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Tinubu visit unlocks Lagos–São Paulo direct flight via Air Peace - PUNCH
A direct flight service between Lagos and São Paulo, Brazil, to be operated by Nigeria’s largest airline, Air Peace, has been officially announced by the Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
President Bola Tinubu made the announcement following his state visit to Brazil, where he signed several bilateral agreements to enhance cooperation between the two countries.
This was made known through a statement issued on Tuesday and posted on his X handle by the Special Adviser to President Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, saying that the deal was revealed during a joint press conference held by both leaders after an expanded two-hour bilateral meeting in Brasília, the capital of Brazil.
President da Silva described the new flight service as a critical step in fostering stronger people-to-people and economic connections between the two nations.
He added, “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.”
It will be recalled that Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, and Brazil’s Minister of Ports and Airports, Silvio Filhos, signed a Bilateral Air Services Agreement earlier on Monday.
The Punch also reports that the deal is expected to facilitate smoother travel and bolster trade and tourism between Africa’s most populous nation and South America’s largest economy.
During the state visit, in addition to the aviation agreement, other key memoranda of understanding were signed. Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Ojukwu, and Brazil’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Mauro Vieira, signed an agreement on Diplomatic Training Cooperation.
The two foreign ministers also endorsed a memorandum on political consultations designed to foster deeper collaboration on bilateral, regional, and international issues of mutual interest.
Furthermore, Nigeria’s Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Geoffrey Nnaji, signed a memorandum of understanding with Brazil’s Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Luciana Santos.
He said, “The agreement covers cooperation in biotechnology, bioeconomy, ocean science, energy, space development, digital transformation, and innovation ecosystems.
“To deepen economic ties in agriculture and trade, 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, signed an MoU on trade and investment promotion. The agreement is aimed at harmonising efforts to expand agricultural financing, foster investment, and launch joint development projects.”
