The federal government has announced the designation of two Nigerian Airlines – Air Peace and Caverton – to operate on the Nigerian-Brazil route.

This was disclosed by the Minister of Aviation Festus Keyamo, in a statement issued by his Special Adviser, Media and Communications, Tunde Moshood.

According to Moshood, the minister has begun discussions with Brazil for the activation of direct flights between the two countries.

In a discussion with the Ambassador of Brazil to Carlos Garcete, the minister said the need for a direct flight between both countries is in line with a directive from President Bola Tinubu.

He noted that the president had ordered the activation of a Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) and direct flights between Nigeria and Brazil after a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the two countries in 2018.

He said the MoU hopes to boost air connectivity and improve the nations’ economic cooperation among others.

At a meeting between the minister and Brazilian envoy, they emphasised the need for fresh BASA arrangements to would take into cognizance, the current realities in the aviation industry.

“This meeting stems from the mutual interests shared by President Tinubu and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva during a meeting in Addis Ababa in February 2024, where they agreed to re-initiate the BASA arrangements, recognizing the cultural and economic ties between Nigeria and Brazil,” the statement said.

Also, Garcete proposed that Nigeria and Brazil could facilitate 4 to 5 flights per week and in turn spark impressive economic growth.

“The introduction of direct flights will spark significant economic growth between our countries,” Garcete stated.