The Federal Government of Nigeria has signed a Bilateral Air Service Agreement with Trinidad and Tobago to foster air connectivity, trade, and tourism. The deal marks the official commencement of direct air links between the two nations.
Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, and Trinidad & Tobago’s Minister of Works and Transport, Rohan Sinanan, signed the agreement on behalf of both countries at the Piarco International Airport, Trinidad and Tobago.
Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo
The Nation Newspaper reports that the agreement is the culmination of diplomatic and technical conversations that began during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo. As such, the agreement was initially proposed in 2009.
The agreement grants designated airlines from both countries the rights to operate passenger and cargo flights, establish commercial agreements, and access the other’s territory under agreed-upon terms. It is expected to strengthen economic and people-to-people ties. The agreement aims to reduce travel time from over 24 hours on connecting flights to just 7.5 hours. The initiative is expected to enhance trade, tourism, and cultural exchanges, unlocking economic opportunities for both countries.
The agreement is an important addition to Nigeria’s growing list of strategic international aviation agreements and reinforces the President Bola Tinubu administration’s commitment to improving air connectivity, promoting regional integration, and strengthening diplomatic relations through aviation diplomacy.
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According to Keyamo, the deal “not only fulfils a long-standing bilateral vision initiated during President Obasanjo’s time but also represents our commitment to expanding Nigeria’s global aviation footprint. This agreement will enhance trade, tourism, cultural exchange, and connectivity between Nigeria and the Caribbean region.”
Toeing Keyamo’s line, Sinanan expressed optimism about the agreement’s potential to boost cooperation and expand aviation opportunities for Caribbean and African carriers.
The Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) between Nigeria and Trinidad & Tobago is poised to have significant implications for Nigeria’s trade and tourism sectors. For one, the BASA permits designated airlines from both countries to operate cargo flights, enabling Nigerian exporters to access Caribbean markets more efficiently. This will likely boost the export of goods such as agricultural products, textiles, and manufactured items, creating new trade opportunities.
The BASA will also strengthen economic ties. Direct flights will foster commercial agreements between businesses in Nigeria and Trinidad and Tobago, encouraging investments and joint ventures. Nigeria can also leverage Trinidad and Tobago’s strategic location in the Caribbean as a gateway for Nigerian businesses to access other markets in the region and even parts of North America.
Direct air links will also make Nigeria more accessible to tourists from Trinidad & Tobago and other Afro-Caribbean nations and boost inbound tourism, particularly cultural tourism, as Afro-Caribbean visitors explore their ancestral connections in Nigeria.
The agreement also facilitates cultural exchange programs, allowing Nigeria to showcase its rich heritage through festivals, music, art, and cuisine. This is a vital enhancement to Nigeria’s global image as a vibrant tourist destination. Per the deal, Nigerians will also find it easier to travel to Trinidad and Tobago for leisure or business purposes. This reciprocal tourism flow strengthens mutual understanding and cooperation between the two nations.
