Nigerians will soon enjoy direct flights from Lagos to São Paulo, Brazil, thanks to a historic aviation agreement sealed during President Bola Tinubu’s state visit to the South American nation.

The breakthrough was announced by Presidential Adviser Bayo Onanuga, following a two-hour bilateral meeting between President Tinubu and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva at the Palácio do Planalto in Brasília.

At a joint press conference, President Lula said the move would deepen ties between both countries:
“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.”

The new route will be operated by Air Peace, West Africa’s largest airline, and is expected to boost not only travel convenience but also trade and cultural exchange between the two nations.

As part of the deal, Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, and Brazil’s Minister of Ports and Airports, Silvio Costa Filhos, signed a Bilateral Air Services Agreement to enhance air connectivity.

Other major agreements included:

A Diplomatic Training Cooperation pact between Nigeria’s Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu and Brazil’s Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira.

A science and technology MoU, covering areas like biotechnology, energy, space development, and digital transformation, signed by Nigeria’s Geoffrey Nnaji and Brazil’s Luciana Santos.

An agricultural financing partnership between Nigeria’s Bank of Agriculture and Brazil’s National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES).

The Lagos–São Paulo route marks a significant milestone, bringing Africa’s largest economy and South America’s biggest nation closer together, while opening new doors for business, tourism, and stronger diplomatic ties.