Nigeria’s largest carrier, Air Peace, is set to commence direct flights from Lagos to São Paulo, Brazil, following a new bilateral agreement between both countries.
The announcement was made by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, who revealed on Monday that the direct route was part of the outcomes of Tinubu’s state visit to Brazil.
At a joint press conference in Brasília, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva described the development as a vital step toward strengthening ties between Africa’s most populous nation and South America’s largest economy.
“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,” Lula said.
The announcement followed an extended two-hour bilateral meeting between Tinubu and Lula, after which both leaders witnessed the signing of multiple agreements and memoranda of understanding (MoUs) at the Palácio do Planalto.
Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, and Brazil’s Minister of Ports and Airports, Silvio Costa Filho, formalized a Bilateral Air Services Agreement to expand trade, tourism, and cultural exchange between the two nations.
In addition, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu, and Brazil’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Ambassador Mauro Vieira, signed agreements on Diplomatic Training Cooperation and an MoU on political consultations covering bilateral, regional, and global issues of mutual concern.
The direct Lagos–São Paulo flight, once operational, is expected to boost people-to-people contact, enhance economic ties, and serve as a strategic bridge between Africa and South America.
