Nigeria and Canada have signed an expanded air transport agreement that paves the way for direct scheduled flights between both countries for the first time, in a move expected to boost trade, tourism, investment, education and people-to-people ties.
The landmark agreement was signed in Abuja by officials of both governments as part of efforts to deepen bilateral aviation relations and strengthen economic cooperation.
Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo (SAN), was represented at the signing by the Director of Air Transport Management in the ministry, Mohammed Tijjani, while Canada’s delegation was led by the country’s Chief Air Negotiator for Global Affairs, Shendra Melia.
The agreement was concluded after an extensive Nigeria–Canada Air Transport Expansion Technical Review Worksession, during which both sides reviewed the existing Bilateral Air Services framework before signing the Agreed Minutes.
The Nigerian delegation also included the ministry’s Director of Legal Services, Jummai Yahaya, and the Director of Air Transport Regulation at the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Olayinka Babaoye-Iriobe, alongside other senior government officials.
The Canadian delegation comprised officials from Global Affairs Canada and Transport Canada, including Trade Policy Officer Jathorsan Lingarajan and Manager and Senior Policy Advisor Steven Worth.
In a statement issued on Thursday by the Minister’s Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Tunde Moshood, the ministry described the agreement as “a significant milestone in the aviation relationship between Nigeria and Canada.”
According to the statement, the expanded agreement is designed to improve air connectivity, promote tourism, facilitate trade and create new opportunities for airlines and businesses in both countries.
Under the new framework, Nigeria and Canada can each designate multiple airlines to operate scheduled passenger and cargo services between the two countries.
The agreement provides for up to 14 weekly passenger flights and 10 weekly all-cargo flights for designated airlines from each country. It also grants Fifth Freedom Traffic Rights for cargo operations, allowing airlines to transport freight between two foreign countries, provided the service originates or terminates in the airline’s home country.
The ministry said the expanded agreement is expected to significantly improve connectivity by enabling direct flights, reducing travel time, lowering logistics costs, improving passenger convenience and strengthening commercial, cultural and diplomatic relations between both countries.
It noted that the development comes amid growing ties between Nigeria and Canada, particularly in education.
“As of March 31, 2026, more than 25,000 Nigerians hold valid Canadian study permits, making Nigeria one of Canada’s major international student source countries,” the statement said.
The ministry added that the enhanced aviation framework is expected to support educational exchanges, tourism, business travel, investment and family reunification.
It recalled that the Nigeria–Canada Air Transport Agreement was initially negotiated in 2014 as a code-share-only arrangement before being formally signed in March 2025. The latest deal represents the first major expansion of the bilateral air services framework in more than a decade and clears the way for the commencement of direct scheduled flights between the two countries.
