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| Photo: Nigeria, Canada |
Nigeria, Canada Sign Expanded Air Transport Agreement to Enable Direct Flights
Nigeria and Canada have signed an expanded Air Transport Agreement that will, for the first time, allow airlines to operate direct scheduled flights between the two countries.
The landmark agreement is expected to deepen bilateral aviation ties, improve air connectivity and strengthen economic cooperation between Nigeria and Canada.
The agreement was signed on behalf of Nigeria by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, who was represented by the Director of Air Transport Management in the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mohammed Ahmed Tijjani.
Tijjani signed the agreement alongside Canada’s Chief Air Negotiator for Global Affairs Canada, Shendra Melia, at the Canadian High Commission in Abuja.
The development was disclosed in a statement issued by Tunde Moshood, Special Adviser on Media and Communications to the Minister.
The signing followed an extensive Nigeria-Canada Air Transport Expansion Technical Review Worksession, where officials from both countries reviewed the existing Bilateral Air Services framework and reached an agreement that resulted in the signing of the Agreed Minutes.
The Nigerian delegation included Tijjani; Jummai Yahaya, Director of Legal Services at the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development; Olayinka Babaoye-Iriobe, Director of Air Transport Regulation at the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA); and other senior government officials.
The Canadian delegation was led by Melia and included Jathorsan Lingarajan, Trade Policy Officer at Global Affairs Canada; Steven Worth, Manager and Senior Policy Adviser at Transport Canada; and other officials.
Key Provisions of the Expanded Agreement
The expanded Nigeria-Canada Air Transport Agreement introduces several measures designed to boost air connectivity, promote tourism, facilitate trade and create new opportunities for airlines and businesses in both countries.
Under the agreement, Nigeria and Canada can each designate multiple airlines to operate scheduled passenger and cargo services between the two countries.
Designated airlines from each country will also be permitted to operate up to 14 weekly passenger flights and 10 weekly all-cargo flights.
The agreement further grants Fifth Freedom Traffic Rights for all-cargo operations. This provision allows cargo airlines to transport freight between two foreign countries, provided the service originates from or terminates in the airline’s home country.
The new framework is expected to pave the way for direct flights between Nigeria and Canada, potentially reducing travel time, improving passenger convenience and lowering logistics costs.
It is also expected to strengthen commercial, cultural and people-to-people ties while supporting tourism, trade, investment and business travel.
Agreement to Support Growing Nigeria-Canada Relations
The development comes as economic, educational and people-to-people relations between Nigeria and Canada continue to expand.
As of March 31, 2026, more than 25,000 Nigerians held valid Canadian study permits, making Nigeria one of Canada’s leading sources of international students.
The expanded air transport framework is therefore expected to further facilitate educational exchanges, family reunification, tourism, investment and business activities between the two countries.
The Nigeria-Canada Air Transport Agreement was initially negotiated in 2014 as a code-share-only arrangement and was formally signed in March 2025.
The latest agreement represents the first major expansion of the bilateral air services framework since its initial negotiation more than a decade ago, marking a significant step towards establishing direct scheduled air connectivity between Nigeria and Canada.