Nigeria on Monday signed a Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) with Brazil on direct air flights between the two countries to further strengthen their economic partnership.
A statement issued by the Special Assistant Media to the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Tunde Moshood, on the pact indicated that the minister, Festus Keyamo, signed the agreement on behalf of Nigeria, while Brazil’s Minister of Transport, Silvio Costa Filho, signed for the host country.
He stated that the BASA signing ceremony, which was witnessed by President Bola Tinubu, who was on official state visit to Brasília, and his Brazilian counterpact, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, in Brasilia “marks a key step in Nigeria’s broader efforts to strengthen international partnerships and improve global connectivity.”
According to the statement, the BASA creates a new framework for direct flights between Nigeria and Brazil, with the potential to enhance trade, tourism, investment, and diplomatic relations.
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Moshood confirmed that the Brazilian President expressed his administration’s commitment to strengthening cooperation with Nigeria in sectors such as aviation, agriculture, and infrastructure, describing the BASA as a reflection of the strong ties between both countries and an opportunity to deepen economic and cultural collaboration.
According to him, President Tinubu’s two-day visit will create opportunity for high-level discussions between Nigerian and Brazilian delegations across various sectors, as both nations explore opportunities for mutual growth and development.
The minister’s aide further stated: “The ongoing state visit will also see President Tinubu meeting the President of the Brazilian Senate at the National Congress, the President of the Chamber of Deputies, and the President of the Supreme Federal Court.
“The working visit, which continues tomorrow, will also feature high-level engagements between Nigerian and Brazilian delegations across various sectors, underscoring both nations’ commitment to building a future of mutual growth and prosperity”, he added.
The Nigerian President is also scheduled to hold meetings with key Brazilian government officials, including the President of the Senate, the President of the Chamber of Deputies, and the President of the Supreme Federal Court.
It would be recalled that Tinubu had arrived in Brazil last weekend along with Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun; Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Ojukwu; Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari; and other senior government officials.
