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Nigeria and Canada have signed an expanded air transport agreement that will, for the first time, permit direct scheduled passenger and cargo flights between both countries, the Nigerian government announced on Thursday.
The agreement was formalised at the High Commission of Canada in Abuja, with the Nigerian delegation led by Mohammed Ahmed Tijjani, Director of Air Transport Management at the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, and the Canadian team headed by Shendra Melia, Chief Air Negotiator for Global Affairs Canada.
Under the expanded framework, each country may designate multiple airlines to operate scheduled services, with a capacity allowance of 14 weekly passenger flights and 10 weekly all-cargo flights.
The agreement also grants Fifth Freedom Traffic Rights for all-cargo operations, allowing cargo airlines to transport freight between two foreign countries provided the service originates or terminates in the airline’s home country.
“This expanded agreement marks a significant milestone in the aviation relationship between Nigeria and Canada,” the Ministry of Aviation said in a statement.
It said the deal would “improve connectivity, promote tourism, facilitate trade, and create new opportunities for airlines and businesses in both countries.”
The agreement represents the first major expansion of the bilateral air services framework since the original was negotiated in 2014 as a code-share-only arrangement and formally signed in March 2025.
The development is significant given the growing people-to-people relationship between both nations. As of March 31, 2026, more than 25,000 Nigerians held valid Canadian study permits, making Nigeria one of Canada’s major international student source countries.
The enhanced aviation framework is expected to support educational exchanges, tourism, business travel, investment and family reunification.
The signing followed an extensive Nigeria-Canada Air Transport Expansion Technical Review Worksession, during which both delegations reviewed the existing Bilateral Air Services framework, according to the ministry.
The Nigerian delegation included Jummai Yahaya, Director of Legal Services at the ministry, and Olayinka Babaoye-Iriobe, Director of Air Transport Regulation at the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority. The Canadian team included Jathorsan Lingarajan of Global Affairs Canada and Steven Worth of Transport Canada.
Festus Keyamo, Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, was represented at the ceremony by Tijjani, the ministry said.
Direct flights between Nigeria and Canada are expected to reduce travel time, improve passenger convenience and lower logistics costs, according to the government.
“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.”
Thursday, 6th August, 2026
Canadian, Embassy, Abuja
PRESS RELEASE
NIGERIA, CANADA SIGN EXPANDED AIR TRANSPORT AGREEMENT FOR DIRECT FLIGHTS, TRADES AND CONNECTIVITY
In a landmark step towards strengthening bilateral aviation relations and expanding economic cooperation, the… pic.twitter.com/gbQJIw2Gqa
— Festus Keyamo, SAN, CON, FCIArb (UK) (@fkeyamo) August 6, 2026
