Nigeria and Germany are set to strengthen their aviation relationship as the Federal Government backs plans to review and ratify the countries’ Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA).
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, gave the assurance during a meeting with a delegation from Lufthansa Group in Abuja. The discussions centred on updating the existing aviation agreement and expanding German airline operations in Nigeria.
The BASA between Nigeria and Germany was signed in 2010. Lufthansa told the minister that the agreement now needs to be updated and formally ratified to reflect changes in the aviation relationship between both countries.
The German airline group said its government is already reviewing the agreement as part of efforts to modernise the framework governing air services between Nigeria and Germany.
The meeting also provided an opportunity for Lufthansa Group to discuss its plans to increase its presence in Nigeria. The company disclosed that it intends to introduce Eurowings, another airline within the Lufthansa Group, to the Nigerian market.
The proposed service is expected to begin next year and would reportedly use Boeing 737-series aircraft. If launched as planned, the additional service would increase direct air travel options between Nigeria and Germany while strengthening business and tourism links between the two countries.
The Lufthansa delegation included Alexandra Dietzen-Zill, Senior Manager for Aeropolitical Relations and Traffic Rights at Lufthansa Group, and Walid Mahmud, Sales Executive at Lufthansa Technik, Aero Alzey.
Dietzen-Zill praised recent reforms in Nigeria’s aviation sector, saying they were helping to improve the country’s attractiveness to international investors.
She particularly highlighted Nigeria’s accession to and implementation of the Cape Town Convention, an international framework that provides protections for aircraft financing and leasing. The development, she said, has contributed to greater confidence in Nigeria’s aviation market.
Lufthansa said it remains interested in a stronger and more modern aviation relationship with Nigeria and Germany. The airline group’s position comes as international carriers continue to assess opportunities to expand routes and operations in major African markets.
Responding to the delegation, Keyamo welcomed Lufthansa’s interest in expanding its Nigerian operations and acknowledged the group’s longstanding presence in the country.
The minister said the Federal Government was ready to support legitimate investments that can improve air connectivity, create more travel options and contribute to the growth of Nigeria’s aviation industry.
He also assured Lufthansa that the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development would remain open to discussions with international airlines seeking to increase their operations in Nigeria.
Keyamo said the government’s aviation policies are aimed at improving investor confidence, strengthening international partnerships and positioning Nigeria as a major aviation hub in Africa.
The planned BASA review and possible entry of Eurowings could therefore mark another step in deepening Nigeria-Germany aviation ties, while giving passengers additional options for international travel.
For Nigeria, a modernised BASA could also provide a stronger framework for future airline cooperation and help attract more international aviation investment into the country.
