KEY POINTS
- The Senate wants Nigeria’s air services deal with China renegotiated.
- Lawmakers say Nigerian airlines need reciprocal rights to fly direct to China.
- Sen. Abdul Ningi raised unproven allegations against some Chinese miners.
Nigeria’s Senate has threatened to review the country’s aviation deal with China unless Nigerian airlines get reciprocal rights to fly directly between the two countries, The Guardian reported.
Senate Whip Mohammed Tahir Monguno of Borno North sponsored the motion, and Sen. Abdul Ahmed Ningi of Bauchi Central seconded it. Lawmakers argued that Nigeria should no longer accept an arrangement that gives foreign carriers access to its market without comparable opportunities for local airlines.
So the Senate urged the federal government to renegotiate the bilateral air services agreement, insisting that reciprocity become a central condition.
Why lawmakers want the aviation deal reviewed
Monguno said growing economic ties made the issue too important to ignore. He cited bilateral trade estimated at $18 billion in the first half of 2025, up 25% from a year earlier, and about $28 billion for all of 2024.
He also pointed to large communities in both countries. More than 100,000 Nigerians live in China, while over 500,000 Chinese nationals live in Nigeria, according to figures presented during the debate.
Still, Nigerian travelers often connect through Morocco, the United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia or Britain to reach China, Monguno said. That adds time and cost to journeys while limiting opportunities for Nigerian carriers.
Lawmakers named Air Peace, United Nigeria Airlines, Azman Air and Ibom Air as possible operators on the route, subject to regulatory approvals, operating capacity and commercial terms.
Mining concerns sharpen the debate
However, the debate took a sharper turn when Ningi raised concerns about some Chinese mining operators. He alleged that certain mining activities in Bauchi State and elsewhere may be breaking Nigerian law.
He also said raw minerals were allegedly leaving the country without adequate local processing, potentially costing Nigeria jobs, industrial development and economic value. The newspaper noted that the allegations were not independently established during the proceedings.
In the end, the Senate adopted the motion. It urged the aviation ministry to pursue a renegotiation focused on commercial terms, flight schedules and reciprocal access. Lawmakers also asked the foreign affairs ministry to press China on business visa facilitation and reciprocal flight slots.
