The development was confirmed in a statement by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, who noted that the flight agreement was part of new bilateral pacts reached between Tinubu and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
“Increasing the direct connections between Nigeria and Brazil is another essential step to strengthen the ties between our societies. We have approved the launch of a direct flight, to be operated by Nigeria’s largest airline company, Air Peace, between Lagos and São Paulo,” President Lula announced during a joint press conference with Tinubu in Brasília.
The two leaders witnessed the signing of multiple agreements and Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) at the Palácio do Planalto, covering trade, diplomacy, aviation, and technological cooperation.
Among the key agreements was the Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA), signed by Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, and Brazil’s Minister of Ports and Airports, Silvio Costa Filho, aimed at enhancing trade, tourism, and people-to-people ties.
Another accord on Diplomatic Training Cooperation was signed by Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu, and Brazil’s Foreign Minister, Ambassador Mauro Vieira, to strengthen diplomatic capacity building.
Further agreements covered biotechnology, bioeconomy, ocean science, energy, space development, digital transformation, and raw materials research, jointly signed by Nigeria’s Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, Geoffrey Nnaji, and Brazil’s Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation, Luciana Santos.
Additionally, the Bank of Agriculture (Nigeria) and Brazil’s National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES) signed an MOU to expand agricultural financing, investment, and joint projects. The agreement was signed by Ayo Sotinrin, Managing Director of Nigeria’s Bank of Agriculture, and Aluísio Mercadante, Brazil’s BNDES Minister.
The deals, according to both leaders, are expected to deepen bilateral ties, boost trade, open new investment opportunities, and strengthen cooperation between Africa’s largest economy and South America’s biggest nation.
