NSIB DG Wants Regional Aviation Safety Cooperation To Address New Threats
The Director General of the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), Capt. Alex Badeh Jr, has emphasized that regional aviation safety cooperation must evolve to address new threats, including bird strikes, operational risks, and emerging technologies.
In his welcome speech at the 12th Commission Meeting of the Banjul Accord Group Accident Investigation Agency (BAGAIA) that opened in Abuja yesterday with strong calls for enhanced regional aviation safety cooperation, Badeh Jr who represented the host country welcomed delegates and highlighted the importance of collective effort, urging member states to approach the meeting with openness and professionalism..
“Cooperation among member states is not just a goal but the foundation of our success,” Badeh stated. “Aviation incidents transcend borders and demand seamless collaboration.”
He cited Nigeria’s assistance to Liberia’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau and efforts to support Ghana in developing a flight data analysis lab. These actions, he said, illustrate BAGAIA’s success in capacity building and shared technical growth.
“We are celebrating collective wins today,” he said. “They showcase our dedication to building safer skies through knowledge sharing and mutual support,” he added.
One of the key outcomes of the meeting is the implementation of establishment of a Board of Directors composed of heads of Accident Investigation Bureaus from member states. This Board will provide policy direction to BAGAIA and streamline decision-making. A Chairman will be elected from among the members, while the BAGAIA Commissioner will serve as Board Secretary. The official document to establish this Board was signed by the Council of Ministers in English by five member states on May 22, 2025. It will take full effect once translations in French and Portuguese are completed and endorsed by the remaining member states.
Commissioner of BAGAIA, Engr. Charles Irikefe Erhueh, said the agency has been creating synergy to unify West Africa through deeper collaboration. He noted BAGAIA’s strategic partnerships with other regional bodies, including CASSOA in 2023 and SASO in 2024. These alignments have expanded cooperation beyond West Africa, extending to Eastern and Southern Africa.
However, Erhueh identified funding as BAGAIA’s major challenge. He revealed that inconsistent financial support from member states has slowed progress. Nonetheless, he commended the determination shown by states to continue collaborating, learning, and growing despite constraints.
The opening session also featured key remarks by top officials including Mr. Fansu Bojang, Head of the Banjul Accord Group Secretariat and Director General of the Gambia Civil Aviation Authority.
“Let us recalibrate our focus and put the agency’s interests at the forefront,” Bojang said. “This meeting must enhance both individual and collective contributions. We expect nothing less.”
He reaffirmed the BAG Secretariat’s commitment to sustained collaboration with BAGAIA to ensure the agency fulfills its safety mandate effectively.
Also addressing delegates was Mr. Yves Koning, EASA Regional Manager for Sub-Saharan Africa, representing the EU-ASA/BAGAIA technical partnership. He praised the meeting’s theme, “Celebrating Our Collective Wings and Capacity Building in Aviation Safety,” as timely and inspiring.
“Our work is not just technical, but deeply collaborative and transformative,” he said. “We’ve made great strides in harmonizing standards and strengthening investigation capacity.”
Koning noted that the EU-funded project supporting BAGAIA concludes July 31, but assured that cooperation will not end there.
“This is a key moment to reflect on achievements, confront persistent challenges, and guide the future of regional aviation safety cooperation,” he said.
He promised to present the project’s impact and future direction in the agenda’s technical sessions.
The Abuja meeting is set to run two days, with representatives from Nigeria, Ghana, The Gambia, Liberia, Cape Verde, and Sierra Leone. Discussions will cover performance reviews, future funding strategies, and enhanced investigative coordination.
