Nigeria Signs Historic Air Services Agreement with Trinidad and Tobago After 20-Year Delay

 Nigeria Signs Historic Air Services Agreement with Trinidad and Tobago After 20-Year Delay

PORT OF SPAIN, TRINIDAD — In a landmark diplomatic and aviation breakthrough, Nigeria has signed a Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) with Trinidad and Tobago, finalizing a deal that had been under negotiation for over two decades.

The agreement makes Nigeria the first African country to establish such a direct aviation partnership with a Caribbean nation, a significant milestone in expanding trans-Atlantic air connectivity and strengthening South-South cooperation.

 Historic Signing After 20 Years

The signing ceremony took place on Monday at the VIP lounge of Piarco International Airport in Trinidad and Tobago. Representing Nigeria was the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, who made the announcement via his official X (formerly Twitter) handle.

“I signed the Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) between Nigeria and Trinidad and Tobago that has been in limbo for more than two decades when negotiations began,” Keyamo wrote.

Keyamo emphasized that the agreement signals Nigeria’s strategic commitment to opening new air routes to South America and the Caribbean, positioning the country as a central aviation hub connecting Africa to the Western Hemisphere.

 A Milestone for the Global South

Beyond aviation, the agreement underscores growing cooperation among Global South nations, especially amid shifting global trade and geopolitical dynamics. The deal aims to:

• Establish direct air connectivity between West Africa and the Caribbean

• Reduce travel time and costs for passengers and businesses

• Stimulate tourism, trade, and cultural exchanges between both regions

• Enhance Nigeria’s aviation diplomacy on the international stage

“This is more than just an aviation deal. It is a platform to deepen economic, cultural, and social ties between two Global South nations,” Keyamo noted.

 Nigeria’s Expanding Aviation Network

The deal with Trinidad and Tobago follows a string of bilateral aviation successes for Nigeria in recent months:

• February 2025: Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates amended their BASA to enhance codeshare arrangements, facilitating broader network access for airlines and passengers.

• March 2025: Nigeria signed a Code-sharing Agreement with Canada, enabling smoother travel and mutual use of airline services under a new BASA.

• Ongoing: Nigeria and Brazil are in advanced talks to activate their existing BASA, which will allow direct flights between the two largest economies in Africa and South America. This follows a commitment made by Presidents Tinubu and Lula da Silva during the 2024 AU Summit in Addis Ababa.

 What the BASA with Trinidad and Tobago Means for Nigeria

• Strategic aviation presence in the Caribbean

• Expansion of Nigeria’s long-haul flight options

• Opportunities for Nigerian carriers to tap into South American and Caribbean markets

• Potential partnerships for interline and codeshare agreements with Caribbean-based airlines

• Support for Nigeria’s drive to become a West African aviation hub

The agreement also lays the foundation for tourism development, academic exchange, and business investment between the two nations, leveraging air connectivity to drive inclusive growth.

Conclusion

The long-awaited Nigeria–Trinidad and Tobago BASA is more than a technical aviation deal—it is a symbol of Nigeria’s evolving diplomatic strategy and economic diversification agenda. As global travel corridors shift, this bold move positions Nigeria as a forward-thinking, globally connected nation, ready to lead in Africa–Caribbean relations.

With new routes opening across continents, Nigerian aviation is taking flight in 2025, offering unprecedented opportunities for growth, partnership, and connectivity.