Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo has directed the immediate acceleration of all administrative processes to conclude the Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) between Nigeria and Belgium, with the aim of signing the pact before the departure of the outgoing Belgian Ambassador to Nigeria, Ambassador Pieter Leenknegt, who paid him a farewell visit in Abuja.
The Special Adviser to the Minister on Media and Communications, Tunde Moshood who made this known in a press release said the visit by Ambassador Leenknegt to the minister is ahead of the end of his diplomatic assignment on August 5, 2026. Keyamo ordered the Director of Air Transport Management in the ministry to immediately provide him with the current status of negotiations on the agreement and ensure that every outstanding administrative process is expedited.
He further instructed that all unresolved issues be addressed without delay to enable the BASA to be signed before the ambassador’s departure in two weeks. The minister described the agreement as a strategic step towards improving air connectivity between Nigeria and Belgium, boosting trade and investment, promoting tourism, and strengthening bilateral relations.
Speaking during the visit, Ambassador Leenknegt expressed appreciation for the cordial ties between both countries and revisited discussions on the proposed BASA, which was first raised during an earlier meeting with the minister this year.
He explained that one of the outstanding issues involved the European Union ownership clause affecting Belgian airlines, noting that Belgium no longer has a national carrier with a Belgian majority shareholder. According to him, the agreement would require provisions that reflect the realities of the European aviation framework while protecting the interests of both countries.
The ambassador recalled being informed during previous engagements with ministry officials that the BASA process could be concluded by October, but sought clarification on the timeline while stressing the economic benefits of direct air links between Nigeria and Belgium.
According to him, direct flights between Lagos or Abuja and Brussels would enhance trade, tourism and people-to-people exchanges, adding that many Nigerian travellers currently transit through neighbouring countries such as Cotonou to access flights to Brussels despite Nigeria’s strong passenger traffic potential.
He described the proposed agreement as “low-hanging fruit” capable of deepening bilateral relations and expressed hope that it would be concluded before the end of his tenure.
Responding, Keyamo expressed surprise that direct flights between Nigeria and Belgium had yet to commence despite the volume of business between both countries and Nigeria’s large population.
“It is surprising that with the size of Nigeria, our population and the volume of business between both countries, we still do not have direct flights to Brussels. We need to fast-track this process,” the minister said.
He noted that Brussels serves as both an important European destination and a major transit hub linking travellers to several cities across Europe, making the agreement strategically important for Nigeria’s aviation sector.
The meeting ended with both sides reaffirming their commitment to expanding aviation cooperation and expressing optimism that direct air services between Nigeria and Belgium would soon become a reality.
One Comment