Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has signed a landmark Bilateral Air Service Agreement with Brazil, signaling the establishment of direct air links between Nigeria and Brazil.
The agreement was signed on Monday as part of the programmes lined up for two-day official state visit to Brasília by President Tinubu.
According to the statement by the media aide to the Nigeria’s minister of Aviation, Tunde Moshood, the signing ceremony was witnessed by Tinubu and the Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in Brasilia, while Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo, signed the agreement on behalf of Nigeria and Brazil’s Minister of Transport, Silvio Costa Filho, signed for the host country, Brazil.
The BASA creates a new framework for direct flights between Nigeria and Brazil, with the potential to significantly enhance trade, tourism, investment, and diplomatic relations. The statement further noted that, “It also marks a key step in Nigeria’s broader efforts to strengthen international partnerships and improve global connectivity.”
The statement added that President Tinubu had arrived in Brazil with a delegation that included Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun; Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Ojukwu; Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari; and other senior government officials.
The Brazilian President, according to the statement, welcomed the agreement and expressed his administration’s commitment to expanding cooperation with Nigeria in sectors such as aviation, agriculture, and infrastructure.
He described the BASA as a reflection of the strong ties between both countries and an opportunity to deepen economic and cultural collaboration.
According to the statement, the ongoing state visit will also see President Tinubu meeting the President of the Brazilian Senate at the National Congress, the President of the Chamber of Deputies, and the President of the Supreme Federal Court.
It added that the working visit, which continues on Tuesday, will also feature high-level engagements between Nigerian and Brazilian delegations across various sectors, underscoring both nations’ commitment to building a future of mutual growth and prosperity.
GIK/APA