Aviation as the game changer of Nigeria-Brazil landmark agreements

BY TUNDE MOSHOOD

The recent wave of landmark agreements between the federal government of Nigeria and the Federative Republic of Brazil has signalled a bold new era of cooperation, one that stretches across agriculture, diplomacy, health, science, and most significantly, aviation.

For decades, Nigeria and Brazil have shared historic ties rooted in culture, trade, and diplomacy.

However, while discussions of collaboration have often led to memoranda of understanding (MoUs), implementation has been slow, and critical barriers, particularly in aviation, have hindered the full potential of their relationship.

The seeds of today’s breakthroughs were planted in 2018 when both nations launched the first phase of the $1.1 billion green imperative project (GIP 1). The initiative aimed to revolutionise agricultural productivity in Nigeria while opening fresh opportunities for private-sector investment.

Building on this foundation, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s visit to Brazil in 2023 saw the signing of further deals: the $4.3 billion phase 2 of the green imperative project and the $2.5 billion JBS agreement.

These represented a significant expansion of cooperation, underscoring Brazil’s commitment to Nigeria’s food security, industrial growth, and economic diversification agenda. What makes the most recent round of signings truly historic is their clustered scope and diplomatic success.

Beyond agriculture, Nigeria and Brazil entered agreements spanning the return of Petrobras, rekindling energy cooperation.

Health collaboration, aimed at enhancing medical research and service delivery.

Diplomatic training and cooperation, including political consultations to tackle regional and global challenges.

Biotechnology, Bioeconomy, and Ocean Science, promoting shared expertise in cutting-edge fields.

Innovation ecosystem development, fostering knowledge exchange and technology-driven growth.

Agriculture, reinforcing commitments from the Green Imperative Project.

And most notably, Aviation, the sector long seen as the stumbling block of Nigeria-Brazil relations.

Until now, the challenge of connectivity has been a major clog in the wheel of Nigeria-Brazil relations. Flights between both countries could take up to 22 hours, with multiple stopovers across different continents, making business and diplomatic engagements cumbersome.

With the latest agreements, the story changes dramatically: the introduction of direct flights between Nigeria and Brazil, cutting travel time down to just 7 hours. This breakthrough not only eases mobility but also reshapes the geography of diplomacy, trade, and tourism between Africa and South America.

This aviation success is being hailed as the “icing on the sugar” of President Tinubu’s visit, solving an age-long barrier that no other African or South American country had effectively addressed.

THE KEYAMO FACTOR

At the heart of this aviation milestone is the leadership of Festus Keyamo, minister of aviation and aerospace development, whose vision and strategic engagement have positioned Nigeria at the centre of global aviation diplomacy.

By securing Brazil as a direct aviation partner, he has not only deepened bilateral ties but also opened a gateway connecting Africa to South America—a first of its kind.

These landmark signings mark a turning point in Nigeria-Brazil relations. The inclusion of aviation ensures that cooperation in trade, diplomacy, science, finance, and culture will no longer be stifled by distance and time.

In many ways, this moment embodies Tinubu’s pragmatic diplomacy: removing barriers, building bridges, and positioning Nigeria as a true hub for global cooperation.

With aviation as the crown jewel of this diplomatic harvest, the two nations stand on the threshold of a new chapter—one defined by speed, trust, and shared prosperity.

Tunde Moshood is the special adviser on media and communications to the honourable minister of aviation and aerospace development