By Abubakar Yunusa
Nigeria and Barbados are in talks over direct flight services.
The development followed a meeting in Barbados between Festus Keyamo, minister of aviation and aerospace development, and Mia Amor Mottley, prime minister of Barbados.
In a statement on Tuesday, Tunde Moshood, special adviser on media and communications to Keyamo, said the meeting is part of Keyamo’s ongoing diplomatic mission to deepen air connectivity between Nigeria, South America, and the Caribbean.
“The meeting between the two distinguished leaders underscored a shared commitment to building stronger bridges of cooperation between Africa and the Caribbean through enhanced aviation links,” the statement reads.
“During his visit, the Honourable Minister held a series of productive bilateral meetings with key Cabinet Ministers of the Government of Barbados.
“Discussions focused on the urgent need to expand direct air connectivity between the two regions, as well as Nigeria’s proposal to update and revitalise the existing BASA between Nigeria and Barbados.”
According to Moshood, the minister said such partnerships are essential to actualising President Bola Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda, which includes positioning Nigeria as the leading aviation gateway to Africa from South America and the Caribbean.
He said both parties expressed their commitment to deepening discussions and translating the strategic aspirations into concrete outcomes.
“To that effect, the Honourable Minister extended a formal invitation to the Government of Barbados for a follow-up meeting in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, in the coming weeks—a gesture warmly accepted by Prime Minister Mottley,” he added.
The statement said the minister’s visit to Barbados marks another milestone in Nigeria’s proactive aviation diplomacy and reaffirms the nation’s growing influence as a strategic air transport hub for intercontinental travel.
On Monday, Nigeria signed a bilateral air services agreement (BASA) with the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago to allow both countries to commence direct flight operations.
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