Nigerians in Brazil Cry Out Over Unfulfilled Lagos–São Paulo Flight Promise, Accuse Tinubu Govt and Air Peace of Deception

Story: written by Springnewsng
Nigerians residing in Brazil have accused the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Nigerian airline Air Peace of misleading them with what they describe as a false promise of direct flights between Lagos and São Paulo, leaving many stranded and under financial strain.
Speaking to SaharaReporters, members of the Nigerian community said expectations were raised following a widely publicised Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) reportedly signed between Nigeria and Brazil in August 2025, which highlighted plans for a direct air route to be operated by Air Peace.
Several months after the agreement was announced and celebrated by government officials, the promised flights have yet to materialise, with no official explanation from either the Nigerian government or the airline.
One Nigerian resident in Brazil described the deal as deceptive from the beginning.
“The MoU signed by the Tinubu government with Brazil is a big scam. It gave Nigerians here false hope. It was all a lie,” the source said.
According to the resident, Nigerians previously spent as much as $1,500 on indirect routes to Brazil through Addis Ababa, South Africa, or Europe due to the absence of direct flights. The Air Peace chairman, the source added, had promised that direct flights would commence by November 2025, slashing fares by 50 percent and reducing travel time to about six or seven hours.
The assurances reportedly led many Nigerians in Brazil—especially students and business owners—to postpone travel plans or prepare for trips home, believing cheaper and faster flights were imminent.
“We trusted the promises and planned our journeys around them. Many of us have businesses in Nigeria and believed the government was sincere,” the source said.
Months after the projected November launch, there has been no flight, no ticket sales, and no public update.
“Now we are stranded. It’s almost February and nothing has happened. There’s been no communication. Many students are stuck here without any response from the government or Air Peace,” the source added.
Community members say the situation has caused significant financial and emotional hardship, with some unable to afford the still-expensive connecting flights they had earlier ignored in anticipation of the direct service.
Others noted that the episode mirrors a recurring pattern of unfulfilled promises by successive Nigerian governments regarding direct air links between Nigeria and Brazil.
“This isn’t the first time. I’ve lived in Brazil for over 30 years. Every government promises direct flights, but this one was different because it was loudly celebrated,” another source said.
The August MoU was promoted by the Tinubu administration as a milestone in Nigeria–Brazil relations, with aviation cooperation positioned as a major highlight. Nearly six months later, however, there is no sign of regulatory approvals, flight schedules, or operational readiness for the proposed Lagos–São Paulo route.