Nigeria and Jamaica are moving closer to formalising a Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) aimed at strengthening aviation relations, improving air connectivity and opening up new opportunities for economic cooperation between the two countries.
The development followed a meeting between Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, and the Jamaican High Commissioner to Nigeria, Lincoln Downer, in Abuja, where both parties reviewed progress towards concluding the agreement and fixing a date for its formal signing.
The proposed agreement has undergone extensive legal and technical reviews by officials of both countries, with the necessary documentation now at an advanced stage of completion.
Speaking during the meeting, Downer expressed satisfaction with the progress made, noting that both countries had reached a critical point in the process and could now begin preparations for the formal endorsement.
He said the Jamaican authorities had shared the legally reviewed text with their Nigerian counterparts and were awaiting an update on its status to enable both sides to agree on a signing date.
“We’re pleased now that we’re at the point where we can 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”, the High Commissioner said.
In response, Keyamo requested the relevant file to establish the status of the agreement. He was informed that the document had already been reviewed by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and returned, indicating that the process was nearing completion.
The Minister subsequently directed that the final copy be made available to the Jamaican High Commissioner for a final review and proofreading to ensure that both countries are satisfied with the agreed text before signing.
Both parties are now working towards a mutually convenient date for the formal endorsement, 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 conclusion of the BASA is expected to provide a stronger institutional framework for advancing aviation cooperation between Nigeria and Jamaica, particularly in facilitating air travel, improving connectivity and exploring opportunities for mutually beneficial partnerships.
Beyond aviation, the agreement is also expected to support broader economic relations, tourism development and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.
For Nigeria, the move forms part of the Federal Government’s broader efforts to deepen international aviation partnerships and expand its network of bilateral air services agreements as instruments for promoting connectivity and economic engagement.
Keyamo reaffirmed the government’s commitment to concluding the agreement without unnecessary delays and directed relevant officials to expedite the outstanding documentation ahead of the proposed signing in Jamaica.