Lagos, May 23, 2025 – Seven West African countries have formally launched the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) in a move toward regional integration.
The seven countries are Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea-Conakry, Cape Verde, and The Gambia
The decision was taken at the just concluded three-day 18th Plenary Session of the Banjul Accord Group (BAG) hosted by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) in Abuja.
BAG was established to foster sub-regional cooperation on safe and sustainable civil aviation systems in West Africa.
The SAATM initiative was conceived by BAG in 1988 in furtherance of its efforts to liberalise intra-African air services.
Festus Keyamo, Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, said the launch of SAATM represented a turning point in the continent’s quest for seamless connectivity and economic integration.
“We must liberalise and open up our skies to one another.
“SAATM’s implementation will increase air connectivity, make trips shorter, and improve service delivery, all at lower costs to the consumer.
“But more importantly, it will unlock the immense economic potential of intra-African travel,” he said.
Meanwhile, Keyamo has been appointed as the new Chairman of the Council of Ministers of BAG states at the session.
This was announced in a statement by Tunde Moshood, the Special Adviser to the Minister on Media and Communications.
Aside from Keyamo, the I8th Session of the BAG was also attended by the Minister of Transport, Cabo Verde, Dr Jose Luis Nogueira; Minister of Transport, The Gambia, Ebrima Sillah; and Minister of Transport and Aviation, Ghana, Joseph Nikpe.
Others were the Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Guinea; Ousmane Gaoual Diallo, Minister of Transport, Liberia, Hon. Sirleaf Ralph Tyler, and Minister of Transport and Aviation, Sierra Leone, Fanday Turay.
