Nigeria, Jamaica Set November/December Deadline For Air Services Agreement

Nigeria and Jamaica are working towards signing a Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) between the two countries, with the formal endorsement expected to take place in Kingston, Jamaica, between the last week of November and the first week of December 2026.

The development followed a meeting between the minister of aviation and aerospace development, Festus Keyamo and the Jamaican High Commissioner to Nigeria, Lincoln Downer, in Abuja on Wednesday.

The proposed agreement is expected to strengthen aviation relations between both countries, improve air connectivity and create new opportunities for economic cooperation, tourism and people-to-people exchanges.

Speaking during the meeting, Downer expressed satisfaction with the progress made on the agreement, saying both countries had reached an advanced stage and were now looking towards fixing a date for its signing.

He explained that the legally reviewed text of the agreement had already been forwarded to the Nigerian team, adding that he wanted an update on its status to enable both parties to proceed with the formal endorsement.

In response, Keyamo directed officials to provide the relevant documentation to establish the status of the agreement.

The minister was subsequently informed that the document had undergone the necessary legal review by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and had been returned, bringing the process closer to completion.

Keyamo then directed that a final copy be made available to the Jamaican High Commissioner for further review and proofreading to ensure that both countries were satisfied with its provisions before signing.

The BASA, which has been undergoing extensive legal and technical reviews by officials of both countries, is expected to provide a framework for expanding aviation cooperation and facilitating air services between Nigeria and Jamaica.

The proposed signing in Kingston would mark an important step in Nigeria’s efforts to strengthen international aviation partnerships and explore new opportunities for connectivity with countries beyond its traditional aviation markets.

For Jamaica, the agreement is also expected to open avenues for closer engagement with Nigeria, particularly in tourism, trade and other areas of economic cooperation.