The federal government of Nigeria has officially signed a landmark Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) with Brazil, a move poised to establish direct flight connections between the two nations. This significant agreement was formalized by Nigeria's Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, and Brazil's Minister of Transport, Silvio Costa Filho, during a ceremony attended by Presidents Bola Tinubu and Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

This new framework for direct air connectivity is expected to unlock fresh opportunities across various sectors, including trade, tourism, investment, and people-to-people exchanges. It aims to foster stronger economic integration, facilitate deeper cultural ties, and enhance diplomatic cooperation between Nigeria and Brazil, two of the largest economies in their respective continents. According to Tunde Moshood, Special Adviser, Media to the Minister, this agreement represents a strategic milestone for President Bola Tinubu's administration, underscoring its commitment to expanding Nigeria's global partnerships and cultivating environments conducive to commerce and mobility.

During the visit, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva expressed his strong support for the partnership, highlighting Brazil's readiness to deepen ties with Nigeria across multiple spheres, including aviation, agriculture, and infrastructure development. President Tinubu led a high-level delegation to Brazil, which included senior cabinet members such as the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Olawale Edun, and the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari. A crucial highlight of this visit was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that formally established the Bilateral Air Service Agreement between the two countries, reinforcing their bilateral relationship.

In a direct outcome of this agreement, Allen Onyema, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Air Peace, confirmed that the airline has secured the necessary approval to commence direct passenger flights between Lagos, Nigeria, and São Paulo, Brazil. Onyema described the Lagos-São Paulo route as