President Bola Tinubu on Monday started a two-day state visit to Brazil. The visit began with the signing of a major Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) between Nigeria and Brazil.
The agreement was signed in Brasília by Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, and Brazil’s Minister of Transport, Silvio Costa Filho. It will create a framework for direct flights between the two countries.
Both President Tinubu and Brazil’s President, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, were present at the signing ceremony.
The new air service deal is expected to improve trade, tourism, investment, and cultural exchange. It will also strengthen diplomatic ties between the two biggest economies in Africa and South America.
President Lula da Silva said the agreement was a step toward stronger cooperation in aviation, agriculture, and infrastructure. He added that Brazil is ready to deepen its partnership with Nigeria.
Tinubu arrived in Brasília with a high-level team that included the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun; Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Onoh Ojukwu; and the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari.
During his visit, President Tinubu will also meet with the leaders of Brazil’s Senate, Chamber of Deputies, and Supreme Federal Court.
Delegations from both Nigeria and Brazil will continue talks in key areas before the visit ends on Tuesday.
