The Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace
Development, Festus Keyamo SAN, CON, FCIArb (UK), has signed the amended
Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) between Nigeria and the United Arab
Emirates (UAE).
According to Tunde Moshood, the Special Adviser to the
Honourable Minister, the landmark agreement was executed during the ICAO Global
Implementation Support Symposium (GISS) 2025, in a high-level meeting with H.E.
Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri, UAE’s Minister of Economy, solidifying mutual
aviation ties between both nations.
Accompanying the Honourable Minister as part of the
Nigerian delegation were, Capt. Chris Ona Najomo, Director General, Nigerian
Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, Managing Director, Federal
Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mrs. Olayinka T. Babaoye-Iriobe,
Director, Air Transport Regulations, NCAA, Capt. Abdullahi Mahmood, Director of
Operations, FAAN and Mr. Ahmed Tijani, Director, Air Transport Management,
Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development.
The ICAO GISS 2025, hosted by H.E. Saif Mohammed Al
Suwaidi, Director General of the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA),
brought together over 35 ministers, 191 countries, 1,500 aviation
professionals, and 70 exhibitors at the prestigious Emirates Palace, Mandarin
Oriental, Abu Dhabi. The event also featured the Global Sustainable Aviation
Marketplace (GSAM)—an ambitious initiative by the UAE to drive collaboration
and innovation in sustainable aviation.
The signing of the amended BASA builds on last year’s
negotiations, ensuring reciprocal rights for both countries and fostering
deeper aviation collaboration. The Minister emphasized 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 says “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 Honourable 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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