Nigeria and Russia have agreed to replace a 59-year-old aviation agreement, aiming to replace air transport relations and create alternatives for stronger connectivity between the 2 international locations.
The agreement to renegotiate the Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA), which dates again to 1967, was reached throughout a gathering between Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, and Russian officers on the sidelines of the Third Russia-Africa Summit in Moscow.
Mr Keyamo disclosed the event in a publish on his X account on Friday, saying each international locations had agreed to full negotiations inside six months and signal a brand new agreement in Saint Petersburg, Russia, in April 2027.
He stated the Nigerian delegation met with Dmitry Stanislavovich Zverev, the State Secretary and Deputy Minister of Transport of the Russian Federation.
“We resolved to renegotiate our last Bilateral Air Service Agreement that was made in 1967. We set a timeline of six months to conclude the negotiations and sign a new one in Saint Petersburg in April 2027,” Mr Keyamo stated.
He added that each international locations had shaped negotiating groups to start work towards an agreement inside the agreed interval.
The proposed renegotiation is anticipated to replace the framework governing air transport between Nigeria and Russia, reflecting adjustments within the worldwide aviation trade over the previous six a long time.
What the agreement means
A Bilateral Air Services Agreement supplies the authorized framework for scheduled air providers between two international locations. It usually units out the situations beneath which airways from each international locations can function worldwide flights, together with routes, site visitors rights, designated airways and different operational preparations.
Nigeria’s Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development says its Air Transport Management Department negotiates and evaluations new and current air providers agreements and displays their implementation.
The ministry additionally works with the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and different aviation companies to facilitate worldwide air hyperlinks and regulate airline operations.
The proposed substitute of the Nigeria-Russia agreement might subsequently create alternatives for improved air connectivity and cooperation between their aviation sectors.
However, neither Mr Keyamo nor the ministry disclosed proposed flight routes, designated airways or the frequency of potential operations beneath the brand new agreement.
Wider cooperation
Beyond the aviation agreement, Mr Keyamo stated the assembly additionally examined different areas of cooperation between Nigeria and Russia.
He stated each side had resolved to discover further alternatives within the coming months.
The Nigerian delegation included the Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Capt: Chris Najomo, and the Registrar of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Dr Danjuma Adamu Ismaila.
Directors from the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development and the NCAA additionally participated within the discussions.
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Nigeria and Russia have maintained diplomatic relations since shortly after Nigeria gained independence in 1960. Their relationship has included cooperation in areas comparable to defence, commerce, science and know-how.
According to the Nigerian Embassy in Russia, the Soviet Union offered political and army help to Nigeria in the course of the 1967–1970 Civil War. Cooperation between the 2 international locations has additionally prolonged to area know-how, together with the launch of Nigeria’s satellites aboard Russian rockets in 2011.
The deliberate aviation agreement is anticipated to type a part of broader efforts to deepen bilateral relations and establish additional areas of cooperation.
Both international locations are anticipated to start negotiations via their respective groups, aiming to conclude the method and signal the brand new agreement in Saint Petersburg in April 2027.
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