The recent negotiations on the liberalization of air services is one of the highlights achieved by the Nigeria-South Africa Bi-National Commission (BNC), Deputy President Baleka Mbete said on Tuesday.

Speaking at the presidential guest house in Pretoria after hosting Nigerian Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan, Baleka said the bilateral air services agreement would see an increase in the frequencies of flights and open up new routes between the countries.

"These are some of the issues to which we are referring when we say there has been progress," said Mbete.

Fleshing out the agreement, Jonathan said South African Airways could now fly not only to Lagos but also the country's seat of government, Abuja.

"This is a very significant development," said Jonathan.

He said at the moment SAA could only fly into Lagos, four flights a week.

With the new agreement, SAA and any other airline could fly into Lagos and Abuja 10 times a week.

Two Nigerian airlines would also fly to South Africa and land in either Johannesburg or Cape Town.

Baleka said other agreements and issues of co-operation where in the pipeline however it was question of tightening up and implementation.

"... Sometimes you can have engagements where there are discussions and no action to ensure that some of the things which have been under discussion between the two countries to be implemented."

She said the BNC had agreed on a review council to help assess progress made and it had been decided that permanent secretariat be put in place.

The countries had not discussed who would fund this position or where the secretariat would be based.

A preparatory committee that would help the countries prepare for the 10th anniversary since the inception of the BNC would also be established.

The celebration would be held in October 2009 but the parties had undertaken to review the BNC progress in Nigeria in March next year.