By Stephen Simon
The Senate has threatened to review Nigeria’s Bilateral Air Service Agreement with China unless Nigerian airlines are granted reciprocal rights to operate direct flights to the Asian country.
The upper chamber urged the Federal Government to renegotiate the agreement to protect Nigerian carriers and ensure that both countries enjoy equal opportunities in international aviation.
The resolution followed a motion sponsored by the Senate Chief Whip, Mohammed Monguno, and seconded by Senator Abdul Ahmed Ningi.
Leading the debate, Monguno expressed concern that the existing agreement had failed to deliver the expected benefits to Nigerian airlines despite growing commercial relations between both countries.
He recalled that Nigeria-China bilateral trade reached $18 billion in the first half of 2025, compared with a total trade volume of $28 billion in 2024.
Supporting the motion, Ningi argued that Nigerian airlines should not continue to face restrictions while Chinese carriers enjoy access to the Nigerian aviation market.
He also called for stronger government oversight of Chinese mining operations in Nigeria, alleging that some operators were exporting raw minerals without adequate local processing.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio renewed calls for the establishment of a national carrier, arguing that a strong indigenous airline would improve international connectivity and retain foreign exchange.
The Senate directed its committees on Aviation and Foreign Affairs to monitor compliance with its resolutions and report back within four weeks.
