Air Peace, one of Nigeria’s flag carriers, is preparing to commence direct flight operations between Lagos and São Paulo, Brazil, following a fresh agreement reached during President Bola Tinubu’s state visit to the South American nation.
The deal was unveiled by Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva at a joint news conference with Tinubu in Brasília.
According to a statement by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the Nigerian President on Information and Strategy, the announcement followed a two-hour bilateral meeting at the Palácio do Planalto, Brazil’s presidential palace.
“Increasing the direct connections between Nigeria and Brazil is another essential step to strengthen the ties between our societies,” President Lula said, underscoring the symbolic and economic weight of the new route.
The agreement is expected to ease travel and enhance trade, investment, and cultural exchanges between Africa’s largest economy and Latin America’s biggest nation. Until now, Nigerians traveling to Brazil had to endure long stopovers in Europe or the Middle East. The new Lagos–São Paulo link marks the first direct air corridor between West Africa and South America in years.
As part of the state visit, both governments signed several memoranda of understanding (MoUs) to deepen cooperation across sectors. Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, and Brazil’s Minister of Ports and Airports, Silvio Costa Filho, sealed a bilateral air services agreement aimed at boosting commerce and people-to-people ties.
In agriculture, Ayo Sotinrin, Managing Director of Nigeria’s Bank of Agriculture, signed an MoU with Aluísio Mercadante, President of Brazil’s National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES), to promote financing, investment, and joint agricultural projects.
Technology and innovation also featured prominently. Nigeria’s Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, Geoffrey Nnaji, signed a pact with Brazil’s Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation, Luciana Santos. The agreement covers cooperation in biotechnology, bioeconomy, ocean science, energy, space development, digital transformation, and raw materials research.
For Nigeria, the new direct air link represents an expansion of diplomatic and economic horizons. For Air Peace, it is another bold step in the airline’s growing international portfolio, following the launch of direct flights to destinations such as London, Johannesburg, and Jeddah.
