- The Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) allows designated airlines from both nations to operate passenger and cargo flights.
- The agreement fulfils diplomatic efforts initiated during former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration and marks Nigeria’s expanding global aviation footprint.
Nigeria, Trinidad, and Tobago formally established direct air connectivity through a landmark Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) signed Monday, April 14, at the VIP Lounge of Piarco International Airport in Trinidad and Tobago.
Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, joined Trinidad and Tobago’s Minister of Works and Transport, Rohan Sinanan, to sign the historic agreement that culminates years of diplomatic conversations dating back to former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration.
“Today’s signing not only fulfils a long-standing bilateral vision initiated during President Obasanjo’s time but also represents our commitment to expanding Nigeria’s global aviation footprint,” Keyamo stated at the ceremony. “This agreement will enhance trade, tourism, cultural exchange, and connectivity between Nigeria and the Caribbean region.”
The BASA grants designated airlines from both countries operational rights for passenger and cargo flights, allowing them to establish commercial agreements and access each other’s territories under agreed terms. Officials expect these provisions to significantly strengthen economic relationships and people-to-people connections between West Africa and the Caribbean.
Sinanan expressed optimism about the agreement’s potential to boost cooperation and create new aviation opportunities for carriers from both regions. The Nigerian delegation included top officials from the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development.
The agreement adds to Nigeria’s growing portfolio of international aviation partnerships and reinforces the Tinubu administration’s commitment to improving global air connectivity through strategic aviation diplomacy.