According to a final communiqué from the meeting, this is as a result of the “severe negative” impact of the high cost of air transport on the growth of the region’s air transport industry and on the wider economic and regional integration Agenda of ECOWAS, the Authority.
“The Authority also endorses the regional strategy which includes, among others, a 25% reduction of passenger and security charges and the removal of taxes applied to air transport, in compliance with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) principles and procedures on Taxes, Fees and Charges, which prohibits taxing of air transport services based on the non-relatedness, transparent and related pricing principles.”
“To ensure a holistic improvement of the region's air transport industry, the Authority also approves the Regulation establishing a common framework for Aviation Security and the increased rate of compensation for passengers who are denied boarding of flights through an amendment of Article 4 of the Supplementary Act on delayed boarding, flight cancellations and denied boarding.”
“The Authority directs Ministers in-charge of Air Transport and the Commission to coordinate and monitor the effective and uniform application of the Supplementary Acts and Regulations in all Member States, while ensuring that Airlines also comply with cost reduction obligations to ensure that ticket prices reflect the reductions to benefit all Community citizens and populations.”
“The Authority endorses the title of the single West African Gas Pipeline Project (Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline Project) as African Atlantic Gas Pipeline Project (AAGP) as well as the Intergovernmental Agreement and its Annex. The Authority instructs the Commission to ensure the signing
Final 6 of the Intergovernmental Agreement before June 2025.’
“In addition, the Authority urges the stakeholders in this important project to speed up the process of its effective implementation and appeals to development partners and the private sector to provide assistance for the project financial close.”
“The Authority notes with concern the continued existence of numerous illegal roadblocks along regional road corridors, which impede free movement of persons and the growth of intra Community trade and pose significant threats to the effective implementation of the free movement protocol, ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme, and the potential benefit of Member States’ benefit from the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement.”
“To that effect, the Authority urges Member States, in collaboration with the Commission, to raise awareness and strengthen relevant institutional structures with a view to improving ownership and implementation of regional texts relating to free movement of originating goods.”
