The Minister of Transport, Mr. Jean Ernest Massena Ngalle Bibehe, chairman of the committee, presided over the first annual meeting on Tuesday, 7 July 2025, at the CCAA Training School (EFO) in Nsimalen, in the presence of partner security administrations, including Mrs Paule Assoumou KOKI, Director General of the CCAA, which provides the technical secretariat.

The items on the agenda included the security situation at Cameroon's airports, the presentation of the National Air Transport Facilitation Programme (PNFTA), recently approved by the President of the Republic, and the thorny issue of illegal activities encroaching on the city side of Yaoundé-Nsimalen International Airport, as well as other problems related to sanitation.

During the discussions, particular emphasis was placed on the PNFTA. This integrated strategic framework harmonises the work often carried out by the various intersectoral actors involved in security and facilitation, and, by extension, aligns it with the standards of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). Indeed, the new PNFTA establishes the Cameroon Civil Aviation Authority (CCAA) as the national authority responsible for facilitation, a true inter-institutional coordination body responsible for ensuring the consistency of actions and the effective implementation of the prescribed measures.

It is in this spirit that the Minister of Transport called on stakeholders to make an unwavering commitment to protecting passengers, crews, facilities and the public against any act of unlawful interference, while ensuring safe, dignified and efficient travel conditions. With the passenger experience being a major priority, he urged everyone to work towards strengthening the competitiveness of our airports. Several recommendations were made to eradicate illegal trade, unsanitary conditions and other problems that undermine our airports.

trans: Mireille K GALABE/ARO-PRU