Nigeria and Brazil have formally entered into a Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA), a significant diplomatic and economic initiative aimed at establishing direct air connectivity between the two nations. This landmark agreement was signed by Nigeria's Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, and Brazil's Minister of Ports and Airports, Silvio Costa Filho, on Monday in Brasília. The signing ceremony took place in the presence of Nigerian President Bola Tinubu and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, underscoring the high-level commitment to this partnership.

The BASA is expected to unlock fresh opportunities across various sectors, including trade, tourism, investment, and robust people-to-people exchanges. It is projected to foster stronger economic integration, facilitate deeper cultural ties, and enhance diplomatic cooperation between Nigeria and Brazil, two of the largest economies on their respective continents. Tunde Moshood, Special Adviser, Media to the Nigerian Minister of Aviation, described the agreement as a strategic milestone that reflects President Bola Tinubu's administration's dedication to expanding Nigeria's global partnerships and cultivating an environment conducive to commerce and mobility.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva enthusiastically lauded the partnership, reaffirming Brazil's readiness to strengthen its relationship with Nigeria across multiple key spheres. These areas of intensified cooperation are set to include not only aviation but also agriculture and infrastructure development, indicating a broad-based commitment to bilateral growth. The foundation for this agreement was laid during a significant visit by President Tinubu to Brazil, accompanied by a high-level delegation of senior cabinet members. This delegation included the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Olawale Edun; the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Onoh Ojukwu; Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari; among others.

A major highlight of this presidential visit was the formal signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that solidified the Bilateral Air Service Agreement between Nigeria and Brazil, a crucial step in cementing bilateral ties. Following this agreement, Air Peace, a Nigerian carrier, has secured the necessary 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 to journalists, emphasizing that the Lagos-São Paulo route has been