Nigeria, Brazil Seal Direct Air Link Deal in Landmark Aviation Pact By Raymond Enoch

In a bold move to boost transatlantic connectivity and deepen bilateral relations, Nigeria and Brazil have agreed to fast-track a long-awaited direct air link between the two nations.

The Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development of Nigeria, Festus Keyamo SAN, CON, FCIArb (UK), met with Brazil’s Minister of Ports and Airports, Mr. Silvio Costa Filho, in Brasília to finalize talks on a Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA).

The agreement, long delayed by bureaucratic hurdles, is now back on track with a joint commitment to seal it in a most accelerated speed required.

A technical working group was immediately formed to draft and harmonize the BASA, paving the way for direct commercial flights between Nigeria and Brazil — a first in the history of both nations.

“This is going to be a symbiotic relationship — beneficial to you and beneficial to us,” Keyamo declared during the meeting, noting the geopolitical and economic weight of both countries. “No matter how we look at it, this air link must commence without delay.”

Beyond aviation logistics, the ministers highlighted the deep cultural ties between the two nations, especially the Yoruba heritage shared across continents. “We are like twins separated at birth and now reunited,” Keyamo quipped, drawing laughter and a friendly knuckle-bump from his Brazilian counterpart — a gesture that informally sealed the landmark agreement.

The Ministers also expressed interest in broader cooperation in aerospace development, training, infrastructure, and investment, signaling a new era of partnership between Africa’s most populous nation and South America’s economic giant.

The direct air route, once launched, is expected to unlock immense opportunities in tourism, trade, and cultural exchange, making it a game-changer for Nigeria–Brazil relations