Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo, has called for the urgent implementation of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) to foster regional integration and enhance intra-African connectivity.
Keyamo made the call while delivering the keynote address at the 18th Plenary and Meeting of the Council of Ministers of the Banjul Accord Group (BAG) on Monday in Abuja.
“I want to highlight the urgent need to implement SAATM for the benefit of our sub-region and the entire African continent.
” SAATM represents a bold and visionary step toward achieving the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and unlocking the immense potential of air connectivity across our continent,” Keyamo said.
He noted that despite multiple declarations and political will, progress on SAATM had been slow, with airspace fragmentation remaining a barrier to regional integration.
Keyamo emphasised that SAATM, if fully implemented, would enable smoother movement of passengers and cargo with minimal transit points and competitive prices.
“Our skies must no longer be defined by closed borders, but by open opportunity,” he said, reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to the ideals of the BAG.
Director-General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Capt. Chris Najomo, reiterated that the meeting was convened to strengthen collaboration on aviation safety, security, regulatory harmonisation, and sustainable development across the region.
“Let us keep our eyes on the prize – a safe, secure, and unified aviation sector in West Africa,” Najomo added.
The Director-General of the Banjul Accord Group, Mr. Fansu Bojang, highlighted that the group aimed to promote safe and efficient development of civil aviation within and beyond member states.
