Aviation: Angola seeks to partner Nigeria, explores BASA

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L-R: Amb. Zau, Minister Festus Keyamo and FAAN MD, Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku

Angola has shown a strong interest in forging a Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) and pursuing other collaborative opportunities in the aviation sector with Nigeria.

This was revealed during a visit by the Angolan Ambassador to Nigeria, Jose Bamoquina Zau, and his deputy, Nelson Paulo Kafikiri, who delivered a message from Angola’s Minister of Transport, Ricardo de Abreu, to Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo.

Ambassador Zau conveyed Angola’s eagerness to build a strategic partnership with Nigeria, emphasizing the importance of drawing from the wealth of experience of Nigeria’s aviation leadership. He also provided updates on Angola’s aviation progress, particularly the overhaul of its airport infrastructure.

Highlighting Angola’s advancements, Zau announced that the country’s new airport, which is poised to become a regional hub, will be officially commissioned in October. He extended an invitation on behalf of Minister de Abreu, inviting Minister Keyamo to attend the grand opening of the new facility.

In response, Keyamo expressed his appreciation for the visit and commended Angola on its remarkable progress in upgrading its aviation infrastructure. He noted that Nigeria is eager to work closely with Angola to enhance air connectivity and explore new business opportunities within the sector.

To ensure smooth coordination ahead of the airport’s commissioning, Keyamo established a technical committee that will collaborate with the Angolan Embassy’s team. This committee will handle logistics and help identify potential areas of cooperation between the two nations.

Keyamo emphasized that the visit highlights Angola’s commitment to deepening its aviation ties with Nigeria, which he said would greatly benefit both countries. He reaffirmed his commitment to attend the upcoming event and strengthen cooperation in aviation business and infrastructure development.

The Angolan delegation expressed optimism about the future of the partnership, noting that both nations stand to gain from deeper collaboration, especially in aviation business and infrastructure.