Nigeria and Canada have signed an expanded Air Transport Agreement that will allow direct scheduled flights between both countries for the first time, in a move aimed at strengthening trade, tourism, investment and people-to-people connections.
The agreement was signed on Thursday at the Canadian High Commission in Abuja by officials from both countries, with Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, represented by the Director of Air Transport Management, Mohammed Tijjani.
The development forms part of Nigeria’s broader efforts to expand international aviation partnerships, improve air connectivity and attract more global airlines under the Federal Government’s aviation reform agenda.
In recent months, the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development has intensified negotiations with several countries to review Bilateral Air Services Agreements, create more opportunities for Nigerian carriers and increase access to international routes.
Direct flights between Nigeria and Canada have been a long-standing demand among travellers, businesses and members of the Nigerian community in Canada, amid growing links in trade, education and tourism. According to a statement issued by Keyamo’s Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Tunde Moshood, the agreement followed an extensive technical review of the existing bilateral aviation framework.
“In a landmark step towards strengthening bilateral aviation relations and expanding economic cooperation, the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Government of Canada have signed an expanded Air Transport Agreement that will, for the first time, permit direct scheduled air services between both countries,” the statement said.
“The expanded agreement marks a significant milestone in the aviation relationship between Nigeria and Canada. It introduces several important enhancements designed to improve connectivity, promote tourism, facilitate trade, and create new opportunities for airlines and businesses in both countries.”
The agreement allows both Nigeria and Canada to designate multiple airlines to operate scheduled services between the two countries. It also provides capacity allowances of 14 weekly passenger flights and 10 weekly all-cargo flights for designated airlines from each country.
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The pact further grants fifth freedom traffic rights for all-cargo operations, allowing cargo airlines to transport freight between two foreign countries where the service originates from or terminates in the airline’s home country. The Federal Government said the agreement would significantly improve travel between Nigeria and Canada by reducing journey times, lowering logistics costs and increasing convenience for passengers and businesses.
“The agreement is expected to significantly enhance air connectivity between Nigeria and Canada by paving the way for the commencement of direct flights, thereby reducing travel time, improving passenger convenience, lowering logistics costs, and strengthening commercial and cultural ties between both nations,” the ministry said.
The government also highlighted the importance of the agreement for Nigerians living, working and studying in Canada. More than 25,000 Nigerians held valid Canadian study permits as of March 31, 2026, making Nigeria one of Canada’s major sources of international students. The ministry said the improved aviation framework would support educational exchanges, tourism, business travel, investment opportunities and family reunification between the two countries.
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 agreement represents the first major expansion of the bilateral air services framework between the two countries in more than a decade.