Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr Festus Keyamo, has amended the Bilateral Air Service Agreement, BASA, between Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates, UAE.
A statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Communications to the minister, Mr Tunde Moshood, said the agreement was reached during the ICAO Global Implementation Support Symposium, GISS, 2025, in a meeting with UAE's Minister of Economy, Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri.
Moshood also said the signing of the amended BASA builds on last year's negotiations, ensuring reciprocal rights for both countries and fostering deeper aviation collaboration.
According to him, both countries also agreed to sign a Technical Cooperation Agreement focusing on capacity building and technical support in key aviation areas.
The statement reads: "The Minister emphasised the importance of enhancing connectivity between Nigeria and the UAE, with a focus on expanding codeshare agreements and interlining opportunities for Nigerian airlines.
"During the signing ceremony, H.E. Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri lauded Nigeria's aviation Minister as he said: 'Let me say this on camera now, the Nigeria Aviation Minister is a man who keeps his words and for us, that's everything', acknowledging his commitment to advancing Nigeria-UAE aviation relations.
"Beyond the BASA agreement, the Aviation Minister advocated for a review of UAE's visa restrictions on Nigerians, stressing that easing the current conditions would increase passenger traffic on designated routes, benefiting both nations' economies.
"In a further boost to bilateral relations, both countries agreed to sign a Technical Cooperation Agreement focusing on capacity building and technical support in key aviation areas, including safety and regulatory, environment, airport facilitation and security.
"This cooperation reinforces Nigeria's commitment to elevating its aviation sector to global best practices while deepening ties with international partners.
"The Minister reaffirmed Nigeria's readiness to work closely with the UAE to implement these agreements effectively, ensuring that both nations maximize the economic and operational benefits of this strengthened partnership."
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