Canada Deepens Ties With Nigeria Through New Air Deal
Canada has expanded its air transport agreement with Nigeria in a move that will, for the first time, allow direct commercial flights between the two countries, marking a significant step in strengthening economic and people-to-people ties.
The announcement was made by Canada’s Minister of Transport and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons.
Steven MacKinnon, who said the revised agreement is expected to improve connectivity, boost trade and investment, and offer greater travel opportunities for businesses, students and families.
The expanded agreement allows both Canada and Nigeria to designate multiple airlines to operate scheduled services between the two countries.
It also grants each side the right to operate up to 14 passenger flights and 10 all-cargo flights every week.
In addition, the agreement includes fifth freedom rights for cargo operations, enabling airlines to transport goods between two foreign countries, provided the journey either begins or ends in their home country.
Speaking on the development, MacKinnon said the agreement would strengthen the long-standing relationship between Canada and Nigeria while giving travellers more flight options.
“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 reflects Nigeria’s growing importance as a strategic partner for Canada.
“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.”
Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation with more than 237 million people, has emerged as one of the continent’s leading centres of entrepreneurship, driven largely by its youthful population.
The growing relationship between both countries is also reflected 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 revision represents the first expansion of the agreement since its original negotiation.
According to the Canadian government, Nigeria ranked as Canada’s 38th-largest international air transport market in 2025 and is now the country’s 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, reflecting increasing business, educational and family connections.
Canada said it will continue pursuing similar agreements around the world as part of efforts to improve international connectivity.
The country currently has air transport agreements or arrangements covering more than 125 nations.
