By George Ozalla
The Director-General of Civil Aviation, Chris Ona Najomo, joined aviation regulators, policymakers and international delegates at the maiden meeting of the ECOWAS Air Transport Economic Oversight Committee (ECATEOC), held from July 2 to 3, 2026, in Lomé.
The two-day meeting marked the inauguration of the regional committee established to oversee the implementation of economic policies aimed at strengthening air transport across West Africa.
ECATEOC is the principal regional mechanism responsible for enforcing the implementation of ECOWAS decisions on the abolition of air transport taxes and the reduction of aviation charges across member states. The committee is also charged with ensuring regulatory harmonisation to make regional air travel more affordable, competitive and efficient.
The committee comprises Directors-General of Civil Aviation Authorities, Directors of Air Transport from Aviation Ministries and representatives of regional and international organisations involved in aviation regulation and development.
Represented at the meeting were the Economic Community of West African States Commission, the ECOWAS Court of Justice, the ECOWAS Parliament, the International Civil Aviation Organization, the African Civil Aviation Commission, the International Air Transport Association, the African Airlines Association and other development partners.
Nigeria’s delegation also included Ahmed Tijjani Mohammed, Nigeria’s representative on the Oversight Committee and Director of the Air Transport Management Department at the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development.
Discussions focused on the committee’s mandate to oversee the implementation of agreed economic measures, monitor compliance with regional policies on air transport taxes and charges, and promote regulatory harmonisation among ECOWAS member states to improve air transport services across the sub-region.
