Nigeria, Jamaica Near Aviation Agreement Signing

Nigeria and Jamaica are moving closer to signing a reviewed Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) aimed at strengthening aviation ties, improving air connectivity and promoting economic cooperation between both countries.

The development followed a meeting between the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, and Jamaica’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, Lincoln Downer.

The Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, saying officials from both countries had completed extensive legal and technical reviews of the agreement.

The agreement is expected to provide a stronger framework for air travel and aviation cooperation between the two countries.

During the meeting, Downer expressed satisfaction with the progress made, noting that both countries had reached an advanced stage and were now working towards fixing a date for the signing.

He said Jamaica had shared the legally reviewed document with the Nigerian team and wanted an update on its status before arrangements for the formal endorsement could begin.

“So we’re pleased now that we’re at the point where we can now sign. We shared the legally reviewed text with your team, so I haven’t heard from them,” he was quoted as saying.

“That’s what I wanted to know today — where we stand, so that we can then set the date. You can give us an update?”

In response, Keyamo requested the relevant file to establish the status of the agreement.

He was informed that the document had undergone the necessary review by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and had been returned, with the process now at an advanced stage.

The minister subsequently directed that a final copy be made available to the Jamaican High Commissioner for further review and proofreading to ensure both countries were satisfied with its contents.

The statement was signed by the minister’s Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Tunde Moshood.

It added that both countries were working towards agreeing on a convenient date for the signing, which is tentatively expected to take place in Kingston, Jamaica, either in the last week of November or the first week of December 2026.

The ministry described the proposed signing as another step in Nigeria’s efforts to expand international aviation partnerships, improve air connectivity and strengthen cooperation through bilateral air services agreements.

It added that the agreement would provide opportunities to facilitate air travel and promote economic activities, tourism and people-to-people exchanges between Nigeria and Jamaica.

Keyamo reaffirmed the Nigerian Government’s commitment to concluding the agreement on time and directed relevant officials to speed up the remaining documentation ahead of the proposed signing in Jamaica.