Nigeria, Brazil sign Air Service agreement

Nigeria has entered into a Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) with Brazil to strengthen economic, cultural, and diplomatic relations between the two nations.

The Special Adviser on Media and Communications to the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Tunde Moshood, announced the development in a statement on Monday. He explained that the agreement was signed during President Bola Tinubu’s two-day working visit to Brazil, where he was hosted by Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

According to Moshood, a key highlight of the visit was the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) establishing direct flights between Nigeria and Brazil. The document was signed by Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo SAN, and Brazil’s Minister of Transport, Silvio Costa Filho, in the presence of both presidents.

“The BASA establishes a new framework for direct air connectivity between Nigeria and Brazil, opening fresh avenues for trade, tourism, investment, and people-to-people exchanges,” the statement read.

Moshood noted that the agreement is a strategic milestone that reflects the Tinubu administration’s drive to expand Nigeria’s global partnerships while creating new opportunities for commerce and mobility.

President Lula welcomed the move, commending the partnership and expressing Brazil’s readiness to broaden cooperation with Nigeria in areas such as aviation, agriculture, and infrastructure development.

The statement further revealed that during the visit, President Tinubu will also hold talks with the President of the Brazilian Senate, the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, and the Chief Justice of the Supreme Federal Court.

The ongoing working visit, expected to continue on Tuesday, will include high-level engagements between Nigerian and Brazilian officials across several sectors, reinforcing both countries’ commitment to building stronger ties for mutual prosperity.

Discussions between Nigeria and Brazil on direct flight connectivity had initially begun on October 7, 2024.