A NEW chapter in African aviation is taking flight as Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea-Conakry, Cape Verde, and Gambia throw their weight behind the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM). The breakthrough came during the 18th plenary session of the Banjul Accord Group (BAG), held in Abuja from May 20 to 21 2025, where delegates rallied around the urgent need to liberalise Africa’s skies and slash airfares.
The two-day summit placed a spotlight on the region’s collective mission: boosting air connectivity, improving regional integration, and cutting the cost of travel across the continent. SAATM, a flagship initiative under the African Union’s Agenda 2063, aims to enable African airlines to operate across borders without needing restrictive bilateral agreements.
Nigeria leads push for lower fares and better access
Festus Keyamo, Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, opened the session with a resounding call to action. He urged fellow BAG states to align domestic aviation policies with the SAATM framework to unlock the full potential of affordable air travel for African citizens.
‘Flying should no longer be a luxury. With SAATM, we have the chance to make African skies more accessible, competitive, and profitable,’ Keyamo said.
AFCAC calls for legal harmonisation
Adefunke Adeyemi, Secretary-General of the African Civil Aviation Council (AFCAC), called for urgent legislative reforms. She urged all BAG states to incorporate SAATM provisions into national aviation laws, enabling the free movement of air services and boosting competition.
Adeyemi stressed the importance of stronger regulatory oversight, noting that robust institutions are vital to enforce new policies and protect consumer rights.
Lawmakers back airspace integration
Senator Augustine Akobundu, speaking for the Nigerian Senate Committee on Aviation, reiterated legislative support for SAATM implementation. He said the Nigerian National Assembly would work to align national laws with regional objectives, fostering a unified West African aviation market.
Challenges remain—but so does commitment
Despite widespread support, the road to open skies is not without turbulence. Many African countries still face hurdles like high operational costs, inadequate infrastructure, and uneven levels of regulatory maturity.
Participants at the BAG plenary explored solutions such as technical assistance, infrastructure investment, and capacity-building to help less-developed aviation markets meet SAATM standards. Support from international bodies like the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) was also discussed.
A bold regional leap for air travel
With the formal launch of the Single African Air Market (SAAM) backed by seven West African nations, the region is taking a bold leap toward seamless, affordable, and secure air travel.
‘Our skies must reflect our unity,’ said Keyamo in his closing remarks. ‘SAATM is more than policy—it’s a pathway to economic growth, tourism, and trade across the continent.’
The strong political will displayed in Abuja may well mark the turning point in Africa’s long quest for open skies. If implemented successfully, SAATM could position Africa as one of the most dynamic air travel markets in the world—driven not by fragmentation, but by freedom of movement and opportunity.
