Nigerians residing in Brazil have accused the Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration and local airline Air Peace of misleading them with assurances of a direct air link between Lagos and São Paulo—an arrangement they say has failed to materialise and left many facing serious financial hardship.
Members of the Nigerian community told SaharaReporters that expectations were raised after a widely publicised Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) reportedly signed between Nigeria and Brazil in August 2025. The agreement was presented as a major diplomatic and economic milestone, with Air Peace expected to operate a nonstop Lagos–São Paulo route.
Months after the announcement, however, there has been no sign of the promised service. No flights have commenced, and neither the airline nor the Nigerian government has offered an update or explanation.
One Nigerian resident in Brazil described the deal as misleading from the beginning, saying the announcement created false optimism among Nigerians living in South America. According to the source, Air Peace representatives had assured the community that flights would begin by November 2025 and that ticket prices would be slashed by half due to the shorter travel time of about six to seven hours.
Before these assurances, Nigerians travelling between the two countries typically paid as much as $1,500 for tickets involving multiple stopovers through Europe, South Africa, or Addis Ababa.
Believing the promise, many Nigerians postponed travel plans or prepared for business trips to Nigeria, expecting cheaper and more convenient flights. Students and entrepreneurs, in particular, said they reorganised their schedules and finances based on the anticipated launch of the direct route.
As of early 2026, those expectations remain unmet. Community members say the lack of communication has left many stranded, especially students who can no longer afford the expensive connecting flights now available.
The situation, they argue, has caused emotional distress and financial losses, with some individuals missing important academic, business, and family commitments.
Others noted that the issue reflects a recurring pattern, recalling similar promises by previous Nigerian governments that never came to fruition. One long-term resident of Brazil said the disappointment surrounding this announcement was greater because it was heavily promoted and celebrated by the current administration.
Despite the initial fanfare around the MoU and repeated mentions of Air Peace as the designated carrier, there are still no flight schedules, ticket sales, or visible regulatory progress on the route.
