Nigeria and Brazil have signed a landmark Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) aimed at strengthening economic, social, and cultural ties between the two nations.
The deal, concluded during President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s state visit to Brazil, is part of a broader set of agreements designed to deepen cooperation across multiple sectors.
Nigeria’s Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, described the agreement as a historic milestone, reflecting on the countries’ shared history. “The 350 years of slavery between Africa and Brazil is being looked at again by the two leaders,” he said, underlining the broader significance of the pact beyond aviation.
Idris added that President Tinubu’s frequent meetings with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva demonstrated Nigeria’s growing role as a continental and global leader. “Once President Bola Tinubu travels out of this country, he’s not just speaking for Nigeria, he’s also speaking for the whole of Africa,” he stated.
Immediate benefits from the BASA are already emerging, including a symbolic flight planned from Brazil to Abuja.
The direct route will reduce travel time from over 24 hours via European connections to about seven hours, facilitating trade, tourism, and cultural exchange.
“Once this becomes commercially viable, it will not just enhance trade between the two countries, it will also improve the cultural and social cooperation that already exists,” Idris added.
Allen Onyema, CEO of Air Peace, confirmed that his airline will operate the route under the BASA. “The Brazilian economy is the largest in Latin America. The Nigerian economy is the largest in Africa. They need to tap into this. But without aviation, it’s very, very difficult for some of these things to be actualized,” he said.
Commercial operations are expected to start with three weekly flights between Lagos, Rio, and São Paulo by late November into December 2025.
The BASA marks a historic reconnection between Nigeria and Brazil, with aviation serving as a gateway to unlock economic potential, social cooperation, and cultural exchange between the two nations.
PIAK