By Nathaniel Irobi
The Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, and the Jamaican High Commissioner to Nigeria, His Excellency Lincoln Downer, have pushed for the swift conclusion of the Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) between both countries.
The push came during a meeting at the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development in Abuja, where the two officials reviewed progress on the agreement.
The meeting focused on the finalisation of the existing BASA between the two countries, with particular emphasis on enhancing air travel, improving connectivity, and creating a stronger framework for aviation cooperation between Nigeria and Jamaica.
According to a statement by Tunde Moshood, Special Adviser on Media and Communications to the Honourable Minister, the agreement has undergone extensive legal and technical reviews by officials of both countries, with respective teams working to perfect the necessary documentation ahead of its formal endorsement.
Speaking at the meeting, High Commissioner Downer expressed satisfaction with the progress made, noting that both countries had reached a critical stage in the process and were now looking towards setting a date for the signing.
He said: “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. 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 ascertain the status of the documentation. He was briefed that the agreement had already 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 of completion.
The Minister subsequently directed that a final copy of the agreement be made available to the Jamaican High Commissioner for a final review to ensure that both parties are fully satisfied with the text before proceeding to the signing.
Both sides are now working towards agreeing on a mutually convenient date for the formal endorsement, tentatively scheduled to take place in Kingston, Jamaica, either in the last week of November or the first week of December 2026.
The proposed signing represents another significant step in Nigeria’s efforts to deepen international aviation partnerships, expand air connectivity, and strengthen bilateral cooperation through mutually beneficial air services agreements.
The conclusion of the BASA is expected to provide an important framework for advancing aviation relations, facilitating easier air travel, and exploring opportunities for stronger economic, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.
The Minister reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to ensuring the timely conclusion of the agreement, while directing relevant officials to expedite the final documentation process in readiness for the proposed signing in Jamaica.
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