The Nigerian Senate has urged the Federal Government to secure reciprocal direct flight rights for Nigerian airlines operating to China, threatening to review the country’s Bilateral Air Service Agreement with the Asian nation if equal opportunities are not guaranteed.

The lawmakers made the demand during plenary on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, calling for the renegotiation of the existing agreement to protect local carriers and strengthen Nigeria’s aviation industry.

Also read: Dollar sells for ₦1,395 as naira trades at ₦1,347

The resolution followed a motion sponsored by the Senate Leader, Mohammed Monguno, representing Borno North, and seconded by Senator Abdul Ahmed Ningi of Bauchi Central.

Leading the debate, Monguno recalled that Nigeria and China signed a Bilateral Air Service Agreement under former President Muhammadu Buhari to establish direct commercial air links and regulate flight operations between both countries.

However, he expressed concern that the arrangement had not delivered the expected reciprocal benefits for Nigerian airlines.

Monguno said bilateral trade between Nigeria and China reached $18bn in the first half of 2025, representing a 25 per cent increase compared with the corresponding period in the previous year.

He added that total trade volume stood at $28bn in 2024.

He argued that the growing economic relationship and populations of both countries made improved air connectivity increasingly important.

According to him, effective implementation of the agreement could position the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja as major aviation gateways connecting West and Central Africa to East Asia.

He also identified reduced travel time, stronger supply chains, increased airline revenue, foreign exchange retention and improved opportunities for small and medium-scale enterprises as potential benefits.

Monguno added that direct flights could support non-oil exports, particularly agricultural products, while strengthening Nigeria’s international trade.

He called on the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Nigeria Customs Service to work towards effective implementation of the agreement.

Seconding the motion, Ningi described the proposal as patriotic but raised concerns about the activities of some Chinese nationals in Nigeria’s solid minerals sector.

He alleged that certain Chinese mining operations in Bauchi State and other parts of the country might be operating without complying with all relevant legal requirements.

The senator expressed concern over the scale of mining activities, the equipment deployed and the alleged exportation of raw minerals without adequate local processing.

He called for stronger government oversight to ensure that Nigeria derived greater economic benefits from its mineral resources.

On aviation, Ningi said Nigerians travelling to China often had to connect through countries such as Morocco, the United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia and the United Kingdom because Nigerian airlines lacked direct flight services to the Asian country.

He urged the Federal Government to support domestic carriers, including Air Peace, United Nigeria Airlines, Azman Air and Ibom Air, to expand their international operations, subject to regulatory and operational requirements.

Ningi maintained that Nigeria should not continue granting Chinese airlines access to its aviation market without securing equivalent opportunities for its own carriers.

Contributing to the debate, Senate President Godswill Akpabio called for the revival of a national airline, arguing that Nigeria needed a strong indigenous carrier to compete in the international aviation market.

He recalled the defunct Nigerian Airways, noting that the country previously operated a sizeable fleet and maintained international routes.

Akpabio also expressed concern about the pressure on domestic airlines during peak travel periods, particularly in December, when demand for air travel rises.

He said a national carrier could improve connectivity, retain foreign exchange within the country and ease travel difficulties.

Senator Mustapha Khabeeb, representing Jigawa South-West, also supported the proposal but suggested that the focus should be on reviving Air Nigeria rather than the defunct Nigerian Airways.

Another lawmaker, Senator Mohammed Ogoshi, representing Nasarawa South, backed the demand for strict reciprocity in flight operations between both countries.

Following deliberations, the Senate urged the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development to renegotiate the commercial terms and operational schedules of the existing Nigeria-China Bilateral Air Service Agreement.

It also asked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to initiate diplomatic discussions with Chinese authorities on facilitating business visas for Nigerian traders and securing reciprocal flight-slot allocations for Nigerian airlines.

The lawmakers further adopted Ningi’s proposal, supported by Senator Onawo, urging the Federal Government to enforce equal flight opportunities for Nigerian and Chinese carriers.

The Senate indicated that the agreement should be reviewed if the required reciprocal arrangements could not be secured.

It mandated its Committees on Aviation and Foreign Affairs to monitor compliance with the resolutions and report back within four weeks.

Although the proposal for a national carrier received support during the debate, the Senate noted that a separate substantive motion would be required for further legislative consideration.