Canada And Nigeria Seal Landmark Air Deal
A new era in Canada-Nigeria relations has begun after both countries reached a landmark agreement that will allow direct scheduled flights between them for the first time, a move expected to boost trade, tourism, investment and people-to-people connections.
The expanded air transport agreement was announced on Thursday by Canada’s Minister of Transport and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons.
Steven MacKinnon, who described the development as another step toward strengthening economic ties while giving travellers and businesses more opportunities to connect.
Under the revised arrangement, Canada and Nigeria can each designate multiple airlines to operate scheduled services between the two countries.
Airlines from both sides will also be permitted to operate up to 14 passenger flights and 10 all-cargo flights every week.
The agreement further grants fifth freedom rights for cargo operations, allowing airlines to transport freight between two foreign countries, provided the journey either begins or ends in their home country.
The provision is expected to improve the movement of goods and expand commercial opportunities for exporters and logistics operators.
MacKinnon said the expanded agreement would create fresh opportunities for Canadian airlines while strengthening tourism, trade and economic cooperation between the two nations.
“By expanding our air transport agreements, we are creating new opportunities for Canadian airlines and giving travellers more choice.
The newly expanded Canada-Nigeria Air Transport Agreement will strengthen our economic ties, support tourism and trade, and making it easier for people and businesses in both countries to connect.”
Canada’s Minister of International Trade, Maninder Sidhu, said the agreement also reflects the growing importance of Nigeria as one of Canada’s key economic partners in Africa.
“I’ve seen that strength firsthand in communities like Brampton, home to one of the largest Nigerian Canadian communities in the country.
As a key economic partner, Nigeria offers opportunities for Canadian businesses and workers, while providing access to a growing market and expanding industries.
This agreement will help deepen our commercial partnership, support Canada’s trade diversification, and bring families and communities closer together.”
Home to more than 237 million people, Nigeria remains Africa’s most populous nation and one of the continent’s leading centres of entrepreneurship, driven by a youthful and dynamic population.
The relationship between both countries has also grown steadily in education, with more than 25,000 Nigerians holding valid Canadian study permits as of March 31, 2026.
Although Canada and Nigeria first negotiated an air transport agreement in 2014, it was limited to code-sharing arrangements and was formally signed in March 2025.
The latest expansion is the first major revision since the agreement was originally negotiated more than a decade ago.
According to the Canadian government, Nigeria ranked as Canada’s 38th-largest international air transport market in 2025 and has become its third-largest bilateral aviation market in Africa, behind Morocco and Algeria.
Passenger traffic between the two countries has more than doubled over the past decade, highlighting the growing business, educational and family ties linking both nations.
Canada said it will continue pursuing new and expanded air transport agreements as part of efforts to strengthen global connectivity.
The country currently has air transport agreements or arrangements covering more than 125 countries worldwide.
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