Nigeria and Canada have signed an expanded Air Transport Agreement that will allow airlines from both countries to operate direct scheduled flights between the two countries for the first time.
The agreement is expected to improve air connectivity between Nigeria and Canada while boosting trade, tourism, investment, education and family ties.
The pact was signed on Thursday at the Canadian High Commission in Abuja by officials from both countries.
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, was represented at the signing by the Director of Air Transport Management, Mohammed Tijjani.
The agreement is coming as the Federal Government intensifies efforts to expand Nigeria’s international aviation partnerships, improve connectivity and attract more airlines to the country.
For years, travellers between Nigeria and Canada have had to rely on connecting flights through other countries because there has been no direct scheduled air service between the two countries.
The absence of direct flights has meant longer travel times and additional costs for passengers, businesses and cargo operators.
The new agreement is expected to change that by creating a legal framework for airlines from both countries to begin direct scheduled services.
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 Air Services framework between Nigeria and Canada.
The ministry described the development as a major step in strengthening aviation and economic relations between the two countries.
“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 agreement allows Nigeria and Canada to designate multiple airlines to operate scheduled passenger and cargo services between both countries.
Under the new arrangement, designated airlines from each country will be allowed to operate up to 14 weekly passenger flights and 10 weekly all-cargo flights.
The agreement also provides fifth freedom traffic rights for all-cargo operations.
Such rights allow an airline to carry passengers or cargo between two foreign countries as part of a service that begins or ends in the airline’s home country.
The provision is expected to provide greater flexibility for cargo airlines and could help improve trade links between Nigeria, Canada and other international markets.
The Federal Government said the agreement would create opportunities for airlines and businesses in both countries.
It also expressed optimism that the new framework would lead to the commencement of direct flights once airlines complete the necessary operational and regulatory processes.
The ministry said direct air services would reduce travel time and improve convenience for passengers travelling between Nigeria and Canada.
It is also expected to lower some logistics costs and make movement between the two countries easier for businesses, students, tourists and families.
The agreement is particularly important because of the large Nigerian community in Canada and the growing links between the two countries.
Thousands of Nigerians live, work and study in Canada, making air connectivity an important issue for families and businesses with links to both countries.
The ministry said more than 25,000 Nigerians held valid Canadian study permits as of March 31, 2026.
It described Nigeria as one of Canada’s major sources of international students.
With direct flights, students and their families could have easier travel options, while Nigerian businesses may find it easier to establish and maintain commercial relationships with Canadian partners.
The agreement is also expected to support tourism and investment by making travel between the two countries more convenient.
For families with members living in both countries, direct services could also make visits easier and reduce the burden associated with long connecting journeys.
The signing is part of the Federal Government’s wider aviation reform programme, which includes efforts to review Nigeria’s Bilateral Air Services Agreements with other countries.
The Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development has in recent months stepped up negotiations with several countries as part of efforts to expand international air connectivity and attract more airlines.
Bilateral Air Services Agreements provide the legal framework under which airlines from two countries can operate scheduled international services.
Such agreements normally set out issues including the number of airlines that can operate, routes, flight frequencies, traffic rights and other operating conditions.
Nigeria has sought to use these agreements to increase international connectivity and create opportunities for Nigerian airlines to compete in foreign markets.
The government has also been encouraging greater participation by Nigerian carriers in international aviation.
The Nigeria-Canada agreement could therefore provide opportunities for Nigerian airlines that meet the required conditions to operate services to Canadian destinations.
The agreement has its roots in negotiations that began in 2014.
According to the ministry, the Nigeria-Canada Air Transport Agreement was initially negotiated as a code-share-only arrangement.
A code-share arrangement allows airlines to sell seats on flights operated by another airline, giving passengers access to routes beyond the carrier’s own network.
The agreement was formally signed in March 2025, but the latest development represents a major expansion of the framework.
The ministry described the latest pact as the first major expansion of the bilateral air services arrangement in more than a decade.
The move is expected to strengthen the aviation relationship between Nigeria and Canada and provide a stronger foundation for direct air services.
The development also comes at a time when Nigeria is seeking to improve its position as a major aviation hub in West Africa.
Improved international connectivity is considered important to economic growth because aviation supports tourism, trade, investment, employment and the movement of people and goods.
For Nigeria, direct flights to Canada could also make the country more attractive to Canadian investors and businesses seeking opportunities in Africa.
Similarly, Canadian companies could benefit from easier access to Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country and one of the continent’s largest economies.
The cargo provisions could be particularly important for businesses involved in international trade.
The availability of more direct cargo services could improve the movement of goods and reduce the need for some shipments to pass through third-country airports.
The government believes the agreement will therefore have benefits beyond passenger travel.
It is expected to support educational exchanges, tourism, business travel, investment and family reunification.
However, the signing of the agreement does not automatically mean direct flights will begin immediately.
Airlines from both countries would still need to obtain the necessary approvals and meet operational and regulatory requirements before launching services.
The government’s responsibility will also include ensuring that the agreement is implemented effectively and that airlines have a clear framework for beginning operations.
The Federal Government said the new agreement marked an important milestone in Nigeria-Canada relations.
With the legal framework for direct scheduled services now expanded, attention is expected to shift to airlines and aviation authorities as they work towards turning the agreement into actual flights.
For Nigerian travellers, students, businesses and families with connections to Canada, the development could eventually mean shorter journeys, greater choice and easier movement between the two countries.
The government said the agreement would strengthen commercial and cultural ties while opening a new chapter in Nigeria-Canada aviation relations.