Nigeria and Brazil have signed a Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) aimed at opening direct flight routes between both countries and deepening economic, cultural, and diplomatic ties.
The agreement was concluded on Monday during President Bola Tinubu’s state visit to Brasília, where he was hosted by Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, signed on behalf of Nigeria, while Brazil’s Minister of Transport, Silvio Costa Filho, represented his country at the ceremony.
According to a statement by Tunde Moshood, media aide to the aviation minister, the BASA sets the stage for enhanced connectivity between Nigeria and South America’s largest economy. It is also expected to boost trade, tourism, and investment flows while reinforcing long-standing diplomatic relations.
The Brazilian President described the pact as evidence of the “strong ties between both nations,” noting that it would expand cooperation beyond aviation into agriculture, infrastructure, and other sectors.
Tinubu, who arrived in Brazil with a high-level delegation that included Finance Minister Wale Edun, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Bianca Ojukwu, and Minister of Agriculture Abubakar Kyari, is scheduled to hold a series of meetings with top Brazilian officials.
His itinerary includes engagements with the President of the Senate, the President of the Chamber of Deputies, and the President of the Supreme Federal Court. The two-day working visit will also feature sectoral discussions between Nigerian and Brazilian delegations aimed at exploring new opportunities for mutual growth and development.
