BY OLAPEJU OLUBI
Nigeria has recorded a major milestone in its aviation history with the planned launch of Air Peace’s maiden direct flight between Lagos and São Paulo, Brazil, a development that Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, described as a practical dividend of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s diplomacy.
Speaking at the event where the pact was sealed in Brazil recently, Keyamo said the new connectivity between Nigeria and Brazil was not just symbolic, but a “game-changing achievement” that would unlock economic, cultural, and social opportunities for both nations.
“What you are seeing today is not an audio agreement; it is live.
“Before now, many Nigerians traveling to Brazil had to go through the Middle East or Europe, spending two to four days to connect. Today, with just a seven-hour direct flight, Nigeria and Brazil are closer than ever”, he declared.
Keyamo attributed the breakthrough to President Tinubu’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s global partnerships.
He noted that the flight would serve not just Nigeria, but the entire West and Central African region, as travelers from across the sub-region can now connect to South America more easily.
“This is not only a connection between Nigeria and Brazil, but between Nigeria and the whole of South America and the Caribbean.
“The economic benefit is huge, and all credit goes to Mr. President”, he added.
The minister also stressed that the flight would help diversify Nigeria’s international routes while projecting Air Peace as a continental player in aviation.
In his remarks, Air Peace Chairman Allen Onyema described the launch as “long overdue,” adding that it signified Nigeria’s growing role in shaping global air connectivity.
“Without air connectivity, nothing happens. Before now, travelers spent 30 to 40 hours trying to get to Brazil. Now, with Air Peace, it takes just seven hours. Both countries agreed that Air Peace should do this, and this shows the faith in our capacity as an indigenous airline”, he said.
Onyema praised President Tinubu for pursuing “partnerships that are symbiotic, not parasitic” and for ensuring that agreements with other countries respect Nigeria’s sovereignty.
He stressed that the direct Nigeria-Brazil route would also open doors for other South American destinations as interline arrangements expand.
“Other South American countries are already calling us to interline. This means we will carry passengers from across West Africa to Brazil, and from there they can connect to different destinations,” Onyema explained.
The launch flight was also attended by officials from the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), who highlighted the cultural and social benefits for Nigerians living in Brazil.
Keyamo concluded by reiterating that the success was proof that President Tinubu’s international shuttle diplomacy is yielding tangible results.
“Anyone who thinks the President should sit in Abuja and attract investment is mistaken.
“This is how it works globally, proactive engagement, building bridges, and ensuring Nigeria takes its rightful place in the world”, he said.
With the launch of the Lagos-São Paulo service, Air Peace has placed Nigeria firmly on the map of intercontinental aviation, opening up a new corridor for trade, tourism, and cultural exchange between Africa and South America.
