Months after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s official visit to Brazil in August 2025, a much-publicised plan for a direct flight between Lagos and São Paulo has yet to materialise, prompting growing frustration among Nigerians living in the South American country.
During the high-profile trip, Nigeria and Brazil signed several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) spanning aviation, agriculture, trade, and energy. Central to the aviation deal was a Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA), which included plans for a direct route to be operated by Air Peace.
The announcement was widely welcomed by Nigerians in Brazil, who viewed the proposed connection as a long-awaited solution to the challenges of travelling between both countries. The direct flight was expected to significantly reduce travel time and costs while boosting economic and cultural ties.
However, months after the agreement, members of the Nigerian community say there has been no progress.
Nigerians living in Brazil have now called on the Federal Government to explain the delay in implementing agreements reached during the visit, warning that key promises remain unfulfilled.
According to community voices, the anticipated rollout of the direct flight and other bilateral initiatives has yet to commence, raising concerns about the commitment to the agreements.
“This is not the first time dreams have been sold to us for political purposes,” a community leader, Baba Oloyede, said.
Frustration is also mounting over other agreements, particularly those relating to agriculture and economic cooperation, which observers say have yet to see tangible implementation despite their strategic importance.
Notably, Nigeria and Brazil had earlier signed major deals, including a billion-dollar agricultural cooperation initiative aimed at boosting food security and mechanised farming.
In August 2025, Air Peace celebrated the move in a publication on its website.
“What we are seeing today is the first fruit of the diplomatic shuttle of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to Brazil. In his wisdom, the President has decided to reopen and expand our economic, diplomatic, and trade relations with Brazil. Brazil is the biggest economy in South America, and Nigeria is considered the biggest economy in Africa,” the airline quoted Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, as saying in August 2025.
“Connecting these two economies was very key to both presidents.”
It was also published on the website that “Air Peace’s direct service would simplify travel between Nigeria and Brazil, eliminating the need for long detours through Europe or the Middle East. With the new route, flight time is cut to just seven hours across the Atlantic, a move expected to unlock unprecedented opportunities in trade, tourism, and cultural exchange.”
SaharaReporters checked the international routes listed by Air Peace on its website, Brazil was not listed as of the time of filing this report, with only Mumbai, Johannesburg, London and Jeddah listed.
As of now, neither the Nigerian government nor Air Peace has provided a detailed public timeline for the rollout of the promised direct flight or other initiatives, leaving many Nigerians in Brazil demanding greater transparency and accountability.
