Nigeria, Brazil set to sign bilateral air service agreement

Nigeria and Brazil are set to reinforce their aviation ties as both countries move closer to establishing a Bilateral Air Service Agreement.

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, disclosed this development on his official X account on Wednesday.

“Yesterday, along with my team, I met my counterpart in the Federative Republic of Brazil, Mr. Silvio Costa Filho, who is the Brazilian Minister of Ports and Airports,” Keyamo stated.

Keyamo said both parties revisited their longstanding ties and acknowledged the urgent need to solidify aviation relations.

“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 and immediately set up a joint team to come up with a draft that we hope to consummate in the next few weeks,” the minister said.

“This is a precursor to opening up the direct air link between both countries.”

Beyond BASA, the ministers also explored broader opportunities for collaboration.

“We also looked at other possible areas of cooperation between both countries in the field of aviation and aerospace development,” Keyamo added.

The potential agreement is seen as a strategic move that could boost tourism, trade, and cultural exchange between Nigeria and Brazil, two of the largest economies in the Global South.

Recall that in October 2024, Nigeria began discussions with the Brazilian Ambassador to Nigeria, Carlos Garcete, to activate the Bilateral Air Service Agreement between both countries and initiate direct flights.

The meeting follows the MoU signed between the two nations in 2018, aimed at boosting air connectivity and economic cooperation.

Speaking on the importance of direct flights, the ambassador emphasized the potential for the immediate commencement of flight services, adding that both nations could facilitate 4 to 5 flights per week.

“The introduction of direct flights will spark significant economic growth between our countries,” Garcete stated.

Garcete also harped on the need to finalise the Open Skies Agreement to fully enable the proposed flights.

Keyamo revealed that once the agreement is finalised, Air Peace and Caverton have been designated to operate the route.