Nigeria and Brazil have taken a major step toward strengthening bilateral ties with the announcement of a direct flight service between Lagos and São Paulo, to be operated by Air Peace, Nigeria’s largest carrier.
The agreement was confirmed by Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva during a joint press conference with President Bola Tinubu in Brasília on Tuesday, following a two-hour bilateral meeting.
Tinubu, who is on a state visit to Brazil, said the development was part of broader efforts to deepen diplomatic and economic relations between Africa’s most populous nation and South America’s largest economy.
According to a statement shared by Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the direct route will enhance people-to-people exchanges, ease trade logistics, and boost tourism.
Read Also: Nigeria’s External Reserves May Climb to $45bn by Year-End – Analysts
President da Silva also described the move as “another essential step to strengthen the ties between our societies.”
The flight agreement builds on a Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) signed earlier on Monday by Nigeria’s Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo and Brazil’s Minister of Ports and Airports Silvio Filhos.
In addition to aviation cooperation, several other agreements were sealed during Tinubu’s visit. Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Bianca Ojukwu and Brazil’s Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira signed an accord on Diplomatic Training Cooperation and a memorandum on political consultations covering bilateral, regional, and international issues.
Read Also: Dangote, Japan Sign Petrochemical Deal in Nigeria
Further, Nigeria’s Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology Geoffrey Nnaji and Brazil’s Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Luciana Santos agreed to collaborate in fields such as biotechnology, energy, space development, digital transformation, and ocean science.
On trade, the Bank of Agriculture’s Managing Director, Ayo Sotinrin, signed an MoU with Brazil’s National Bank for Economic and Social Development, represented by Minister Aluísio Mercadante, to promote investment and agricultural financing, with a focus on joint development projects.
The Punch reports that the Lagos–São Paulo route is expected to serve as a gateway for deeper cooperation, creating new opportunities for commerce, cultural exchange, and strategic partnership between both nations.
Image Credit: Punch Newspapers
