Nigeria and Brazil have set up a joint team to finalise the direct flight agreement between the two countries.
On October 7, 2024, Nigeria commenced discussions with Brazil to facilitate direct flights between both countries.
Minister of aviation and aerospace development, Festus Keyamo met with Brazil’s minister of ports and airports, Silvio Costa Filho at the ministry’s headquarters in Brasília.
A statement on Wednesday by special adviser on media and communications to the minister, Tunde Moshood disclosed that the meeting marked a renewed commitment by both countries to finalise the bilateral air service agreement (BASA) that has long been stalled by bureaucratic bottlenecks.
“Both ministers recalled the deep historical and cultural ties between Nigeria and Brazil and agreed on the urgent need to operationalise a direct air link between the two nations,” the statement reads.
“To this end, the ministers jointly announced the immediate constitution of a technical working group tasked with drafting and harmonising the BASA for signature within the coming weeks.
“This development is seen as a precursor to the commencement of direct flights between Nigeria and Brazil — a major milestone that will open up new opportunities for tourism, trade, and cultural exchange.”
Speaking at the bilateral meeting, Keyamo emphasised the shared advantages of the initiative, describing it as a mutually beneficial partnership for both countries.
“Nigeria is the largest country in Africa, and Brazil is one of the biggest in South America. No matter how we want to look at it, this air-link must commence without delay,” the minister said.
“Nigeria and Brazil share a common history. We are like brothers and sisters. There is a particular tribe in Nigeria — the Yoruba — who live here in Brazil and still speak the same language. We are like twins separated at birth and now reunited.”
Moshood said the ministers also showed strong interest in expanding collaboration beyond air connectivity to include areas such as knowledge sharing, technical training, infrastructure development, and investment prospects in aviation and aerospace.
The meeting in Brasília is part of Keyamo’s ongoing working visit to Brazil, in line with President Bola Tinubu’s directive to open a direct air corridor between Nigeria and South America.