The Banjul Accord Group (BAG) made up of seven African countries, including Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, Guinea Conakry, Gambia, Cape Verde and Sierra Leone, have adopted $1 Passenger Safety Charge (PSC), on originating international flight tickets, to improve funding and further build capacity for safety regulation.
BAG has struggled with funding difficulties as most member-countries were defaulting in annual subscription payments, which has impacted negatively on the core objectives of the group.
The new decision was adopted at the 18th Plenary Session of The Banjul Accord Group, which ended Wednesday in Abuja.
The PSC implementation is scheduled to commence on January 1, 2026, with full implementation expected by 2030, allowing time for the necessary amendments to national legislations.
The three-day Plenary Session, and the council of ministers meeting, were hosted by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), and they witnessed participation of the seven member-countries of the BAG.
The proposal to introduce 1USD Passenger Safety Charge on international commercial departing flights was proposed as a sustainable funding mechanism for BAG, BAGASOO, and BAGAIA and was adopted by the member-states.
It was also agreed at the plenary that upon full implementation of the PSC, member-state contributions would be phased out.
Speaking to the PSC, the Director-General, Civil Aviation, Nigeria, Capt. Chris Najomo, said the proposal, if accepted by the various countries, will also help drive implementation of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) and the Yamoussoukro Decision (YD).
He added that with improved connectivity within Africa, air ticket prices would reduce significantly as well as travel time.
He said the ministers of the various countries will meet this Thursday to deliberate on the recommendations and other conclusions to take back to their home-country governments.
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