Get Guardian on GoogleSenate has threatened to review Nigeria’s air service agreement with China unless Nigerian airlines are granted reciprocal rights to operate direct flights between both countries, escalating pressure on the Federal Government to confront what lawmakers consider an imbalance in bilateral aviation relations.
The warning followed a motion sponsored by Senate Whip, Mohammed Tahir Monguno, representing Borno North, and seconded by Senator Abdul Ahmed Ningi of Bauchi Central.
The lawmakers argued that Nigeria should no longer accept an arrangement that allowed foreign carriers to enjoy access to its aviation market without ensuring comparable opportunities for Nigerian airlines.
The Senate consequently urged the Federal Government to renegotiate the Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) with China, insisting that reciprocity must become a central condition of the deal.
Monguno said the growing economic relationship between Nigeria and China made the issue too important to ignore.
He cited bilateral trade estimated at $18 billion in the first half of 2025, representing a 25 per cent increase over the corresponding period, while total trade in 2024 stood at about $28 billion.
He also pointed to the large Nigerian community in China and the substantial number of Chinese nationals living in Nigeria as reasons for expanding direct air connectivity.
According to figures presented during the debate, more than 100,000 Nigerians live in China, while over 500,000 Chinese nationals reside in Nigeria.
Despite these extensive commercial and people-to-people ties, Monguno said Nigerian travellers often have to pass through other countries, including Morocco, the United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia and the United Kingdom, to reach China.
The arrangement, lawmakers argued, adds time and cost to journeys while limiting the opportunities available to Nigerian aviation operators.
Monguno called for coordinated action by the relevant ministries and aviation regulators to secure improved access for Nigerian carriers.
Air Peace, United Nigeria Airlines, Azman Air and Ibom Air were mentioned during the debate as potential Nigerian operators, subject to regulatory approvals, operational capacity and commercial arrangements.
THE debate took a sharper turn when Ningi raised concerns about the conduct of some Chinese mining operators in Nigeria.
The senator alleged that certain mining activities in Bauchi State and other parts of the country might be operating in violation of Nigerian laws.
He also expressed concern that raw minerals were allegedly being exported without adequate local processing, potentially denying Nigeria jobs, industrial development and greater economic value.
The allegations were raised during the Senate debate and were not independently established in the proceedings.
At the end of the debate, the Senate adopted the motion and urged the Ministry of Aviation to pursue a renegotiation of the agreement, with particular attention to commercial terms, operational schedules and reciprocal access for Nigerian airlines.
It also urged the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to engage its Chinese counterpart on improved business visa facilitation and reciprocal flight slots.
