Chisom Umejiaku
Nigeria and Brazil will formalize a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on direct flights during President Bola Tinubu’s state visit to Brasilia on Sunday, August 24, 2025, where he is scheduled to meet with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
The agreement, which follows months of technical negotiations, is designed to finalize a Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) between both countries. It will allow four to five weekly direct flights, expected to be operated by Nigerian carriers such as Air Peace and Caverton, creating the first direct air link between Africa’s most populous nation and South America’s largest economy.
Obafemi Bajomo, Special Adviser on Foreign Direct Investments to Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, said all documentation for the deal had been completed, including legal vetting and Federal Executive Council approval.
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Talks gained momentum earlier in the year when Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo met with his Brazilian counterpart, Silvio Costa Filho, in Brasília to push the agreement forward. The arrangement is projected to boost trade, tourism, and cultural exchange, while also cutting travel time and costs for passengers and businesses.
Analysts note that the flights will also reinforce cultural ties between both nations, particularly the Yoruba heritage shared by communities in Brazil.