The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has reinforced its prominent role in West African aviation safety by hosting the 12th Commission Meeting of the Banjul Accord Group Accident Investigation Agency (BAGAIA).
The high-level gathering convened representatives and heads of Accident Investigation Bureaus from member states including Nigeria, Ghana, The Gambia, Liberia, Cape Verde, and Sierra Leone.
According to a statement from the NSIB Director, Public Affairs and Family Assistance, Mrs Bimbo Oladeji, delegates engaged in critical discussions focused on strengthening regional coordination, streamlining policy direction, and addressing evolving threats to aviation safety across the sub-region.
The meeting’s theme, “Celebrating Our Collective Wins in Capacity Building and Aviation Safety Across the Banjul Accord Group (BAG) Region and Beyond,” emphasizes the significant progress made in sharing expertise, developing investigators, and improving safety outcomes.
It also served as a reminder that continued progress hinges on consistency, cooperation, and sustained investment in human capital and systems.
A significant outcome of the meeting was the activation of BAGAIA’s Board of Directors.
This new initiative, composed of heads of national investigation bureaus, is set to transform the agency’s governance by overseeing its strategic direction, monitoring the Commissioner’s activities, and ensuring accountability.
Director General of the NSIB, Captain Alex Badeh Jr, representing the host country, in his opening address, emphasized the indispensable need for unity and responsiveness in tackling cross-border aviation challenges.
“Cooperation among member states is not just a goal but the foundation of our success. Aviation incidents transcend borders and demand seamless collaboration. We must move as one.”
He highlighted Nigeria’s practical contributions to regional commitments, citing recent technical support to Liberia’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau and efforts to assist Ghana in developing a flight data analysis lab.
“We are celebrating collective wins today. They reflect our shared growth, our willingness to learn from one another, and our drive to raise standards across the subregion.”
Captain Badeh further stressed the importance of evolving regional aviation safety cooperation to address new threats such as bird strikes, operational risks, and emerging technologies.
BAGAIA Commissioner Engr. Charles Irikefe Erhueh commended NSIB’s leadership and called for deeper synergy among states to sustain progress.
Despite acknowledging funding constraints, the Abuja meeting demonstrated a growing resolve among member states to remain engaged and enhance investigative capabilities.
EASA Regional Manager for Sub-Saharan Africa, Mr. Yves Koning, representing the EU-ASA/BAGAIA partnership, described the technical cooperation with BAGAIA as both productive and transformative.
While the EU-funded project supporting the agency is set to conclude on July 31, he confirmed that avenues for sustained collaboration remain open.
Reporting by Nosa Aituamen