President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has enacted a significant Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) with Brazil, facilitating direct flight connections between Nigeria and the largest economy in South America.
The agreement was established on Monday during President Tinubu’s formal state trip to Brasília and was observed by Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, endorsed the pact on behalf of Nigeria, while Brazil’s Minister of Transport, Silvio Costa Filho, did so for the hosting nation.
In a statement released by Tunde Moshood, media aide to the Aviation Minister, the BASA is anticipated to enhance trade, tourism, investment, and diplomatic relations between the two nations.
Embracing the agreement, President Lula characterized the deal as a testament to the robust connections between Nigeria and Brazil, emphasizing that it would usher in further cooperation in aviation, agriculture, and infrastructure progress.
Throughout his two-day working visit, Tinubu is also scheduled to engage with pivotal Brazilian officials, including the Senate President, the Chamber of Deputies President, and the Supreme Federal Court President. High-level dialogues between delegations from both countries will explore collaborative opportunities across various sectors.
In related news, Nigeria’s largest airline, Air Peace, is preparing to launch direct flights from Lagos to São Paulo. Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, confirmed this development, highlighting that this arrangement was one of the results of Tinubu’s discussions with President Lula.
Nigeria and Brazil have broadened their collaboration with the signing of several bilateral agreements encompassing crucial sectors, including biotechnology, bioeconomy, ocean science, innovation ecosystems, energy, space advancement, digital transformation, and raw materials exploration. The agreements were signed by Nigeria’s Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, Geoffrey Nnaji, and Brazil’s Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation, Luciana Santos.