Nigeria, Trinidad and Tobago sign direct flight agreement

Nigeria has signed a bilateral air services agreement (BASA) with the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago to allow both countries to commence direct flight operations.

The agreement was signed on Monday by Festus Keyamo, minister of aviation and aerospace development, and Rohan Sinanan, Trinidad and Tobago’s minister of works and transport, at the Piarco International Airport in Trinidad and Tobago.

In a statement by Tunde Moshood, special adviser on media and communications to Keyamo, said the development marks the official commencement of direct air links between the two nations.

Moshood noted that the agreement is the outcome of diplomatic and technical discussions that date back to the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Obasanjo was Nigeria’s president from May 29, 1999 to May 29, 2007.

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“Years of strategic dialogue and mutual interest have finally been brought to fruition through the proactive efforts of Minister Keyamo and his team,” Moshood said.

Speaking at the ceremony, Keyamo said the agreement would boost trade, tourism, and cultural ties and strengthen connectivity between Nigeria and the Caribbean.

“Today’s signing not only fulfills a long-standing bilateral vision initiated during President Obasanjo’s time but also represents our commitment to expanding Nigeria’s global aviation footprint,” the minister said.

“This agreement will enhance trade, tourism, cultural exchange, and connectivity between Nigeria and the Caribbean region.”

He said the agreement grants designated airlines from both countries the rights to operate passenger and cargo flights, establish commercial agreements, and access the other’s territory under agreed terms.

Moshood said the agreement is expected to significantly strengthen economic and people-to-people ties.

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.