In a significant step toward strengthening ties between Africa’s largest economy and South America’s powerhouse, Nigeria and Brazil are set to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on a Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) to establish direct flights between the two nations.
The agreement, slated for signing during President Bola Tinubu’s state visit to BrasÃlia on August 24, 2025, is expected to boost trade, tourism, and cultural exchange.
Obafemi Bajomo, Special Adviser on Foreign Direct Investments to Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, announced the development in an interview on Sunday in Abuja.
He revealed that the final documents for the BASA are ready for exchange, following months of negotiations that began in May 2025, when Keyamo led a Nigerian delegation to Brazil for bilateral talks with Brazil’s Minister of Ports and Airports, Silvio Costa Filho.
The MoU is anticipated to enable four to five weekly direct flights, with Nigerian carriers such as Air Peace and Caverton designated to operate passenger services, while Brazil’s LATAM will handle cargo operations.
This initiative is expected to reduce travel time, lower logistics costs, and open new trade corridors for agricultural products, manufactured goods, and services.
“The direct flights will make Brazilian markets more accessible to Nigerian exporters and vice versa,” Bajomo stated, highlighting the economic potential of the agreement.
Beyond commerce, the BASA is poised to strengthen cultural ties, given the deep-rooted Yoruba heritage in Brazil’s history.
The agreement includes plans for technical cooperation, such as pilot training and airport infrastructure upgrades, positioning Nigeria as a stronger player in global aviation.
“This is not just about flights; it’s about connecting two continents through shared aspirations,” Bajomo added, quoting Keyamo’s description of Nigeria and Brazil as “twins separated at birth, now reunited.”
The agreement builds on a 2018 MoU and follows high-level discussions between President Tinubu and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, including a meeting in Addis Ababa in February 2024.
Both nations have worked to fast-track the deal, bypassing bureaucratic delays to finalize statutory processes, including legal clearance by Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Justice and Federal Executive Council approval.
As Nigeria and Brazil prepare to formalize this historic pact, the introduction of direct flights is expected to mark a new chapter in transcontinental partnership, fostering economic resilience and cultural understanding for generations to come.
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