Minister orders file on Jamaica BASA as agreement nears conclusion

From Isaac Anumihe, Abuja

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has ordered a file on the review of the Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) with Jamaica as both countries move closer to concluding and signing the agreement.

But 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.

Subsequently, the minister directed that a final copy of the agreement be made available to the Jamaican High Commissioner, Lincoln Downer, for a final review and proofreading to ensure that both parties were 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.

In a statement, the Special Adviser on Media and Communications to the minister, Tunde Moshood, said the proposed signing represented another significant step in Nigeria’s efforts to deepen international aviation partnerships, expand air connectivity and strengthen bilateral co-operation through mutually beneficial air services agreements.

“For Nigeria and Jamaica, 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,” he said.

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.

In his remarks, Downer expressed satisfaction with the progress made so far, noting that both countries had reached a critical stage in the process and were now looking towards setting a date for the signing.

“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?” he said.

Meanwhile, 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 co-operation between Nigeria and Jamaica.

The agreement, which has been in the pipeline, has undergone extensive legal and technical reviews by officials of both countries, with the respective teams working to perfect the necessary documentation ahead of its formal endorsement.