Nigeria’s Senate has called on the Federal Government to renegotiate the country’s Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) with China so that Nigerian airlines can operate direct flights between the two countries. The upper chamber adopted the motion, sponsored by Senate Chief Whip Senator Mohammed Tahir Monguno (Borno North) and seconded by Senator Abdul Ahmed Ningi (Bauchi Central), by voice vote.
The resolution urges the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development to begin renegotiation with priority on reciprocal flight slots, flexible operational schedules and fair commercial terms. It also calls on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to engage its Chinese counterpart on business visa facilitation for Nigerian citizens, and recommends using existing bilateral currency swap arrangements to settle transactions in local currency. The Senate Committees on Aviation and Foreign Affairs have been asked to monitor compliance and report back to plenary within four weeks.
Presenting the motion, Senator Monguno said travellers between Nigeria and China currently have to transit through third countries such as Morocco, the United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia and the United Kingdom. He argued that direct routes from Lagos and Abuja to East Asia would shorten journeys, lower supply chain costs and support non-oil exports. During the debate, Air Peace, United Nigeria Airlines, Azman Air and Ibom Air were cited as domestic carriers capable of operating to China, subject to regulatory approval and commercial arrangements.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, supporting the motion, said Nigerian business travellers going to China had to route through other carriers, such as Kenya Airways and Ethiopian Airlines.
In the same sitting, the Senate rejected proposals to revive the contracts associated with the Nigeria Air project. Akpabio said further discussion of the arrangement awarded under the previous administration would cease, citing ongoing legal issues. The Senate nevertheless urged the ministry to explore new avenues for establishing a national carrier, pointing to the strain on capacity during the December peak travel season.
The resolution passes the matter to the executive, with renegotiation for the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development and its Chinese counterpart. A renegotiated agreement would set the framework within which designated Nigerian carriers obtain the traffic rights and slots to schedule direct services.
