How direct air link between Nigeria, Brazil will benefit Nigerian airlines, travellers-Minister

• Onyema, Idris, others say deals with Brazil I’ll boost economy

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo, highlighted the importance of the Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) that Nigeria and Brazil signed yesterday, stating that the country’s airlines would benefit exponentially from the deal.

This is coming as Nigeria’s flag carrier airline, Air Peace, held a test flight to the North American country in preparation for launching air services to Brazil.

There are indications that the carrier would begin services to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from Lagos, while plans are afoot to interline with other Brazilian carriers with a view to expanding to other cities in Brazil and North America.

The Nigeria-Brazil maiden flight symbolises a breakthrough in bilateral relations, offering new opportunities for trade, investment, cultural exchange, and regional connectivity. Officials said the development is a testament to President Tinubu’s proactive diplomacy and a bold step toward repositioning Nigeria as a global economic hub.

Keyamo, who spoke with journalists at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, shortly after arriving from Brazil, was accompanied by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, Minister of Tourism, Hannatu Musawa, Former Minister of Sports, Mr. Sunday Dare,  Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman of Air Peace, Mr. Allen Onyem, among other government officials.

The Minister further stated that the beginning of direct flights between both nations would also help to cut long hours of flights through a third country to both Nigeria and the South American nation by more than six hours, including a reduction in costs.

He lauded the economic benefits the various Memoranda of Understanding inked by both leaders would yield to them in terms of air transportation, agriculture, oil and gas and tourism.

He said, “One of the agreements signed by President Bola Tinubu and the President of Brazil is the issue of direct flight between Brazil and Nigeria. We are happy to report that the visit of President Tinubu is yielding fruit. Today is the first test flight to Nigeria from Brazil. The flight that would have taken 20 hours, either through Europe or the Middle East, we are going directly from Nigeria.”

“We are happy to have the CEO of Air Peace, Allen Onyema, who has made it possible to bring the B777 on the route. He is also one of the biggest trade partners we have with Brazil. He has ordered about 21 brand new Embraer aircraft from Brazil. These are the fruits of the President’s visit to Brazil.”

Onyema praised President Tinubu and his Brazilian counterpart, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, for facilitating the landmark initiative, stressing that Tinubu’s foreign engagements are yielding tangible dividends

He said, “Thank all of you and proud to be a Nigerian forever. Mr. President has opened this route for Nigerians. All the MoUs signed yesterday will open opportunities for every Nigerian. Brazil is the largest economy in Latin America, and Nigeria is the biggest economy in Africa; so we need each other so much.”

Idris described the flight as “the first fruits” of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s diplomatic engagement with Brazil.

He said Nigeria and Brazil -Africa and South America’s largest economies stand to benefit immensely from direct air connectivity, which will cut travel time drastically and boost trade.

Wole Shadare