Nigeria and Brazil Move Towards Bilateral Air Service Agreement for Direct Flights
Abuja, Nigeria – Nigeria and Brazil are on the verge of bolstering their aviation relations, with both nations advancing plans for a Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) that could pave the way for direct flights between the two countries.
According to a report by PUNCH Online, the development was announced by Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, via his official X account on Wednesday.
Keyamo revealed details of a recent high-level meeting with his Brazilian counterpart, Silvio Costa Filho, the Minister of Ports and Airports, held in Brasilia, Brazil.
In his statement, Keyamo highlighted the historical and cultural bonds between Nigeria and Brazil, emphasizing the need to overcome longstanding obstacles that have hindered deeper aviation cooperation.
“We met at Brasilia, the headquarters of Brazil. We recalled the historical and cultural links between both countries and discussed the need to remove all the bottlenecks that have since prevented both countries from having a full-blown BILATERAL AIR SERVICE AGREEMENT,” Keyamo wrote.
The ministers agreed to establish a joint team tasked with drafting the agreement, with the goal of finalizing it in the coming weeks.
This initiative is seen as a critical step toward establishing a direct air link, which would enhance connectivity and facilitate easier travel, trade, and cultural exchange between the two nations.
Keyamo described the meeting as a “precursor to opening up the direct air link between both countries,” underscoring the potential economic and diplomatic benefits.
The agreement, once in place, could allow airlines from both countries to operate direct routes, reducing travel times and costs for passengers and businesses.
This development comes amid growing interest in strengthening bilateral ties between Africa and Latin America, particularly in sectors like aviation, trade, and infrastructure.
Nigeria, as Africa’s most populous nation, and Brazil, a major emerging economy, share a history of collaboration, including cultural influences from the transatlantic slave trade and ongoing partnerships in areas such as oil and agriculture.
As the joint team works on the draft, stakeholders in the aviation industry are optimistic about the prospects.
Experts suggest that direct flights could boost tourism, business travel, and investment flows, further solidifying the relationship between Abuja and Brasília.
