Nigeria’s Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has hailed the new Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) with Brazil as a “significant breakthrough.” He said the pact would reconnect both nations economically, socially, and culturally.
Speaking in Brasília on Monday after the signing ceremony attended by President Bola Tinubu and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Idris stressed that the deal goes beyond aviation.
“The 350 years of slavery between Africa and Brazil are being revisited by the two leaders. One way to address it is by building reconnections — economic, financial, social, and cultural. This is the best way to move past history,” Idris explained.
The minister pointed out that Tinubu’s fourth meeting with President Lula in just over a year underscored Nigeria’s growing role in deepening ties with Brazil.
As an immediate gain, a symbolic flight from Brazil to Abuja was scheduled for Tuesday night. This new direct route will cut travel time from over 24 hours via Europe to just about seven hours.
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Air Peace, Nigeria’s largest airline, will operate the route under the BASA. Its Chairman, Allen Onyema, described the agreement as “a milestone” made possible by President Tinubu’s diplomacy.
Onyema announced that commercial flights would begin in late 2025. The airline will start with three weekly trips between Lagos, Rio de Janeiro, and São Paulo, and later expand to daily services.
“The Brazilian economy is the largest in Latin America, while Nigeria’s is the biggest in Africa. Both countries must tap into this. Without aviation, these opportunities remain out of reach,” Onyema said.
Idris concluded that Tinubu’s state visit also delivered agreements in energy and economic cooperation. He stressed that the deals would reposition both nations financially, culturally, and socially for mutual benefit.
Esther Ososanya is an investigative journalist with Pinnacle Daily, reporting across health, business, environment, metro, Fct and crime. Known for her bold, empathetic storytelling, she uncovers hidden truths, challenges broken systems, and gives voice to overlooked Nigerians. Her work drives national conversations and demands accountability one powerful story at a time.
