Nigeria and Brazil Sign Air Services Deal to Open Direct Flights and Boost Ties
Nigeria has signed a Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) with Brazil in a move officials say will deepen economic, cultural, and diplomatic ties between the two nations.
The signing, disclosed by Tunde Moshood, Special Adviser on Media and Communications to the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, took place during President Bola Tinubu’s state visit to Brazil and followed discussions at the highest level.
Moshood’s statement recorded that the memorandum formalised a direct flight agreement intended to expand trade and people-to-people links.
The ceremony saw senior ministers from both countries put their names to the agreement in the presence of the presidents, underscoring the pact’s significance.
“The agreement was signed by Nigeria’s Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Olorogun Festus Keyamo SAN, alongside Brazil’s Minister of Transport, Silvio Costa Filho, in the presence of both Heads of State,” the statement read.
Officials described the BASA as a framework for “direct air connectivity between Nigeria and Brazil, opening fresh avenues for trade, tourism, investment, and people-to-people exchanges.”
Government sources say the deal marks a strategic milestone for the Tinubu administration as it seeks to broaden Nigeria’s global partnerships and economic opportunities.
“It is expected to foster stronger economic integration, facilitate cultural ties, and enhance diplomatic cooperation between both nations,” the statement continued, while Brazilian leaders signalled readiness to deepen cooperation in sectors including aviation, agriculture and infrastructure.
Nigeria’s dialogue with Brazil on direct flights began on 7 October 2024, and the state visit will also include meetings with senior figures in the Brazilian Senate, Chamber of Deputies, and Supreme Federal Court.
The agreement is being portrayed as part of a wider push to open new markets and routes for Nigerian business and tourism, and officials insist practical steps to implement direct services will follow quickly.
The memorandum and the state visit both signal an active diplomatic drive to convert political goodwill into tangible commercial and cultural exchanges between the two continents.
