EXCLUSIVE: Nigerians Stranded In Brazil Accuse Tinubu Govt, Air Peace Of 'Scam' Over Fake Lagos–São Paulo Direct Flight Deal

One Nigerian resident in Brazil told SaharaReporters that the entire arrangement was deceptive from the outset.

Nigerians living in Brazil have accused the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Nigerian airline, Air Peace, of deceiving them with what they described as a fraudulent promise of direct flights between Lagos and São Paulo, a development that has now left many of them stranded and financially distressed.

The aggrieved Nigerians, who spoke to SaharaReporters, said the much-publicised Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) reportedly signed between the Nigerian government and Brazil in August 2025 raised high expectations within the Nigerian community in South America, particularly around the promise of a direct Lagos–São Paulo air route to be operated by Air Peace.

However, several months after the agreement was celebrated by government officials and widely circulated in the media, nothing has materialised.

One Nigerian resident in Brazil told SaharaReporters that the entire arrangement was deceptive from the outset.

“The Memorandum of Understanding signed by the Tinubu government with Brazil in August is a big scam and they just gave us, Nigerians living there, a false hope. It was all a lie,” the Nigerian resident in Brazil said.

“Particularly, the aspect of Air Peace flying direct flights between Lagos and Sao Paulo. Before they came to Brazil to deceive us, Nigerians were spending up to $1,500 to go from Nigeria to Brazil. This was because there was no direct flight. We always move through Addis Ababa, South Africa and Europe to come to Brazil.

“The Air Peace Chairman gave us a false hope when he brought his flight that time. He promised us that the flight would start properly in November 2025 and he would reduce the flight price by 50% because it is a direct flight of about 6 to 7 hours.”

According to the source, assurances from government representatives and the airline prompted many Nigerians in Brazil to postpone their travel plans, while others began preparing for business trips to Nigeria in the belief that cheaper, faster direct flights were imminent.

“A lot of us believed them; this made us plan our trips ahead. We have a lot of business to do in Nigeria so we thought the government was sincere about what they told us,” the source said.

Instead, months after the promised November 2025 timeline, there has been no flight, no official statement, and no explanation from either Air Peace or the Nigerian government.

“Now we are stranded. We are close to February now and Air Peace has not done anything. There is no communication about it. Many students are stranded here without any official response from either the government or Air Peace,” the source added.

Members of the Nigerian community in Brazil say the situation has placed severe financial and emotional strain on them, especially students and small business owners who had arranged their affairs around the anticipated direct route.

Some disclosed that they turned down alternative travel options, expecting the promised cheaper direct flight, only to find themselves unable to afford current connecting flights whose prices remain high.

Beyond the immediate hardship, the sources said the episode reflects a long-standing pattern of unfulfilled promises by successive Nigerian administrations regarding direct air connectivity between Nigeria and Brazil.

“This is not the first time the Nigerian government would do such a thing. I have been in Brazil for over three decades. Each government always comes with the false hope of giving us direct flights to Nigeria. But what made this one by Tinubu’s government so worrisome is that the government celebrated it so much,” another source said.

The MoU signing in August was widely publicised by the Tinubu administration as a breakthrough in strengthening Nigeria–Brazil relations, with aviation cooperation portrayed as a key component.

Air Peace, Nigeria’s largest private airline, was repeatedly mentioned as the carrier expected to operate the route.

However, nearly six months later, there is no evidence of ticket sales, flight schedules, regulatory approvals, or any public update on the supposed Lagos–São Paulo service.

Repeated attempts by SaharaReporters to obtain comments from Air Peace and the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, regarding the status of the promised route were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.