The two countries have agreed to renegotiate their 1967 Bilateral Air Services Agreement, with plans to sign a new deal in Saint Petersburg within six months to expand air connectivity and deepen cooperation in the aviation industry……
Nigeria and Russia have agreed to overhaul their longstanding aviation agreement, opening discussions on a new framework expected to strengthen air transport relations and create fresh opportunities for cooperation between both countries.
The decision followed a high-level bilateral meeting held on Friday in Moscow, Russia, on the sidelines of the Third Russia-Africa Summit.
Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, led the country’s delegation to the meeting, where discussions focused on updating the existing arrangements governing aviation operations between the two nations.
Keyamo met with Dmitry Stanislavovich Zverev, State Secretary and Deputy Minister of Transport of the Russian Federation, to examine ways of improving bilateral air services and aligning the existing agreement with developments in the global aviation industry.
A major resolution from the discussions was the decision by both countries to renegotiate their Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA), which was originally signed in 1967.
The proposed review is expected to replace the nearly six-decade-old framework with a modern agreement that reflects current developments in international aviation and the changing needs of both countries.
Nigeria, Russia target April 2027 for new aviation deal
Both governments have established a six-month timeline to complete negotiations and formally sign the revised agreement in Saint Petersburg, Russia, in April 2027.
To ensure the deadline is achieved, Nigeria and Russia have already constituted negotiating teams tasked with commencing discussions immediately and working towards the completion of the new framework.
According to a statement issued by the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, the agreement is expected to create a stronger foundation for cooperation between the aviation industries of both countries.
The ministry said the proposed arrangement would improve air connectivity, strengthen institutional relationships and open up mutually beneficial opportunities across the sector.
“The proposed agreement is expected to provide an updated framework for bilateral air transport relations and create opportunities for enhanced connectivity, closer institutional collaboration and mutually beneficial engagement between the aviation sectors of both countries,” the statement said.
The statement was signed by Tunde Moshood, Special Adviser on Media and Communications to the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development.
NCAA, aviation college officials join Nigerian delegation
Nigeria’s delegation included key officials from aviation regulatory and training institutions, reflecting the technical and institutional considerations involved in the proposed agreement.
Among those present were the Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Capt. Chris Najomo, and the Registrar of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Dr. Danjuma Adamu Ismaila.
Directors from the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development and the NCAA also participated in the discussions.
Beyond the proposed replacement of the existing air services agreement, both countries considered additional areas where they could expand cooperation within the aviation industry and related sectors.
The ministry disclosed that the two sides had expressed interest in exploring these opportunities further in the coming months, with the broader objective of strengthening bilateral relations and identifying areas of common interest.
The planned agreement marks a renewed effort by Nigeria and Russia to update their aviation partnership, with the outcome of the negotiations expected to determine the scope of future cooperation between both countries.
