From Sola Ojo, Abuja
President Bola Tinubu on Monday began a two-day state visit to Brazil with the signing of a landmark Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) between Nigeria and the South American nation.
The agreement, signed in Brasília by Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, and Brazil’s Minister of Transport, Silvio Costa Filho, establishes a framework for direct air connectivity between the two countries.
Both leaders, President Tinubu and President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, witnessed the signing ceremony.
The BASA is expected to boost trade, tourism, investment, and cultural exchanges while deepening diplomatic cooperation between the two largest economies in Africa and South America.
President Lula da Silva described the partnership as a step toward stronger collaboration in aviation, agriculture, and infrastructure, affirming Brazil’s readiness to expand ties with Nigeria.
Tinubu arrived in Brasília with a high-level delegation including the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Olawale Edun; Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Onoh Ojukwu; and Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari.
During the visit, President Tinubu will also hold meetings with the President of the Brazilian Senate, the President of the Chamber of Deputies, and the President of the Supreme Federal Court.
Nigerian and Brazilian delegations are expected to engage in further discussions across key sectors before the visit ends tomorrow.