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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Economy & Trade

Nigeria, Saudi to review BASA

From The Punch · (10h ago) English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Nigeria and Saudi Arabia are reviewing their Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) to enhance aviation ties and improve arrangements for the 2026 Hajj operations.
  • Discussions focused on updating the BASA framework to reflect current global aviation realities and addressing operational issues for airlines from both countries.
  • The review aims to ensure fairness, efficiency, and mutual benefit, particularly concerning the allocation of pilgrims for the annual Hajj airlift.

Nigeria is actively seeking to strengthen its aviation ties with Saudi Arabia through a review of their Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA). This move is particularly timely as both nations prepare for the upcoming 2026 Hajj operations, aiming to ensure a smoother and more efficient experience for Nigerian pilgrims.

The discussions centred on critical BASA and diplomatic matters aimed at improving cooperation between both countries in the aviation sector.

— Festus KeyamoNigeria's Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, describing the focus of the talks with Saudi Arabia.

The high-level discussions in Riyadh, led by Nigeria's Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, centered on modernizing the existing BASA framework. The goal is to align it with the dynamic nature of global aviation and to resolve operational challenges faced by airlines from both countries. This includes addressing critical aspects like slot allocation for Nigerian carriers and the equitable sharing of pilgrims for the Hajj airlift.

Both parties agreed on the need to review the existing BASA framework to reflect present-day realities and evolving dynamics in global aviation.

— Festus KeyamoNigeria's Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, highlighting the agreement to update the BASA to match current aviation trends.

From Nigeria's standpoint, this review is not just about updating an agreement; it's about ensuring fairness, efficiency, and mutual benefit. The focus on the Hajj airlift underscores the significance of this religious pilgrimage for Nigerians and the government's commitment to facilitating a seamless journey. The discussions also touched upon a 2015 Memorandum of Understanding regarding the pilgrim sharing formula, indicating a comprehensive approach to optimizing the arrangement.

The review of the MoU is intended to ensure fairness, efficiency, and mutual benefit for both countries.

— Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace DevelopmentA statement from the ministry explaining the objective of reviewing the Memorandum of Understanding concerning the Hajj airlift.

This engagement reflects Nigeria's proactive approach to bilateral relations in the aviation sector. By collaborating closely with Saudi Arabia, Nigeria aims to enhance its carriers' operational capabilities and improve the overall travel experience for its citizens. The commitment to upholding global aviation standards while fostering stronger partnerships is a key takeaway, positioning Nigeria for improved service delivery in international air travel.

Other key issues discussed included the allocation of slots to Nigerian designated carriers for the 2026 Hajj operations, as well as the determination of the percentage of pilgrims to be airlifted by airlines from both countries.

— Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace DevelopmentA statement from the ministry detailing specific operational issues discussed, including slot allocation and pilgrim airlift percentages for the 2026 Hajj.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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