The Senate has called on the Federal Government to renegotiate the Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) with China, warning that the agreement could face a full review unless Nigerian airlines are granted reciprocal rights to operate direct flights between both nations.
The legislative action followed a motion sponsored by Senate Chief Whip, Senator Mohammed Tahir Monguno (Borno North) and seconded by Senator Abdul Ahmed Ningi (Bauchi Central), highlighting a growing imbalance in bilateral aviation relations.
Lawmakers asserted that Nigeria must no longer tolerate agreements that grant foreign carriers access to its market while denying local operators equal commercial opportunities.
Highlighting the scale of bilateral engagement, Senator Monguno noted that trade between Nigeria and China reached approximately $28 billion in 2024 and expanded to $18 billion in the first half of 2025, a 25 percent increase over the same period in the previous year. Furthermore, over 100,000 Nigerians reside in China, while more than 500,000 Chinese nationals live in Nigeria.
Despite these strong economic and demographic ties, travelers are currently forced to transit through third countries such as Morocco, the United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia and the United Kingdom to travel between Nigeria and China. Lawmakers emphasized that this adds significant time and cost for passengers while depriving Nigerian airlines of lucrative international routes.
During the debate, Air Peace, United Nigeria Airlines, Azman Air and Ibom Air were cited as domestic carriers capable of operating direct flights to China, pending regulatory approvals and commercial arrangements.
The legislative debate broadened when Senator Ningi raised concerns regarding the conduct of certain Chinese mining operators, particularly in Bauchi State and other parts of the country. He alleged potential statutory violations and expressed concern that raw minerals were being exported without local value addition, denying Nigeria vital job creation and industrial development opportunities.
Following the debate, the Senate formally adopted the motion and urged the Ministry of Aviation to initiate renegotiation of the BASA deal, prioritizing reciprocal flight slots, flexible operational schedules and fair commercial terms. The Senate also called on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to engage its Chinese counterpart to improve business visa facilitation for Nigerian citizens.
