Nigeria's Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, has been appointed as the new chairperson of the West Africa Banjul Accord Group (BAG), a coalition of seven West African states focused on aviation development.

Keyamo confirmed the appointment on Thursday through a statement on his official X account, where he succeeds Alhaji Fandey Turay, the Minister of Transport and Aviation from the Republic of Sierra Leone.

"In recognition of our bold and innovative policies in the aviation sector under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, a few hours ago, I was appointed as the new chairman of the West Africa Banjul Accord Group (BAG) by the ministers of transport/aviation in the West African states," Keyamo stated.

The announcement was made during the ongoing BAG meeting in Abuja, which Keyamo noted "reinforces Nigeria's leading role in improving air travel across West Africa."

The Banjul Accord Group was established on January 29, 2004, with the primary objective of promoting safe and efficient development of civil aviation within member states including Cabo Verde, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone.

During his address at the BAG meeting in Abuja, Keyamo urged fellow Aviation Ministers to prepare for substantial investments in aviation infrastructure.

"BAG member states should be prepared to make more concerted efforts for more investments in the provision of infrastructure and facilities for safe, secure, environmentally friendly, and sustainable civil aviation," he emphasized.

This appointment comes as Nigeria continues to implement reforms in its aviation sector under President Tinubu's administration, with Keyamo at the helm of affairs as the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development.