Nigeria and Canada have expanded their bilateral air services framework, paving the way for the commencement of direct scheduled flights between both countries for the first time.
The expanded Air Transport Agreement was signed in Abuja by Mohammed Ahmed Tijjani, Director of Air Transport Management at the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, on behalf of Aviation and Aerospace Development Minister Festus Keyamo, and Shendra Melia, Canada’s Chief Air Negotiator for Global Affairs.
The agreement followed a technical review of the existing bilateral air services framework, during which officials from both countries negotiated new provisions aimed at strengthening connectivity and creating greater opportunities for airlines and businesses.
Under the expanded framework, Nigeria and Canada can each designate multiple airlines to operate scheduled services between the two countries. The agreement provides for up to 14 weekly passenger flights and 10 weekly all-cargo flights for designated airlines of each country.
It also grants Fifth Freedom Traffic Rights for all-cargo operations, allowing designated cargo carriers to transport freight between two foreign countries, provided the service originates from or terminates in the airline’s home country.
The Federal Government said the expanded agreement is expected to remove a major barrier to direct air connectivity between Nigeria and Canada while reducing travel time, improving passenger convenience and lowering logistics costs.
It is also expected to support increased trade, tourism, investment, educational exchanges and family travel, particularly given the growing movement of people between the two countries.
As of March 31, 2026, more than 25,000 Nigerians held valid Canadian study permits, highlighting the strength of the educational relationship and the potential demand for more convenient air links.
The Nigerian delegation to the negotiations included senior officials from the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, while the Canadian delegation comprised officials from Global Affairs Canada and Transport Canada.
The expanded framework builds on the original Nigeria–Canada Air Transport Agreement, which was negotiated in 2014 as a code-share-only arrangement and formally signed in March 2025.
The latest agreement represents the first major expansion of the bilateral aviation framework since its initial negotiation more than a decade ago and provides the regulatory foundation for airlines from both countries to establish direct scheduled services.
The development follows renewed diplomatic and technical engagements between Nigeria and Canada over the commencement of direct flights, with both governments previously identifying outstanding regulatory and immigration-related issues that needed to be resolved.
With the expanded agreement now in place, the focus shifts to implementation and the necessary regulatory approvals required for airlines to commence direct operations between Nigeria and Canada.
