Nigeria, Cameroon Seal Aeronautical SAR Deal to Strengthen Aviation Safety

Nigeria and Cameroon have entered into a bilateral Technical Aeronautical Search and Rescue (SAR) Agreement aimed at enhancing coordinated emergency response within their shared airspace.

The agreement was formalized on Friday, February 27, 2026, in Yaoundé by Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, and Cameroon’s Minister of Transport, Jean Ernest Ngallè Bibehe.

Key features of the pact include:

Enhanced coordination between the two countries’ Rescue Coordination Centres (RCCs)

Clear protocols for communication and joint operations

Faster, more effective assistance to aircraft in distress across shared airspace and borders

Compliance with ICAO Annex 12 standards for search and rescue

Minister Keyamo described the deal as creating a “borderless rescue corridor” and noted that it supports President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda priorities of safety, regional integration, and protection of lives and property.

The signing, attended by senior officials from the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), reinforces Nigeria’s leadership in promoting aviation cooperation across West and Central Africa.

The agreement is expected to shorten emergency response times, improve overall airspace safety, and strengthen bilateral trust in civil aviation matters.

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