Nigeria’s government has signed a Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) with Kuwait to start direct flights.
Festus Keyamo, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, announced this on his X handle (previously Twitter).
BASA is a bilateral air transport agreement that allows selected airlines to undertake commercial flights that transport both passengers and cargo.
The agreement was reached at the ongoing International Civil Aviation Negotiation (ICAN) session hosted by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, according to Keyamo.
The agreement, he stated, would facilitate the commencement of direct flights (passengers and cargo) between both countries.
“Earlier today, at the ongoing International Civil Aviation Negotiation (ICAN) event of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, I signed the legal Instrument of Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) on behalf of Nigeria with the State of Kuwait, for the commencement of direct flights (passengers and cargo) between both countries,” he said.
“This will boost trade, tourism and economic relations between both countries. My team and I will continue the negotiations of different routes with different countries that are present here for this annual event of ICAO till later in the week.”
This is coming three months after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved the signing of the agreement between both countries.
Earlier today, at the ongoing International Civil Aviation Negotiation (ICAN) event of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) holding in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, I signed the legal Instrument of Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) on behalf of Nigeria with the… pic.twitter.com/MF7wgC4eow
— Festus Keyamo, SAN, CON, FCIArb (UK) (@fkeyamo) December 5, 2023