Nigeria Signs Historic Aviation Agreement with Trinidad and Tobago After Two-Decade Delay

Nigeria has officially signed a Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) with Trinidad and Tobago, marking a major diplomatic and economic milestone more than 20 years in the making.

This agreement makes Nigeria the first African nation to establish such an aviation partnership with a Caribbean country—signaling a new era in South Atlantic connectivity.

A Breakthrough Two Decades in Waiting

The agreement, finalized on April 15, 2025, was announced by Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, who shared the news via his official X (formerly Twitter) account. The signing ceremony was held at the VIP Lounge of Piarco International Airport in Trinidad and Tobago.

Keyamo represented the Federal Government of Nigeria in what he described as a strategic move to strengthen aviation ties between Africa and the Caribbean. The negotiations for this deal had been ongoing for over two decades but had stalled—until now.

“In our continued effort to open up the South American and Caribbean routes to Nigeria, I signed the Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) between Nigeria and Trinidad and Tobago that has been in limbo for more than two decades,” Keyamo stated.

Economic and Strategic Significance

The BASA is expected to facilitate direct flights between West Africa and the Caribbean, potentially reducing travel time and costs for passengers and fostering trade, tourism, and economic collaboration.

More importantly, this deal underscores Nigeria’s strategic positioning in advancing South-South cooperation—a framework that promotes collaboration among countries of the Global South in response to shifting global dynamics.

Expanding Nigeria’s Global Aviation Network

Over the last few months, Nigeria has made visible progress in extending its aviation reach through a string of bilateral agreements:

• February 2025: Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) amended their BASA to expand codeshare arrangements, enabling Nigerian airlines to fully access UAE airports and enhance interlining capabilities.
  
• March 2025: A new BASA with Canada introduced codesharing that promises smoother air connectivity for passengers between the two countries.
  
• Ongoing: Nigeria is also in advanced discussions with Brazil to activate their long-standing BASA, following renewed diplomatic engagement between Presidents Tinubu and Lula da Silva in 2024.
  

What This Means for Africa-Caribbean Relations

This new deal with Trinidad and Tobago is more than a transport agreement—it is a diplomatic statement. It reflects a shared vision between Africa and the Caribbean to deepen ties across trade, travel, and cultural exchange.

For Nigeria, it’s another step toward transforming the country into an aviation hub and economic bridge between the African continent and Latin America.