Nigeria and Qatar in Doha on Sunday signed bilateral air services agreement, BASA, to pave the way for direct flights between the major cities of both countries. The two countries also signed an agreement to avoid double taxation and tax evasion on the side of the state visit of President Muhammadu Buhari line to Qatar.
The Minister of State for aviation, Hadi Sirika, the president who represents Muhammadu Buhari, signed air services agreement on behalf of the country, while Minister of Qatar of Transport and Communications, Jassim Bin Saif Al Sulaiti, signed on behalf of Emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani.
It is expected that the agreement, which was signed in the presence of both leaders to operate on the principle of reciprocity by the designated countries on behalf of the airlines. The Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, also signed the agreement to avoid double taxation and prevent fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income with his Qatari counterpart, Ali Shareef Al Emadi.
It is also expected that the agreement will promote bilateral air service trade, trade and tourism between the two countries like Nigeria has also initiated talks associations to establish a national airline of Nigeria.
The agreement on the avoidance of double taxation which had been negotiated since February 2015 itself will bring more investment and business between Qatar and Nigeria.