Nigeria’s largest airline, Air Peace, is set to launch a direct flight route between Lagos and São Paulo, following President Bola Tinubu’s State Visit to Brazil.
The new air connection was announced during a joint press conference with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who described it as a major step forward in deepening ties between the two countries.
“Increasing the direct connections between Nigeria and Brazil is another essential step to strengthen the ties between our societies,” President Lula said. “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.”
Major Agreements Signed to Boost Cooperation
The announcement came after a two-hour expanded bilateral meeting between both presidents at the Palácio do Planalto in Brasília. The two leaders oversaw the signing of a series of agreements designed to expand trade, deepen diplomatic engagement, and promote technological cooperation.
Key Agreements at a Glance:
✈️ Aviation & Trade:
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 Filhos.
Aims to increase trade, tourism, and people-to-people exchange between both nations.
🌍 Diplomatic Cooperation:
Agreement on Diplomatic Training Cooperation signed by Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu, and Brazil’s Foreign Minister, Ambassador Mauro Vieira.
An MoU on Political Consultations was also signed to address shared interests across Africa and Latin America.
🔬 Science, Innovation & Technology: Nigeria’s Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, Geoffrey Nnaji, and Brazil’s Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation, Luciana Santos, signed a wide-ranging MoU.
Focus areas include biotechnology, digital transformation, space development, bioeconomy, and raw materials research.
🌾 Agricultural Finance & Investment: Ayo Sotinrin, MD of Nigeria’s Bank of Agriculture, and Aluísio Mercadante, head of Brazil’s National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES), signed an MoU to:
Promote trade and investment
Expand agricultural financing
Launch joint projects in agribusiness
Looking Ahead
The agreements represent a significant milestone in Nigeria-Brazil relations, reinforcing President Tinubu’s broader agenda to secure international partnerships that drive investment, innovation, and inclusive growth.
The launch of the Lagos–São Paulo route by Air Peace will mark the first direct flight between West Africa and South America—positioning Nigeria as a key aviation and economic bridge between the two continents.
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