The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has signed an amended Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) between Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
This was disclosed in a statement by the minister’s media aide, Tunde Moshood, on Tuesday.
According to the statement, the signing took place during a meeting with UAE’s Minister of Economy, Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri, on the sidelines of the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s (ICAO) Global Implementation Support Symposium (GISS) 2025. The agreement aims to strengthen aviation ties between both nations.
The ICAO GISS 2025, hosted by Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi, Director General of the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority, gathered over 35 ministers, 191 countries, 1,500 aviation professionals, and 70 exhibitors at the Emirates Palace, Mandarin Oriental, Abu Dhabi.
Moshood stated that the amended BASA builds on last year’s negotiations to ensure reciprocal rights for both countries and foster deeper aviation collaboration.
During the signing, Keyamo emphasized the need to enhance connectivity between Nigeria and the UAE, focusing on expanding codeshare agreements and interlining opportunities for Nigerian airlines.
The UAE’s Minister of Economy praised Keyamo, stating, “Let me say this on camera now, the Nigeria Aviation Minister is a man who keeps his words and for us, that’s everything.” He acknowledged Keyamo’s dedication to strengthening aviation relations between both nations.
Beyond the BASA agreement, Keyamo also advocated for a review of UAE’s visa restrictions on Nigerians. He stressed that easing these conditions would increase passenger traffic on designated routes, benefiting both countries’ economies.
The statement further noted, “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.”
It added that the cooperation reinforces Nigeria’s commitment to elevating its aviation sector to global best practices while deepening ties with international partners.
Keyamo reaffirmed Nigeria’s readiness to collaborate with the UAE to effectively implement the agreements, ensuring that both nations maximize the economic and operational benefits of their strengthened partnership.
Among those present at the signing ceremony were Acting Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Capt. Chris Ona Najomo; Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku; Director of Air Transport Regulations, Mrs. Olayinka Babaoye-Iriobe; NCAA’s Director of Operations, Capt. Abdullahi Mahmood; and Director of Air Transport Management at the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Ahmed Tijani, among others.
