Nigeria’s largest airline, Air Peace, will soon commence direct flights from Lagos to São Paulo, Brazil, following a historic agreement reached during President Bola Tinubu’s State Visit to Brazil.
Announcing the development at a joint press conference with President Tinubu in Brasília, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said the new flight would deepen trade, tourism, and people-to-people relations between the two nations.
“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 declared.
Following an expanded two-hour bilateral meeting at the Palácio do Planalto, both leaders witnessed the signing of five strategic agreements and MoUs spanning aviation, diplomacy, science, and finance.
Key Agreements Signed
- Aviation: Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, and Brazil’s Minister of Ports and Airports, Silvio Costa Filhos, signed a Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) to strengthen air connectivity and boost trade.
- Diplomacy: Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu, and Brazil’s Foreign Minister, Ambassador Mauro Vieira, signed agreements on Diplomatic Training Cooperation and Political Consultations on bilateral, regional, and international issues.
- Science & Technology: Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, Geoffrey Nnaji, and Brazil’s Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation, Luciana Santos, signed an MoU covering biotechnology, bioeconomy, ocean science, digital transformation, energy, and raw materials research.
- Finance & Agriculture: Managing Director of Nigeria’s Bank of Agriculture, Ayo Sotinrin, and Brazil’s Minister for the National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES), Aluísio Mercadante, signed an MoU to boost trade, agricultural financing, and joint investment projects.
President Tinubu described the agreements as a “turning point” in Nigeria-Brazil relations, stressing that both countries are set to move beyond symbolic ties to practical economic cooperation.