Nigeria and Russia to Update 1967 Air Services Pact

Nigeria and Russia have agreed to renegotiate their 1967 bilateral air services pact during a high-level meeting at the third Russia-Africa Summit in Moscow. The Nigerian delegation was led by Festus Keyamo, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development.

Tunde Moshood, the minister’s Special Adviser on Media and Communications, stated that the review aims to strengthen aviation relations and enhance cooperation in the air transport sector. Discussions were held with Dmitry Stanislavovich Zverev, the State Secretary and Deputy Minister of Transport of the Russian Federation, focusing on modernizing the existing air services framework.

Both countries have set a six-month timeline to finalize negotiations and sign a new agreement in Saint Petersburg, Russia, in April 2027. To facilitate this process, negotiating teams from both nations have been established to begin work immediately.

The revised agreement is expected to improve connectivity and foster closer collaboration between the aviation sectors of Nigeria and Russia.