The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority and the Banjul Accord Group Aviation Safety Oversight Organisation (BAGASOO), have met in Abuja to seek ways of ensuring aviation safety in the member states.
The organisation, made up of Nigeria, Cape Verde, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone; is also seeking ways of exploring new financial income inorder to ensure the viability of the organisation and aviation safety across Africa.
Speaking on the sideline of an ongoing 29th BAGASOO Board of Directors 2-days meeting in Abuja on Monday, the chairman, board of directors, and the director-general, NCAA, Capt. Chris Najomo said, “We must not allow BAGASOO to suffer as it remains our pride and heritage as our lone regional aviation safety oversight organisation in the West African sub-region.”
He further noted that funding has been an issue affecting the sustainability of BAGASOO as contribution by member states has been the only source of funds for the regional body.
Capt. Najomo also said the meeting for the next two days would examine reports by three technical committees including technical committee on training, technical Committee on safety, and technical committee on finance and administration.
The DGCA said that the meeting will ratify strategic plans that would result in tangible accomplishments in line with the mandate of the committees and serve as a roadmap characterised by clear goals, KPIs and regional targets and benchmarks that drive greater progress, effectiveness and upward trajectory of BAGASOO.
In her remarks, the executive director BAGASOO, Jailza Soraya Rodrigues Silva said the organisation has also taken decisive steps to enhance financial controls and mitigate risks associated with financial mismanagement.
These measures she listed include strengthening internal auditing processes to ensure greater oversight; enhancing financial reporting mechanisms for improved transparency; Implementing stricter budgetary controls to prevent unnecessary expenditures; Ensuring better compliance with regulatory financial standards and ensuring segregation of duties.
Also commenting, Barr. Mary Tufano, who was previously the Regional Legal Adviser at BAGASOO and the current Director Legal Services, NCAA said the challenges the body is facing are being surmounted, especially financial.
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