The Nigerian federal government has initiated discussions with Brazil to establish direct flights between the two countries. This effort, led by Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development Festus Keyamo, follows a directive from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to activate the Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) and facilitate air travel between Nigeria and Brazil.
Keyamo met with Carlos Garcete, the Brazilian Ambassador to Nigeria, who emphasized the need to update the BASA agreement to reflect current aviation realities.
This move is part of an ongoing collaboration between the two nations, following a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in 2018 to enhance air connectivity and boost economic cooperation.
Two Nigerian airlines, Air Peace and Caverton, have been designated to operate direct flights on this route. Ambassador Garcete highlighted the potential for 4 to 5 flights per week, noting that introducing direct flights could significantly stimulate economic growth between Nigeria and Brazil.
The meeting follows an agreement reached between President Tinubu and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva during a session in Addis Ababa in February 2024, where they reaffirmed the importance of strengthening cultural and economic ties through direct flights.
