…Rallies African Leaders For Market
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo has said that the success of the Single Africa Air Transport Market (SAATM) initiative depends not only on the commitment of individual countries, but also on the collaborative efforts at both the regional and continental levels.
This is just as he appealed to African leaders and aviation stakeholders to rally support for SAATM for more receptive diplomatic relations and Ease of Doing Business (EDB) within the continent.
Keyamo made the appeal known at the 24th edition of the Yamoussoukro Decision (YD) Week and SAATM event held in Abuja.
“It is hoped that the YD Anniversary Week celebration would inspire countries signatory to SAATM (and who have not done so) to further remove restrictions on air services while those who have not signed the commitment to SAATM be encouraged to voluntarily join and commit to the principles of the open skies policy. The need to speed up full implementation of the Yamoussoukro Decision with regard to the Liberalisation of Access to Air Transport Markets in Africa, cannot be over emphasised as it is crucial to the achievement of the long-term vision of the African Union”, the Minister advised.
The event, titled, “Africa Wants To Fly”, hosted by Africa Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC) is aimed at accelerating air transport liberalisation in Africa to improve continental connectivity and integration.
The gathering which was attended by the President of AFCAC/Director General of Rwanda Civil Aviation Authority, Silas Udahamuka, Ms. Adefunke Adeyemi, AFCAC Secretary General and other topflight Aviation/Transport Ministers in Africa symbolises the relentless pursuit of African dreams and the firm belief that the sky is not the limit; but the beginning of an exciting journey.
According to the Minister, “Throughout history, Africa has been home to diverse cultures and peoples who have looked to the skies with awe and reverence. Africa is the continent with the largest number of developing countries and Air Transport is an essential component of the global transportation system and a strategic driver of economic growth and development.”
Speaking further, he said, “Presently, intra Africa trade stands low at just 14.4% of total African exports. Though African airlines have recorded a 34.7% surge in passenger traffic over the past year, the continent’s global passenger market share remains modest at 2.1%. Therefore, the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) is a no- brainer in giving impetus to not just intra Africa trade, tourism, but SAATM would also reduce the continent’s trade deficit by 51%.”
Speaking further, the Minister is of the opinion that statistics from AFCAC shows that 37 member states have so far subscribed to unconditionally implement the YD and SAATM, with 23 states signing the Memorandum of Implementation (Mol) for its operationalization.
He added that the records also show that these 37 states account for more than 88 per cent of intra-African traffic and more than 800 million people in Africa.
He posited that it is a common knowledge that the success of the SAATM initiative depends on not just the commitment of individual countries, but also on collaborative efforts at the regional and continental levels.
The Minister commended the Secretary General of AFCAC, Ms. Adefunke Adeyemi and her team for the successful launch of the first phase of the SAATM Pilot Implementation Project (PIP) Cluster 1 Coalition Roadshow which was held in Abuja, Nigeria in April 2023.
“Special thanks to our dear Secretary General of AFCAC, Ms. Adefunke Adeyemi and her team, who chose Nigeria as the first country in Africa to host the roadshow”.
Other notable stakeholders and dignitaries at the event are HE Ebrima Sillah- Gambia’s Minister of Information/Communication Infrastructure,Jimmy Gasore-Rwanda’s Minister of Infrastructure, Madut Biar Yel Akuei, Republic of South Sudan’s Minister of Transport and Veikko Nekundi-Namibia’s Minister of Works and Transport.
Others are Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Dr. Emmanuel Meribole,Director General, Nigeria Civil Aviation, Capt. Nuhu Musa, DG, NiMET, Prof. Mansur Matazu, among others.
Earlier in her remarks, the Secretary General of AFCAC commended the Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo and the DGCA, Capt Musa Nuhu for graciously agreeing to host this YD Week event.
She also appreciated the resource persons and the participants as well as those who have been working behind the scenes to make the event a success, adding that AFCAC could not have done it without them.
She pointed out that the workshop on the Regulatory Instruments of the YD/SAATM is the 5th in the series that have been organised by the AUC and AFCAC.
She said that organising this workshop is in direct compliance with the Assembly Decision in 2018 for the AUC and AFCAC to create awareness and dissemination of key continental aviation frameworks especially the Yamoussoukro Decision Regulatory and Institutional Texts, the African Civil Aviation Policy (AFCAP), as well as undertake capacity building of Member States and RECs on application and domestication of those instruments.
The workshop, she said, will provide the opportunity to discuss in detail the content of the SAATM regulatory instruments and share experiences of your states in the application of these regulatory instruments as well as receive perspectives from key partners on the key strategies and key opportunities for accelerated implementation of the SAATM.
The AFCAC boss noted that despite the believe in some quarters that the YD/SAATM implementation across the continent has not been standardised and has not yielded the expected results, she inform the gathering that significant progress is being made especially with the introduction of the noble initiative of SAATM Pilot Implementation Project (PIP).
In her words, “This workshop could not have come at a better time than now as all hands are on deck to improve air connectivity across Africa in order to contribute to economic growth, job creation, encourage investment and innovation, improve the movement of people and goods as well as the efficiency of businesses between and amongst countries thereby boosting socio-economic development of the African continent.”
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