Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have signed an amended Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) to boost ties between the two nations.
The countries will also sign a technical cooperation agreement focusing on capacity building and technical support in key aviation areas.
The Special Adviser on Media and Communication to the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Tunde Moshood, disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja.
He said the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, and UAE’s Minister of Economy, Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri, signed the agreement on behalf of the two countries during the ICAO Global Implementation Support Symposium (GISS) 2025 in Abu Dhabi.
The ICAO GISS 2025, hosted by the Director-General of the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi, was attended by 35 ministers, 191 countries, 1,500 aviation professionals, and 70 exhibitors at the Emirates Palace, Mandarin Oriental.
The event also featured the Global Sustainable Aviation Marketplace (GSAM), a UAE initiative to drive collaboration and innovation in sustainable aviation.
The Nigerian delegation included the Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Chris Najomo, the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Olubunmi Kuku, the Director of Air Transport Regulations at the NCAA, Olayinka Babaoye-Iriobe, the Director of Operations at FAAN, Abdullahi Mahmood, and, Director of Air Transport Management at the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Ahmed Tijani.
According to Moshood, 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,” he said.
During the signing ceremony, Al Marri acknowledged Keyamo’s commitment to advancing Nigeria-UAE aviation relations.
“Let me say this on camera now, the Nigeria Aviation Minister is a man who keeps his word and for us, that’s everything,” the UAE minister said.
By: Babajide Okeowo