By Oso Abidemi
Top aviation leaders from seven West African countries have renewed the call for urgent adoption of a single air transport market to lower ticket prices and improve connectivity across Africa.
Speaking at the 18th plenary of the Banjul Accord Group in Abuja, Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, said implementing the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM), would transform travel on the continent.
“It is time Africa connected itself more. SAATM will make flights shorter, cheaper, and more efficient,” he said.
Keyamo described SAATM as a key driver for realizing the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and boosting global competitiveness.
Also speaking, Secretary-General of the African Civil Aviation Council, Adefunke Adeyemi, urged countries to embed SAATM into their national laws and empower aviation regulators to make it work.
Nigeria’s Civil Aviation chief, Captain Chris Najomo, called the meeting an opportunity to tackle major challenges such as infrastructure gaps, skilled manpower shortages, safety risks, and digital transformation.
The gathering includes aviation authorities from Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Cape Verde, and Gambia.
With firm backing from regional lawmakers and regulatory bodies, the push for unified skies across West Africa is gaining momentum.
