By Nnasom David
In a bid to tackle funding challenges and improve interconnectivity across West Africa, the Banjul Accord Group (BAG) has proposed a $1 Passenger Safety Charge (PSC) on all international tickets originating from its member countries.
The initiative was one of the key recommendations adopted at the 18th Plenary Session of the group, which ended Wednesday in Abuja.
The three-day meeting, hosted by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), brought together aviation leaders and representatives from Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, Guinea Conakry, The Gambia, Cape Verde, and Sierra Leone.
The group emphasized the urgent need for a sustainable financing model to support safety oversight, accident investigations, and regulatory compliance among member states.
BAG has struggled with consistent funding due to defaults in annual subscription payments by several member nations, with Nigeria bearing the bulk of the financial burden.
To ease this pressure, the $1 PSC will be levied on departing international commercial passengers starting January 1, 2026. Full implementation is expected by 2030 after the necessary national legislative amendments.
Speaking on the initiative, Nigeria’s Director-General of Civil Aviation, Capt. Chris Najomo, described the PSC as a crucial step toward the effective implementation of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) and the Yamoussoukro Decision (YD).
“With sustainable funding, we can build stronger institutions, enhance safety, and ultimately reduce ticket prices and travel times through better connectivity,” Najomo said.
The plenary also addressed existing obstacles to air travel across member states, particularly restrictive policies that hinder interlining and regional connectivity. Capt. Najomo noted that capacity gaps among local airlines remain a major concern, with some BAG countries having only one or no national carriers.
“For instance, Sierra Leone recently received its first Air Operator Certificate (AOC), thanks to a Nigerian operator who helped launch Air Sierra Leone,” he explained. “Nigeria remains committed to providing technical support and collaboration across the region.”
The plenary further commended the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) for increasing its support to BAG, with funding rising from €5 million to €10 million. The group pledged to continue leveraging this partnership for technical and regulatory improvements.
Additionally, BAG urged more airlines and aviation service providers in the region to join its framework, highlighting the benefits of mutual collaboration in strengthening the sector.
The ministers of member states are expected to meet Thursday to deliberate on the plenary’s recommendations and present them to their respective national governments for approval and implementation.
The post Banjul Accord Group proposes $1 passenger safety charge appeared first on Vanguard News.