Air Peace Chairman/CEO Dr. Allen Onyema
The signing of a Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) between Nigeria and Brazil has been celebrated as a landmark diplomatic and economic breakthrough, with Air Peace Chairman/CEO Dr. Allen Onyema hailing the pact as a bold step that finally connects Africa’s largest country with South America’s biggest nation.
“For the aviation industry, we must commend President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for taking decisive steps that are truly advantageous for Nigeria and Nigerians,” Onyema declared on the sidelines of the signing. “Brazil and Nigeria are the largest nations in their respective continents, and it has long been an aberration that there was no direct air connectivity between us until now.”
Onyema argued that the agreement would “unlock new opportunities, create thousands of jobs, and deepen cultural and economic ties.” To demonstrate his airline’s readiness, Air Peace flew a Boeing 777 to Brazil, a symbolic gesture meant to assure the President and Nigerians that the carrier is prepared to pioneer direct flights across the Atlantic.
A Long-Awaited Link
Until now, passengers traveling between Lagos and São Paulo or Rio de Janeiro faced circuitous journeys through Europe or the Middle East, adding cost and travel time. Analysts believe that direct flights could stimulate bilateral trade, boost tourism, and reconnect Brazil’s sizeable Afro-Brazilian community, “descendants of enslaved West Africans” with their ancestral homeland.
The timing also fits President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritizes economic diplomacy and greater South-South cooperation. But aviation experts warn that while the Brazil pact is historic, it will only succeed if Nigeria avoids the pitfalls that have plagued most of its 90-plus BASA agreements.
Nigeria’s BASA Trap
According to the research, Nigeria has a long history of signing BASAs that end up underutilized or skewed in favor of foreign airlines. The report revealed that the:
- United Kingdom: British Airways and Virgin Atlantic dominate the lucrative Lagos–London route, while Nigerian airlines like Bellview and Arik failed to sustain operations.
- United States: Delta Airlines still thrives, but Nigeria Airways and later Arik Air collapsed under the costs of maintaining Lagos–New York flights.
- United Arab Emirates: Emirates repeatedly gained the upper hand, while Air Peace faced slot denials in Dubai, sparking diplomatic tensions.
The recurring problem is simple: Nigeria signs agreements, foreign carriers exploit the market with stronger balance sheets and bigger fleets, while local airlines collapse under high costs, forex shortages, and weak government support.
By 2019, Nigeria had 92 BASAs, but fewer than 30 were active. Meanwhile, foreign airlines dominate passenger traffic and repatriate vast sums of revenue abroad.
- In April 2022, $450 million in foreign airlines’ earnings were trapped in Nigeria, the highest figure on the continent.
- By March 2023, that figure had ballooned to $717 million, prompting Emirates to suspend operations after citing $85 million owed.
- Industry sources estimate that the forex crunch cost Nigeria’s travel agencies up to $500 million in lost revenue within a year.
This imbalance means that while Nigeria is quick to sign BASAs, the country often loses the economic benefits.
Traffic Realities and Infrastructure Gaps
Nigeria’s passenger traffic figures also reveal structural weaknesses. Between 2012 and 2021, over 148 million passengers passed through its airports, but the vast majority of flights are concentrated in a handful of hubs.
- In 2022, 16.17 million passengers traveled through Nigeria’s airports, with over 92% handled by just three major airports.
- By 2024, four airports accounted for up to 96% of passenger traffic, while domestic volumes shrank to around 11.5 million.
Critics argue that Nigeria’s airport expansion is politically motivated, with many facilities underutilized and financially unsustainable.
For a new Lagos–São Paulo connection to thrive, experts warn, Nigeria needs better infrastructure, reliable ground services, and a government willing to enforce reciprocity in BASA implementation.
Air Peace at the Crossroads
For Onyema and Air Peace, the Brazil pact is both an opportunity and a high-stakes gamble. Operating long-haul Boeing 777s requires deep capital, steady passenger demand, and resilience against fuel price volatility and foreign exchange scarcity.
Industry veterans recall how Nigeria Airways, Bellview, and Arik once attempted intercontinental services, only to collapse under the weight of financial mismanagement and lack of state support. Onyema’s bold gesture of flying a Boeing 777 into Brazil may capture headlines, but sustaining the route will be the true test.
Still, Air Peace has repeatedly positioned itself as more than just a private airline. From evacuating stranded Nigerians during crises to challenging foreign carrier monopolies on regional and international routes, it has become a symbol of national pride. The Brazil venture is consistent with that identity, a mix of business and patriotic duty.
The Burden of Proof
The Nigeria–Brazil BASA is historic. It could open a new chapter in South-South connectivity, creating a bridge across the Atlantic for trade, tourism, and cultural diplomacy. But it also risks becoming another entry in Nigeria’s long list of unfulfilled BASA agreements if not backed by consistent policy support.
For Onyema and Air Peace, the burden of proof is enormous: they must show that a Nigerian carrier can sustain a long-haul intercontinental service, compete fairly, and deliver the promised economic dividends. For the government, the challenge is to enforce reciprocity, ease forex access, and provide regulatory stability.
For now, a Boeing 777 in Brazil is a powerful image of ambition. Whether it becomes a lasting bridge or another short-lived experiment will define not just Air Peace’s future, but also the credibility of Nigeria’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
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