts also pointed out that with Nigeria’s increased air traffic and growing number of international partnerships, ensuring air safety is not just a national priority but a continental responsibility.

The Abuja summit ended with the adoption of a joint communiqué in which member states recommitted themselves to deeper cooperation and faster implementation of agreed reforms. The document also called for immediate steps to harmonize accident investigation standards and provide mutual assistance during major aviation incidents.

As the aviation sector across Africa continues to expand, stakeholders at the BAGAIA summit expressed hope that the renewed commitment seen in Nigeria would inspire similar actions across the continent. The meeting closed with an appeal for continuous political support, sustained funding, and greater community awareness about air safety protocols.

For Nigeria, hosting the summit was more than a diplomatic win—it was a reaffirmation of its place as a stabilizing force in regional aviation affairs. Experts believe that if the momentum from the meeting is sustained, West Africa could see a significant drop in aviation-related incidents and an overall improvement in passenger confidence across its skies.