Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has formalized the amended Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) between Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The signing took place during the ICAO Global Implementation Support Symposium (GISS) 2025 in a high-level meeting with UAE’s Minister of Economy, H.E. Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri.
In a statement on Tuesday, Tunde Moshood, the Minister’s Special Adviser on Media and Communications, confirmed the development.
Keyamo was accompanied by key officials, including Capt. Chris Ona Najomo, Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), and other senior aviation regulators.
According to the statement, the ICAO GISS 2025, hosted by H.E. Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi, Director General of the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), gathered over 35 ministers, representatives from 191 countries, 1,500 aviation professionals, and 70 exhibitors at the prestigious Emirates Palace, Mandarin Oriental, Abu Dhabi.
The revised BASA builds on previous negotiations, ensuring balanced aviation rights for both nations and promoting stronger collaboration. Keyamo emphasized the need to enhance air connectivity between Nigeria and the UAE, advocating for expanded codeshare agreements and interline partnerships to benefit Nigerian airlines.
Additionally, the Minister urged a review of UAE’s visa restrictions on Nigerian travelers, highlighting that relaxed entry conditions would boost passenger traffic and contribute to the economic growth of both countries.
Both nations also agreed to sign a Technical Cooperation Agreement, focusing on capacity building and technical support in crucial aviation areas such as safety regulations, environmental management, airport security, and facilitation, further strengthening their bilateral ties.