Video: Nigeria, Egypt forge landmark aviation alliance with MoU to strengthen air services

Abdullateef Fowewe

Nigeria and Egypt have elevated their aviation partnership to new heights with the signing of a historic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and a refreshed Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA), paving the way for deeper technical collaboration, expanded air routes, and greater investment in aviation infrastructure.

Video link: https://www.facebook.com/share/r/19A3E6J2iv/

In a statement released Monday, Gbenga Saka, Aide to the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, hailed the developments as a “landmark MoU and enhanced #BASA implementation.”

“This agreement, conceived during the International Civil Aviation Negotiations (ICAN) in 2024, represents a strategic milestone in bilateral cooperation, focusing on technical exchange, route expansion, and investment in aviation infrastructure,” Saka affirmed.

Saka noted that Keyamo, and Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Badr Abdellatty, attended the official signing in Abuja on Monday.

The agreement, the statement noted, “aligns with the shared vision of fostering a more connected, integrated, and resilient African airspace.”

Key Highlights of the BASA Expansion
The updated terms of the Bilateral Air Services Agreement introduce a series of robust provisions, including: Multiple airline designations from both countries; Expanded entry points: Cairo, Alexandria, Luxor, and other cities to be designated in the future; Increased flight frequencies: 7 flights per week to Lagos, 5 flights per week to Kano; Designation of intermediate and beyond points (details to be agreed upon); Full 5th Freedom Traffic Rights, enhancing transit and stopover options; New code-share arrangements following the African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC) BASA template.

“These developments signal a renewed commitment to enhancing air connectivity, promoting trade, and boosting tourism between the two countries,” the statement emphasised.