By Sade Williams

Nigeria’s new direct air link with Brazil will significantly improve connectivity for travellers while enhancing trade and partnerships between the two countries, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has said.

Speaking on Wednesday after the test flight of Air Peace from Brazil touched down at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, Keyamo described the direct air pact as a landmark development that will bring far-reaching economic benefits. He noted that travellers from across Central and West Africa would now be able to connect Brazil through Nigeria, positioning the country as a regional hub.

Also, the Chairman of Air Peace, Allen Onyema, disclosed that the airline, in partnership with Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer, is set to establish a Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility in Nigeria. He further revealed that the airline has ordered 21 Embraer aircraft which will soon join its fleet.

According to Keyamo, the long-standing issue of connectivity, which had persisted for nearly a decade, was resolved within moments of the agreement being sealed, with both nations now set to enjoy the benefits.

“With this arrangement, relations will pick up again. The most critical aspect of all the agreements we signed is connectivity between both countries. What you are witnessing today is the first tangible fulfilment of that agreement – the maiden flight between Brazil and Nigeria. This is not just an audio agreement; you are seeing it live,” he said.

He explained that prior to this development, Nigerian travellers had to route their journeys through Europe or the Middle East, making trips unnecessarily long. “Now, all we did was to cross the Atlantic directly. That’s all,” he added.

Keyamo praised President Bola Tinubu for his role in achieving the feat, saying: “All credit goes to him. He sat down, worked this out, and we are here to implement it. This is only the beginning. Capacity will be ramped up, and scheduled flights will follow.”

He emphasised that the initiative was not only about Nigeria and Brazil but also about linking Nigeria to the whole of South America. “From Brazil, you can connect to any part of South America and even the Caribbean. Before now, there was no direct link from Central and West Africa to Brazil. With this, the entire sub-region can now connect through Nigeria, boosting our economy significantly,” he said.

Also speaking, Onyema stressed that connectivity was the central theme of the bilateral agreements. “Between Brazil and Nigeria, the flight is just seven hours, yet before now people spent two to eight days travelling through Europe or the Middle East. Without air connectivity, nothing works. Both governments agreed that Air Peace should drive this, and both countries believe in Air Peace.”

Onyema commended President Tinubu and his Brazilian counterpart, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, for facilitating the landmark initiative, stressing that it was a demonstration of how Tinubu’s foreign policy engagements were yielding tangible dividends.

“I am proud to be a Nigerian. Mr President has opened this route for us. Brazil is the largest economy in Latin America, and Nigeria is the biggest in Africa – we need each other,” he said.

Speaking on the planned MRO facility, Onyema explained: “We are strengthening our partnership with Embraer to establish a world-class MRO hangar in Lagos. On 17 September, we will lay the foundation for the facility, and within 12 to 15 months, it will be operational. Embraer will provide full maintenance support, making Nigeria a regional hub for Embraer aircraft maintenance.”