From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Brasilia- Brazil
Air Peace has concluded plans to launch a direct flight from Lagos to São Paulo, Brazil, by the last week of November 2025. The announcement was made by Air Peace CEO, Allen Onyema, during the recent Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) signing between Nigeria and Brazil, a key outcome of President Bola Tinubu’s state visit to Brazil.
Onyema described BASA as a milestone achievement by the President Tinubu administration, emphasising its critical role in strengthening the long-overdue air connectivity between the two largest economies in Africa and Latin America.
He underscored the strategic importance of aviation in economic development, saying, “The Brazilian economy is the largest in Latin America. The Nigerian economy is the largest in Africa. Both countries are very rich in human and natural resources. They need to tap into this, but without aviation, it will be very difficult for some of these things to happen.”
He described aviation as a catalyst for development, highlighting that the new flight route would unlock vast opportunities for trade and cultural exchange.
Regarding Air Peace’s operational plan, Onyema said: “We are looking forward to starting towards the last week of November into December this year.”
Initially, the airline planned to operate three weekly flights on the Lagos-Rio de Janeiro-São Paulo-Lagos route with the hope of increasing frequency as the route gains traction. He proudly pointed out that President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva designated Air Peace as Nigeria’s lead carrier to operate the BASA flights, reflecting confidence in the airline’s capacity to enhance bilateral ties.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, shed light on the broader diplomatic context of the agreement.
He recalled the 350 years of slavery between Africa and Brazil, framing the BASA and other signed agreements, as efforts to reconnect, rebuild and invest across economic, financial, social and cultural dimensions. “Once President Bola Tinubu travels out of this country, he’s not just speaking for Nigeria, he’s also speaking for the whole of Africa.”
He also cited recent high-level exchanges between the two nations, including visits by Brazilian and Nigerian ministers across health, aviation, science and technology sectors, as laying the groundwork for profound collaboration.
He praised the synchronised reforms in both countries, especially tax system overhauls, aiming at fostering a stable environment for trade and investment growth.
He announced that Air Peace was set to operate a symbolic midnight flight back to Abuja from Brazil, shaving approximately seven hours off travel times traditionally exceeding 24 hours.
He highlighted that the BASA’s benefits extend beyond commerce, enriching cultural and social relations by connecting Nigeria’s sizable diaspora in Brazil with Brazilian communities in Lagos.
Supporting Air Peace’s expansion is the airline’s recent acquisition of a fourth Boeing 777-200ER aircraft configured for enhanced passenger comfort.
Scheduled to bolster routes to Europe, South America and the Caribbean, this wide-body jet aligns with the airline’s vision to make international travel more affordable and accessible for Nigerians, while challenging foreign carriers’ high fares.
Onyema praised President Tinubu and Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, for their policies encouraging Nigeria’s airlines to compete globally.
The BASA signing caps a series of agreements inked during President Tinubu’s visit, including cooperation on diplomatic training, political consultations, science and technology, and agricultural financing.
Nigeria and Brazil’s trade relationship in 2024 neared US$2.1 billion, highlighting the promising economic potential unlocked through enhanced connectivity.
President Lula emphasised the significance of the air agreement, stating, “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.”
He framed the partnership as a commitment to free trade and productive integration between the world’s two largest black-majority nations.
Keyamo, alongside Brazil’s Minister of Ports and Airports, Silvio Costa Filhos, signed the BASA to enhance trade and people-to-people connections. Other agreements covered diplomatic training cooperation, science and technology innovation and agricultural investment.
Following a two-hour expanded bilateral meeting, other agreements and MoUs signed at the Palácio do Planalto in Brasília and witnessed by the two leaders, included Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of Nigeria, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Brazil, Mauro Vieira, signing an agreement on diplomatic training cooperation. Both ministers also signed an MoU on political consultations to address bilateral, regional and international issues of common interest.
Nigeria’s Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Geoffrey Nnaji and Brazil’s Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Luciana Santos, signed an MoU on cooperation in biotechnology, bioeconomy, ocean science, innovation ecosystems, energy, space development, digital transformation and raw materials research.
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 for cooperation on trade and investment promotion, harmonising efforts to expand agricultural financing, investment and joint projects.
Nigeria is Brazil’s 49th largest export destination, with trade totalling nearly US$2.1 billion in 2024.
Brazil exported almost US$1 billion to Nigeria, primarily sugar and jams, and imported US$1.1 billion, mostly fertilisers.
