Nigeria and Canada Sign Historic Deal for Direct Air Travel

(Mohammed Ahmed Tijjani, Represented Festus Keyamo at The Signing Ceremony And Shendra Melia, Canada’s Chief Air Negotiator. Photo by TheCable)

Nigeria and Canada have signed an expanded Air Transport Agreement permitting direct scheduled flights between both countries for the first time.

According to a government statement, this development aims to enhance trade, tourism, investment, and educational exchange opportunities between the two nations.

The agreement, signed at the Canadian High Commission in Abuja, represents a substantial expansion of the bilateral air services framework and is expected to improve connectivity while reducing travel time and logistics costs for passengers and cargo operators.

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, represented by the Director of Air Transport Management, signed on behalf of Nigeria, while Canada’s Chief Air Negotiator for Global Affairs signed on behalf of her country.

The signing followed a technical review of the existing Bilateral Air Services Agreement, culminating in what the ministry characterised as a significant milestone within the Nigeria-Canada aviation relationship.

According to the ministry, the expanded agreement introduces important enhancements designed to improve connectivity, promote tourism, facilitate trade, and create new opportunities for airlines and businesses within both countries.

Under the revised arrangement, both nations may designate multiple airlines to operate scheduled services, with each country entitled to 14 weekly passenger flights and 10 weekly all-cargo flights.

The agreement additionally grants Fifth Freedom Traffic Rights for cargo operations, permitting designated airlines to transport freight between two foreign countries provided the service originates or terminates within their home country.

The aviation ministry indicated that the agreement would facilitate direct flights between Nigeria and Canada, eliminating the necessity for many travellers to transit through third countries.

The ministry expects the agreement to substantially enhance air connectivity by enabling direct flight commencement, thereby reducing travel time, improving passenger convenience, lowering logistics costs, and strengthening commercial and cultural ties between both nations.

According to ministry data, more than 25,000 Nigerians held valid Canadian study permits as of March 31, 2026, positioning Nigeria among Canada’s largest sources of international students.

The government anticipates that this enhanced aviation framework will further support student mobility, tourism, business travel, investment, and family reunification efforts.

This agreement represents the first major expansion of the Nigeria-Canada Air Transport Agreement since its original 2014 negotiation as a code-share arrangement.