Air Peace, Nigeria’s largest airline, will soon launch a direct flight from Lagos to São Paulo, Brazil. This development stems from a state visit by Nigerian President Bola Tinubu to Brazil, where he and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva reached several key agreements.
During a joint press conference, President Lula announced the new direct flight, emphasizing its importance in strengthening ties between the two nations. The announcement followed a two-hour bilateral meeting where multiple agreements and memorandums of understanding (MOUs) were signed.
Key Agreements Signed
- Aviation: Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, and Brazil’s Minister of Ports and Airports, Silvio Costa Filhos, signed a Bilateral Air Services Agreement to enhance trade and travel.
- Diplomatic Relations: The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of Nigeria, Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu, and Brazil’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Mauro Vieira, signed an agreement on Diplomatic Training Cooperation and an MOU on political consultations to address shared issues.
- Science and Technology: MOUs were signed by Nigeria’s Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, Geoffrey Nnaji, and Brazil’s Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation, Luciana Santos, to promote cooperation in areas such as biotechnology, energy, and digital transformation.
- Agriculture and Finance: An MOU was signed by the Managing Director of Nigeria’s Bank of Agriculture, Ayo Sotinrin, and Brazil’s Minister for the National Bank for Economic and Social Development, Aluísio Mercadante, to boost agricultural financing, trade, and investment.