Nigeria, Brazil ready for direct flights as Tinubu, Keyamo sign BASA

Direct flights between Nigeria and Brazil is set to commence soon with the signing of Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) on Monday.

This BASA is expected to open fresh avenues for trade, tourism, investment and people-to-people exchanges, while it would also enhance stronger economic integration, facilitate cultural ties and improve diplomatic cooperation between both nations.

A statement by Tunde Moshood, the Special Adviser on Media and Communications to Festus Keyamo, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, said that President Bola Tinubu witnessed the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

The statement hinted that Tinubu who led a powerful delegation was in company of senior cabinet members, including Mr. Olawale Edun, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy; Amb. Bianca Ojukwu, the Minister State for Foreign Affairs; Mr. Festus Keyamo, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development and Abubakar Kyari, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, among others.

The statement said that Tinubu was received in Brasília by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil, marking a significant step in strengthening bilateral ties between the two largest economies in their respective continents.

A major highlight of the visit was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) formalising BASA between Nigeria and Brazil.

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The agreement was signed by Keyamo for Nigeria, while Silvio Costa Filho, Brazil’s Minister of Transport signed for the Southern American country.

The agreement was signed in the presence of both Heads of State.

“This agreement is a strategic milestone that underscores President Tinubu administration’s commitment to expanding Nigeria’s global partnerships and creating enabling environments for commerce and mobility,” the statement said.

The Brazilian President, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, in his remarks, lauded the partnership, emphasising Brazil’s readiness to deepen ties with Nigeria in multiple spheres, including aviation, agriculture, and infrastructure development.

The on-going state visit would also see 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.

The working visit, which continues on Tuesday, would 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.

Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha

Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha is the Aviation Correspondent at BusinessDay Media Limited, publishers of BusinessDay Newspapers. She is also the Deputy Editor, BusinessDay Weekender Magazine, the Saturday Weekend edition of BusinessDay. She holds a BSC in Mass Communication from the prestigious University of Nigeria, Nsukka and a Masters degree in Marketing at the University of Lagos. As the lead writer on the aviation desk, Ifeoma is responsible and in charge of the three weekly aviation and travel pages in BusinessDay and BDSunday. She also overseas and edits all pages of BusinessDay Saturday Weekender. She has written various investigative, features and news stories in aviation and business related issues and has been severally nominated for award in the category of Aviation Writer of the Year by the Nigeria Media Nite-Out awards; one of the Nigeria’s most prestigious media awards ceremonies. Ifeoma is a one-time winner of the prestigious Nigeria Media Merit Award under the 'Aviation Writer of the Year' Category. She is the 2025 Eloy Award winner under the Print Media Journalist category. She has undergone several journalism trainings by various prestigious organisations. Ifeoma is also a fellow of the Female Reporters Leadership Fellowship of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism.