Nigeria Seeks Revival of Direct Flights to Italy to Boost Trade and Investment

The Federal Government of Nigeria is pushing for the reinstatement of the Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) with Italy to revive direct flights and enhance trade between the two nations.

The call was made on Wednesday at the Nigeria-Italy Investment Summit 2025 (NIIS 2025) held in Abuja, themed “Building Bridges: Unlocking Opportunities.” The summit was organized by Giant Gee Nigeria Limited, in collaboration with the Nigerian and Italian embassies in Rome and Abuja.

Anderson Madubuike, Director of Economic Trade and Investment at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, advocated for restoring bilateral aviation services to ease travel barriers and deepen bilateral ties.

Speaking through Deputy Director Eucharia Eze, Madubuike lamented the travel difficulties resulting from Alitalia’s cessation of direct flights to Nigeria. “Since Alitalia ceased operations, it has become difficult for passengers to travel directly between our countries,” he noted.

Madubuike emphasized that reinstating the BASA would catalyze economic growth by improving air connectivity, facilitating trade, and attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) between both countries.

“Italy is a significant trading partner for Nigeria. Both countries aim to diversify their economies and attract FDI,” he said. “I believe this summit will help foster impactful partnerships.”

Augustine Chigbolu, CEO of Giant Gee Nigeria Limited, also stressed the need to restore Italian airline services to Nigeria. He pointed out that current travel time has increased to 16–18 hours due to layovers, compared to the previous 5-hour direct flights.

Italian businessman Roberto Bocca echoed the sentiment, stating that the return of Alitalia would significantly boost trade and investment, particularly in infrastructure, energy, and aviation.

“Italy continues to expand its investments across Africa,” Bocca said. “Nigeria has the potential to become a key destination for Italian businesses.”