Khadijah Shehu Abdulkareem
Nigeria and Brazil have sealed a landmark Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) that will establish direct flights between the two nations, opening new avenues for trade, investment, and cultural exchange.
The agreement was announced in a statement by Tunde Moshood, Special Adviser on Media and Communications to the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who witnessed the signing in Brasília, led a high-powered delegation that included top government officials such as the Minister of Finance, Mr. Olawale Edun; Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu; Minister of Aviation, Mr. Festus Keyamo; and Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Abubakar Kyari.
President Tinubu was warmly received by Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, marking what both leaders described as a new chapter in bilateral relations between Africa’s and South America’s largest economies.
Direct Flights on the Horizon
A major highlight of the visit was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) formalising the BASA. The agreement was signed by Nigeria’s Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo and Brazil’s Minister of Transport, Silvio Costa Filho, in the presence of both Heads of State.
The deal lays the foundation for direct air connectivity between Nigeria and Brazil — a move expected to expand tourism, ease business travel, enhance mobility, and foster economic growth.
Officials say the pact will accelerate economic integration and strengthen diplomatic cooperation, particularly in areas of aviation, agriculture, and infrastructure development.
Strengthening Global Partnerships
President Lula hailed the agreement as a milestone in Brazil’s engagement with Africa, affirming his country’s commitment to deepen collaboration with Nigeria in strategic sectors.
For Nigeria, the agreement underscores President Tinubu’s foreign policy drive to expand global partnerships and create an enabling environment for commerce and cross-border collaboration.
Beyond the aviation deal, President Tinubu’s state visit includes scheduled meetings with the President of the Brazilian Senate, the President of the Chamber of Deputies, and the President of the Supreme Federal Court. High-level talks between Nigerian and Brazilian delegations across multiple sectors are also expected to take place during the visit.
Diplomatic observers see the BASA as a game-changing step toward shared prosperity and stronger global relevance for both countries.