Air Peace, Nigeria’s leading airline, is set to launch direct Lagos to São Paulo flights.
This development came after Nigeria and Brazil formally signed a Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA).
The agreement was signed during Nigerian President Bola Tinubu’s state visit to Brazil, where he met with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, in a press statement on his X handle, said the direct Lagos to São Paulo flight was made possible after several agreements were reached between Tinubu and Lula.
Quoting Lula, Onanuga posted: “Increasing the direct connections between Nigeria and Brazil is another essential step to strengthen the ties between our societies. We have approved the launch of a direct flight, to be operated by Nigeria’s largest airline company, Air Peace, between Lagos and São Paulo.”
The statement added: “Following a two-hour extended bilateral meeting, the two leaders witnessed the signing of agreements and MOUs at the Palácio do Planalto in Brasília.
“Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, and Brazil’s Minister of Ports and Airports, Silvio Costa Filho, signed a Bilateral Air Services Agreement to boost trade and people-to-people ties.
“Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of Nigeria, Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu, and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Brazil, Ambassador Mauro Vieira, signed an agreement on Diplomatic Training Cooperation.
“Both ministers also signed an MoU on political consultations to address bilateral, regional, and international issues of common interest.”
The Nigerian Minister of Aviation had earlier announced the signing of the BASA agreement between Nigeria and Brazil.
The signing ceremony was led by Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Olorogun Festus Keyamo SAN, and Brazil’s Minister of Transport, Silvio Costa Filho, in the presence of both presidents, according to a statement issued on Monday by Keyamo’s spokesperson, Tunde Moshood.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, today, commenced a two-day state visit to the Federative Republic of Brazil where he signed a landmark bilateral air service agreement with the largest South American country,” the statement read in part.
It added: “A major highlight of the visit was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) formalizing a Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) between Nigeria and Brazil. The agreement was signed by Nigeria’s Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Olorogun Festus Keyamo SAN, alongside Brazil’s Minister of Transport, Silvio Costa Filho, in the presence of both Heads of State.”
The BASA creates a formal framework for direct air connectivity, expected to boost trade, tourism, investment, and cultural exchanges between Nigeria and Brazil.
