[UPDATED] Trinidad and Tobago signs bilateral air services agreement with Nigeria

TRINIDAD and Tobago and Nigeria have signed a bilateral air services agreement which will enable direct flights between the two countries, which could be as little as eight hours. This is TT’s first ever bilateral air services agreement with an African state.

The agreement was signed by Works and Transport Minister Rohan Sinanan and Nigerian Aviation and Aerospace Development minister Festus Keyamo at the Piarco International Airport VIP Lounge on April 14.

Sinanan said the deal had been in the works through various administrations and represented a re-connection between the two countries. He said it could not come at a better time, given the state of international affairs.

“This took 23 years in the making. I’m happy that today we could formalise this agreement. TT has the potential to be a hub, just like you have the hubs in Europe, North America, etc. With support from Nigeria and the rest of the African states, with agreements we signed in the last couple years, we are poised to be that hub in the Caribbean region.

“Our history was purposely designed to not give us the information we should have, because our knowledge of Africa is that, ‘it is so far, why do you want to go there? You have to travel for days.’ This morning as we are here, it is even closer than London, and we don’t have the restrictions that we are required to have to go there.”

Keyamo said the government would begin looking for airlines to fill the route immediately. He encouraged TT to become a hub for the Caribbean to the African continent.

“Your signing this agreement today is not just an agreement, it’s a connection with your roots and with the biggest Black nation on earth, Nigeria, the biggest hub in Africa, the largest population, the most travelled people, and so, even in terms of its geographical location, we are just at the tip of the Atlantic.

“Let’s bring traffic, let’s revive the route, after WWII the route was abandoned. It’s all international aero-politics. They didn’t want Africa and the Caribbean to connect, they always want us to go through them, but we’ll no longer go through them. We will work very hard to see the airlines to begin the route and we encourage you to work very hard.”

Foreign and Caricom Affairs Minister Dr Amery Browne said the agreement would offer expanded air travel which would be cheaper, convenient and more accessible at a time when the international landscape has become unpredictable.

“This is an important achievement we should not understate. I am pleased this agreement will allow our two nations to accelerate or recreate our economic and cultural ties through increased and improved connectivity. When circumstances become more complex around you, you learn to lean even more on your reliable friends, partners and family.”

He said the agreement would facilitate enhanced access for TT not just to Nigeria, but also West Africa and the wider African continent.

Former chairman of the Standing Negotiating Committee on Air Services Agreements Anthony Vieira said the agreement cleared the way for flights between TT and Africa to resume.

He said it was an overdue restoration of a trans-Atlantic corridor which began in World War II when planes would go directly between the Wallerfield Air Base in Chaguaramas and the African continent, which was stopped at the end of the war.

“At a time when global powers are retreating inward, choosing isolation over engagement, this agreement represents a bold step in the opposite direction, towards greater collaboration, deeper integration and stronger ties with like-minded partners.

“Africa is increasingly recognised as an emerging economic partner, marked by rapid growth, demographic dynamism and expanding global influence. Direct airlinks will open new avenues for trade, investment, tourism, education and cultural exchange. This will help bring our people closer together and foster relationships that go beyond borders.”

Vieira said work on the agreement had restarted in 2018, after being on pause since 2015.

“When mutual interest was expressed in February 2024 for signing and ratification of this long-desired committee, the air services committee proceeded to review the proposal from Nigeria and in May 2024, our comments were transmitted via our High Commission in Abuja. Since then, both parties met twice virtually and exchanged detailed comments before arriving at the agreed text.”

TT’s High Commissioner to Nigeria Wendell De Landro was commended by all present for his work on the agreement. He told Newsday it was one of the two initiatives he wanted to put in place when he went to Nigeria, the other being pan in Nigerian schools.

“This was too long in the making and why wouldn’t it have happened? Economically, everyone benefits, and two days worth of transport could go away. We did this last year when the Ashantahene King was here. He flew directly from Ghana on a private jet, 7.5 hours, so we know it could be done. Piarco is going to be like Bole Addis Ababa International Airport in Ethiopia and we will all benefit.”

This story has been updated to include additional details. See original post below.

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO and Nigeria have signed a bilateral air services agreement which will enable direct flights between the two countries, which could be as little as eight hours.

The agreement was signed by Works and Transport Minister Rohan Sinanan and Nigerian Aviation and Aerospace Development minister Festus Keyamo at the Piarco International Airport VIP Lounge on April 14.

Sinanan said the deal had been in the works through various administrations and represented a re-connection between the two countries.

He said it could not come at a better time, given the state of international affairs.

Keyamo said the government would begin looking for airlines to fill the route immediately. He encouraged TT to become a hub for the Caribbean to the African continent.

Foreign and Caricom Affairs Minister Dr Amery Browne said the agreement would offer expanded air travel which would be cheaper and more accessible at a time when the international landscape has become unpredictable.