The Federal Government of Nigeria is preparing to finalise a landmark Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) with Brazil, aimed at unlocking direct flight operations between both nations.
Mr. Obafemi Bajomo, Special Adviser on Foreign Direct Investments to the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, disclosed the development during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja.
According to him, the agreement’s documents and legal instruments have been completed and are scheduled for signing during President Bola Tinubu’s upcoming visit to Brazil.
President Tinubu departed Abuja on August 15 for a two-nation working trip to Japan and Brazil. A statement from the Presidency confirmed that he will first attend the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9) in Yokohama from August 20 to 22, before proceeding to Brasília on August 24 for a two-day state visit at the invitation of Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Bajomo explained that Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, will accompany the President for the signing of the BASA in Brasília. He added that the agreement is projected to facilitate four to five weekly direct flights, likely operated by Nigerian airlines such as Air Peace and Caverton, signalling a new era in aviation links across the South Atlantic.
“At the heart of this visit lies a long-anticipated breakthrough, the signing of BASA, a milestone that promises to redefine air connectivity, trade, and cultural exchange between the two largest economies in Africa and South America.
“This journey began in May 2025, when the Minister led a Nigerian delegation to Brazil to open formal bilateral talks with his counterpart, Brazil’s Minister of Ports and Airports, Silvio Costa Filho.
“Those discussions, held in Brasília, went beyond ceremonial pleasantries; they birthed a technical working group tasked with harmonising the BASA for imminent signature,” he said.
Bajomo noted that both sides worked diligently to fast-track the process, ensuring all legal clearances, ministerial vetting, and Federal Executive Council approval were completed without delay.
“Today, that vision stands on the cusp of reality, with all statutory processes and ministerial vetting.
“Also, legal clearance by the Federal Ministry of Justice, and Federal Executive Council approval—already completed.
“The direct flights by the BASA will reduce travel time, cut logistics costs, and open new trade corridors for agricultural products, manufactured goods, and services.
“For Nigerian exporters, Brazilian markets will become more accessible than ever before.
“With deep-rooted Yoruba heritage woven into Brazil’s history, this agreement reactivates centuries-old cultural bonds, opening opportunities for tourism, festivals, and people-to-people exchanges,” he said.
Beyond the establishment of flight routes, Bajomo revealed that both ministers have also agreed on broader cooperation, including pilot training, aviation technology transfer, and airport infrastructure upgrades to strengthen Nigeria’s role in global aviation.
“If signed as planned, the BASA will be a bridge of opportunity. It will connect two continents through commerce, tourism, and shared aspirations, strengthening not only economic resilience but also cultural understanding.
“As Nigeria and Brazil prepare to ink this historic deal, they are not just signing an agreement—they are writing a new chapter in transcontinental partnership, one that could resonate for generations,” he said.
Bajomo further quoted Minister Keyamo, who described the two countries as “twins separated at birth, now reunited,” underscoring the cultural and economic significance of the relationship.
