Nigeria Hosts 12th BAGAIA Commission Meeting, Reinforces Regional Leadership In Aviation Safety

The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has hosted the 12th Commission Meeting of the Banjul Accord Group Accident Investigation Agency (BAGAIA), cementing Nigeria’s growing influence in regional aviation safety and accident investigation.

Held in Abuja from July 28–29, the high-level forum drew top officials and delegates from BAGAIA member states including Ghana, Liberia, The Gambia, Cape Verde, and Sierra Leone. Discussions centered on improving cross-border coordination, sharing technical expertise, and confronting modern aviation risks.

Themed “Celebrating Our Collective Wins in Capacity Building and Aviation Safety Across the Banjul Accord Group Region and Beyond,” the meeting underscored both the region’s accomplishments and its persistent challenges.

One of the event’s pivotal outcomes was the activation of BAGAIA’s newly formed Board of Directors, comprising heads of member-state investigation bureaus tasked with providing strategic oversight, monitoring leadership, and ensuring accountability.

NSIB Director-General, Captain Alex Badeh, opened the meeting with a call for deeper regional solidarity. “Aviation incidents transcend borders and demand seamless collaboration,” he said. “Cooperation among member states is not just a goal but the foundation of our success.”

Badeh cited Nigeria’s technical assistance to Liberia and Ghana as proof of its commitment to regional development and capacity-building. He urged member states to remain vigilant against emerging threats such as bird strikes and technological disruptions.

BAGAIA Commissioner, Charles Irikefe Erhueh, commended NSIB’s leadership and emphasized the importance of sustaining momentum, even amid limited resources.

Yves Koning, EASA’s Regional Manager for Sub-Saharan Africa, lauded the EU-BAGAIA partnership. While the current EU-funded support project concludes on July 31, Koning assured that avenues for continued collaboration remain open.

The gathering ultimately reaffirmed Nigeria’s role as a central figure in Africa’s aviation safety transformation, advocating for regional synergy, strengthened investigative capacity, and long-term policy alignment.