Nigerian Senate Demands Direct China Flights

The Nigerian Senate has threatened to review the country’s air service agreement with China unless Nigerian airlines receive equal rights to operate direct flights to the Asian country.

The lawmakers have urged the Nigerian Government to renegotiate the Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) to protect local carriers and ensure both countries enjoy equal access to international air travel.

The Senate reached the resolution on Tuesday following a motion sponsored by Senate Leader Mohammed Monguno, representing Borno North, and seconded by Senator Abdul Ahmed Ningi, representing Bauchi Central.

During the debate, lawmakers also raised concerns about alleged illegal mining by Chinese nationals in Nigeria. They called for stronger local airlines and the revival of a national carrier.

Leading the debate, Monguno recalled that Nigeria and China signed the Bilateral Air Service Agreement under former President Muhammadu Buhari to establish direct commercial flights and regulate air travel between both countries.

However, he said the agreement had not delivered the expected benefits to Nigerian airlines.

Monguno noted that bilateral trade between Nigeria and China reached $18 billion in the first half of 2025, a 25 per cent increase from the same period in the previous year. He added that total trade between the two countries stood at $28 billion in 2024. He also pointed to the growing populations and economic ties between the two countries as reasons to improve direct air connections.

“The population of Nigerians in China is more than 1m people, while that of Chinese in Nigeria is more than 500,000. This has generated the interest of China in Nigeria because it is Africa’s most populous nation and largest economy, offering massive markets on the African continent,” he said.

According to Monguno, effective implementation of the agreement would position the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja as major aviation gateways linking West and Central Africa to East Asia.

He said direct flights would reduce travel time, improve supply chains, increase airline revenue and help retain foreign exchange in Nigeria.

Monguno added that better air connections would create opportunities for small and medium-scale businesses, support non-oil exports, especially agricultural products, and strengthen international trade.

He called on the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Nigeria Customs Service to work towards the effective implementation of the agreement.

Seconding the motion, Ningi described the proposal as patriotic but raised concerns about the activities of Chinese nationals in Nigeria’s solid minerals sector. He alleged that some Chinese mining operations in Bauchi State and other parts of the country might be operating without meeting all legal requirements.

Ningi specifically cited mining activities in communities within his constituency, which borders Kaduna and Plateau states. He questioned the scale of the operations, the equipment being used and the alleged export of raw minerals without sufficient local processing. He called for stronger government oversight to ensure Nigeria benefits more from its mineral resources.

On the aviation agreement, Ningi said Nigerians travelling to China often had to connect through countries such as Morocco, the United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia and the United Kingdom because Nigerian airlines did not operate direct flights to China.

He urged the Nigerian Government to support local carriers, including Air Peace, United Nigeria Airlines, Azman Air and Ibom Air, to expand their international routes, subject to regulatory and operational requirements.

Ningi argued that Nigeria should not continue granting Chinese airlines access to its aviation market without securing similar opportunities for Nigerian carriers. He therefore called for a review of the agreement if China failed to guarantee reciprocal flight rights.

Contributing to the debate, Senate President Godswill Akpabio called for reviving a national airline to help Nigeria compete in the international aviation market. Akpabio recalled the defunct Nigerian Airways, noting that the country once operated a sizeable fleet and maintained international routes.

He also expressed concern about the pressure on domestic airlines during peak travel periods, particularly in December, when demand for flights rises.

According to him, a national carrier would improve air connectivity, retain foreign exchange and ease travel difficulties for Nigerians. Akpabio urged the Nigerian Government to reconsider establishing a national airline. He also commended Monguno for sponsoring the motion.

He asked the Senate Committee on Legislative Compliance to work with the Ministries of Aviation and Foreign Affairs to ensure the resolutions are implemented within the stipulated period.

Senator Mustapha Khabeeb, representing Jigawa South-West, also supported the call for a national carrier. However, he said the focus should be on reviving Air Nigeria rather than the defunct Nigerian Airways. He argued that a functional national airline would allow Nigeria to operate direct international routes, generate foreign exchange and strengthen its position in the global aviation industry.

Senator Mohammed Ogoshi, representing Nasarawa South, also backed the demand for strict reciprocity. He supported Ningi’s proposal that Nigerian airlines should enjoy the same flight rights granted to Chinese carriers.

Following the debate, the Senate urged the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development to renegotiate the commercial terms and operational schedules of the existing Nigeria-China air service agreement. It also asked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to begin diplomatic discussions with Chinese authorities to ease business visa access for Nigerian traders and secure equal flight slots for Nigerian airlines.

The lawmakers further adopted Ningi’s proposal, supported by Onawo, urging the Nigerian Government to enforce strict reciprocity by ensuring Nigerian airlines receive direct flight opportunities to China on the same terms as Chinese carriers operating in Nigeria.

The Senate warned that it would review the agreement if the required arrangements were not secured. It also mandated its Committees on Aviation and Foreign Affairs to monitor compliance and report back within four weeks.

Although lawmakers supported the idea of a national carrier during the debate, the Senate noted that a separate substantive motion would be needed before the proposal could receive further legislative consideration. The resolutions will now be communicated to the Nigerian Government for action.