Nigeria and Canada Sign Air Agreement for Direct Flights

Nigeria and Canada have expanded their air transport agreement. This new deal will allow direct flights between the two countries. It will also create new chances for passenger and cargo services.

The agreement was signed on Thursday in Abuja. It allows several airlines from both countries to run scheduled flights. It also sets up capacity for passenger and cargo operations.

According to the agreement, there will be up to 14 weekly passenger flights and 10 weekly cargo flights for airlines from each country.

This agreement aims to improve air connections between Nigeria and Canada. It will also help trade, tourism, education, investment, and strengthen relationships between people.

Festus Keyamo, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, sent Mohammed Ahmed Tijjani to sign the agreement. Mr Tijjani is the Director of Air Transport Management in the ministry.

He signed the deal with Shendra Melia, Canada’s Chief Air Negotiator for Global Affairs Canada. The signing took place at the Canadian High Commission in Abuja.

Before signing, both countries held a technical review. Officials looked at the current air services framework and agreed to make it bigger.

This new deal marks a big step forward for aviation ties between Nigeria and Canada. The two countries first talked about an air transport agreement in 2014. But then, the agreement was only for code-sharing, not direct flights.

The agreement was officially signed in March 2025. It set a framework for airlines to market services run by partner airlines.

Now, the new expansion changes this by letting airlines from both countries operate direct flights. This means airlines can now legally seek to run these flights. But signing the agreement does not mean flights will start right away.

Airlines still need to be approved by their governments. They also have to meet rules and requirements before they can start services.

For travelers, direct flights will cut down the need for stopovers in other countries. This will make trips between Nigeria and Canada easier.

This is especially good for Nigerians going to Canada for school, work, tourism, or family visits. It is also beneficial for Canadians visiting Nigeria for business and other reasons.

As of March 31, 2026, over 25,000 Nigerians had valid study permits for Canada. This shows how important education ties are between the two countries.

The new agreement broadens options for cargo operations too. Airlines can now run up to 10 weekly all-cargo flights, and they have been given fifth-freedom traffic rights.

Fifth-freedom rights allow an airline to carry goods between two foreign countries as part of a service that begins or ends in the airline’s home country. This could give more choices for moving goods between Nigeria and Canada.

The new air deal comes as both countries try to strengthen their economic ties beyond just flights. Better connections will help tourism, business travel, investment, and make it easier for people and goods to move.

The Nigerian team at the signing included Mr Tijjani, Jummai Yahaya, the Director of Legal Services, and Olayinka Babaoye-Iriobe, the Director of Air Transport Regulation at the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority.

The Canadian team was led by Ms Melia and had officials from Global Affairs Canada and Transport Canada.

The expanded agreement gives airlines from both countries more chances to compete. Each country can choose several airlines instead of just one for scheduled flights.

For Nigeria, this fits into the government’s bigger plan to expand international air connections and open new routes for tourism, trade, and investment. The agreement provides a way for airlines on both sides to start direct flights, ending years of relying on connecting flights for trips between Nigeria and Canada.