The United States-Nigeria Open Skies Air Transport Bilateral Agreement Takes Effect

May 25, 2024

• The US-Nigeria air transport bilateral agreement has come into effect, aiming to liberalize the sector and promote economic and commercial ties.
•  The bilateral agreement is seen as a step forward, creating new opportunities for airlines and travelers and promoting tourism and commerce between the two nations.

The U.S.-Nigeria Air Transport Agreement, which has been provisionally applied since 2000, entered into force on May 13, 2024. This bilateral agreement establishes a modern civil aviation relationship with Nigeria consistent with U.S. Open Skies international aviation policy and with commitments to high standards of aviation safety and security. The agreement includes provisions that allow for unrestricted capacity and frequency of services, open route rights, a liberal charter regime, and open code-sharing opportunities.

This agreement with Nigeria is a step forward in liberalizing the international civil aviation sector in Africa and further expands our strong economic and commercial partnership, promotes people-to-people ties, and creates new opportunities for airlines, travel companies, and customers. With this agreement, air carriers can provide more affordable, convenient, and efficient air services to travelers and shippers, which in turn promotes tourism and commerce.

US is home to more than 500,000 Nigerian-born US citizens and legal residents and 17,000 Nigerian students. This move seems to be in the right direction, strengthening these ties even further and creating new economic opportunities.