Abuja, May 8, 2025 – The Federal Government has revived the Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) arrangement between Nigeria and Brazil.
The BASA agreement, which leads to direct flight services between the two countries, was stalled some years ago by bureaucratic bottlenecks.
Tunde Moshood, the Media Aide to Festus Keyamo, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday.
The revival of the agreement was sealed during a meeting between Keyamo and Silvio Costa Filho, the Minister of Ports and Airports of the Federative Republic of Brazil, at the ministry’s headquarters in Brasília.
According to the statement, the two 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.
““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,” the statement said,
