On Monday, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu and a delegation of senior cabinet members, which 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; the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Olorogun Festus Keyamo SAN; and the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, paid an official presidential visit to Planalto Palace in Brasília. The ceremony, held at the presidential seat of power, was hosted by Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who formally received Tinubu.
Following this visit, Nigeria and Brazil signed a Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA), which will enable direct flights between the two countries.
Special Adviser to the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Tunde Moshood, explained that the president’s visit accomplished a lot for the two countries and that the signing of the agreement was the major highlight.
“A major highlight of the visit was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) formalizing a Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) between Nigeria and Brazil. The agreement was signed by Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Olorogun Festus Keyamo SAN, alongside Brazil’s Minister of Transport, Silvio Costa Filho, in the presence of both Heads of State.
“The BASA establishes a new framework for direct air connectivity between Nigeria and Brazil, opening fresh avenues for trade, tourism, investment, and people-to-people exchanges. It is expected to foster stronger economic integration, facilitate cultural ties, and enhance diplomatic cooperation between both nations,” the statement said.
In the disclosed statement, Moshood revealed that Tinubu is expected to hold meetings with the president of the Brazilian Senate at the National Congress, as well as the presidents of the Chamber of Deputies and the Supreme Federal Court.
The Brazilian president praised the partnership and affirmed Brazil’s willingness to deepen its ties with Nigeria across various sectors.
