In a significant diplomatic move aimed at strengthening aviation links between Africa and the Caribbean, Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, paid a historic visit to Bridgetown, Barbados, where he met with Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley, SC, MP.
The visit comes shortly after the signing of a Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) between Nigeria and Trinidad and Tobago, as part of broader efforts to expand Nigeria’s air connectivity with South America and the Caribbean.
In a show of warm hospitality, Prime Minister Mottley personally received Minister Keyamo, highlighting the importance both leaders place on building stronger Afro-Caribbean ties.
Their discussions centred on expanding direct air links between Nigeria and Barbados and updating the existing air services agreement to reflect contemporary demands.
Minister Keyamo underscored the initiative as a crucial step toward realising President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly in establishing Nigeria as a leading aviation gateway to Africa from the Americas.
The Minister also held bilateral talks with several key Barbados Cabinet Ministers, focusing on strategies to facilitate easier travel, enhance tourism, and foster economic collaboration between the two regions.
Both sides committed to advancing these discussions into tangible outcomes.
Minister Keyamo extended a formal invitation for a follow-up meeting in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital a proposal warmly accepted by Prime Minister Mottley.
The visit marks another milestone in Nigeria’s proactive aviation diplomacy, reinforcing the country’s emerging role as a critical hub for intercontinental air travel.
