The federal government of Nigeria has officially signed a landmark Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) with Brazil, paving the way for direct flight operations between the two nations. This significant accord was sealed by Nigeria's Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, and Brazil's Minister of Transport (also referred to as Minister of Ports and Airports), Silvio Costa Filho. The agreement establishes a robust new framework for air connectivity, designed to unlock fresh opportunities for trade, tourism, investment, and people-to-people exchanges, fostering stronger economic integration, facilitating cultural ties, and enhancing diplomatic cooperation between these two major continental economies.

This strategic milestone was underscored by Tunde Moshood, Special Adviser, Media to the Nigerian Minister, who highlighted President Bola Tinubu's administration's commitment to expanding Nigeria's global partnerships and creating enabling environments for commerce and mobility. The initiative received commendation from Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who expressed Brazil's eagerness to deepen its relationship with Nigeria across various sectors, including aviation, agriculture, and infrastructure development. The formalisation of this BASA, through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), was a key highlight during President Tinubu's delegation visit 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, among others. This MOU is considered a pivotal step in strengthening bilateral ties between Africa's and South America's largest economies.

Further solidifying the agreement, Air Peace, a Nigerian carrier, has secured approval to commence direct passenger flights between Lagos, Nigeria, and São Paulo, Brazil. Allen Onyema, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Air Peace, confirmed this development, describing the Lagos-São Paulo route as