The Senate has rejected calls for the revival of Nigeria Airways and Air Nigeria while it urged the Federal Government to renegotiate and enforce Nigeria’s Bilateral Air Services agreement, BASA, with China to allow Nigerian airlines to operate direct flights to the Asian country.Nigerian travel guide
According to the Senate, there was the urgent need for a review of existing aviation arrangements to address the imbalance in flight operations between both countries and ensure that Nigerian carriers enjoy reciprocal access to China directly.
The Upper Chamber has also urged the Federal Government to explore ways of establishing a viable national carrier that would fly the nation’s flag to ease the challenges confronting Nigerian air travellers rather than what it described as wasting time in discussing dead issues.Nigerian travel guide
The Senate also asked the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs to initiate diplomatic talks with China regarding business visa facilitation for Nigerian traders and reciprocal slot allocations to Chinese airports.
Resolutions of the Senate on Tuesday were a sequel to a motion titled “Enforcing the Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA)”. The motion was moved by the Senate Whip, Senator Mohammed Tahir Monguno, APC, Borno North.
The Upper Chamber has mandated the committees on Aviation and Foreign Affairs to ensure compliance and report to the Senate in 4 weeks.
The Senate also noted the growing trade relationship between both countries and the need for Nigeria to maximise the economic benefits of that partnership.Nigerian travel guide
An additional prayer by Senator Ned Nwoko, APC, Delta North, to revive the defunct airline sparked an additional debate as it was dismissed.
The President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, said, “We can’t revive what is already dead.” Instead, the leadership advised pursuing an entirely new, viable national carrier.
Senator Akpabio, who questioned the wisdom of reviving an airline that had long ceased operations, said, . ‘We can’t revive what is already dead. Did Nigerian airways ever work?Nigerian travel guide
While acknowledging the importance of having a Nigerian-owned airline, the President of the Senate recalled that the country once operated a fleet of nearly 40 aircraft and how Nigeria got to where we are, saying, “Common campaigns, we cannot have planes to hire.”
Akpabio, however, warned that Nigeria might have to reconsider the privileges granted to Chinese airlines if Nigerian carriers were not allowed reciprocal access to operate direct flights to China.
Recall that the plane unveiled as Nigeria Air in May 2023 was alleged to be a chartered Ethiopian Airlines aircraft leased for just a 72-hour display before being flown back to Addis Ababa.
Earlier in his presentation, Senator Monguno noted that Nigeria and China have significant populations of citizens living in each other’s territories, creating substantial demand for direct air connectivity.
He argued that a more balanced agreement would reduce travel time, improve supply-chain efficiency, boost trade and limit foreign exchange outflows associated with international travel.
Monguno said that the Senate notes that the Administration of the late former President Muhmmadu Buhari, Nigeria-China, signed a Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) to establish a direct commercial air link and govern flight frequencies;
“Also notes that the volume of trade between Nigeria and China reached $18 billion in the first half of 2025 (a 35% increase year-on-year, building on a total of $28 billion recorded in 2026);Nigerian travel guide
“Aware that the BASA instrument is intended to establish a direct scheduled Nigeria-China flight that would transform Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, and the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja, from mere origin/destination points into the primary gateway linking West and Central Africa to East Asia;
“Also aware that the population of Nigerians in China is more than 1,000,000 people, while that of China in Nigeria is more than 5,000,000, and this has generated the interest of China in Nigeria because it is Africa’s most populous nation and largest economy, offering massive markets on the African continent;Nigerian travel guide
“Further aware that the benefits of enforcing such a bilateral agreement will reduce drastically travel time and increase supply chain velocity, retention of foreign exchange (capital flight reduction), aeronautical revenues for Nigerian gateways, increase commercial SME growth and non-oil export expansion, and accelerated perishable exports, among other benefits;
“Appreciates that the utilisation of BASA between Nigeria and China will actualise the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Ahmed Bola in facilitating the ease of doing business in Nigeria, enhancing bilateral and diplomatic relationships, creating massive employment (both direct and indirect jobs), and opening up export opportunities;Nigerian travel guide
“Acknowledges that what is urgently required to enforce such a fantastic Air Agreement lies across the Executive Policy instrument from the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigeria Customs Service; andNigerian travel guide
“Notes that enforcing the BASA instrument between Nigeria and China, the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development and the NCAA hold direct regulatory levers by enforcing strict BASA reciprocity, rationalising sixth freedom competition, bilateral code-share mandates, temporary airport fee waivers, direct Naira settlement window using the existing bilateral currency swap framework, bypassing the US dollar, among other enforcing mechanisms.”Nigerian travel guide
In his contribution, Senator Abdul Ningi, Bauchi Central, argued that Nigeria was not receiving commensurate benefits from its relationship with China, despite the Asian country’s growing influence in the global economy.
