• Multiple airlines from both countries to operate scheduled services
• Agreement provides 14 weekly passenger, 10 cargo flight slots
• Nigeria emerges Canada’s third-largest bilateral air market in Africa
Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja
Canada and Nigeria have expanded their air transport agreement to allow direct flights between the two countries for the first time, in a move expected to strengthen trade, investment, tourism and people-to-people ties.
The expanded agreement, announced by Canada’s Minister of Transport and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, Steven MacKinnon, provides for multiple airlines from both countries to operate scheduled air services between Canada and Nigeria.
Under the new arrangement, the statement seen by THISDAY indicated that airlines from each country will have capacity for up to 14 weekly passenger flights and 10 weekly all-cargo flights.
The agreement also grants fifth freedom rights for all-cargo operations, allowing airlines to operate flights between two foreign countries where the service either originates from or terminates in the airline’s home country.
Announcing the development, MacKinnon said the expanded agreement would create opportunities for Canadian airlines while providing travellers with greater choice.
“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 make it easier for people and businesses in both countries to connect,” he said.
For his part, Canada’s Minister of International Trade, Maninder Sidhu, said the agreement would deepen the commercial relationship between the two countries, noting the size and growing economic importance of Nigeria.
“I’ve seen that strength firsthand in communities like Brampton, home to one of the largest Nigerian Canadian communities in the country,” Sidhu said.
He added that Nigeria offered opportunities for Canadian businesses and workers through its growing market and expanding industries, stressing that the agreement would support Canada’s trade diversification efforts while bringing families and communities closer together.
The Canadian government said Nigeria, with a population of more than 237 million people, represented an important market for Canada, particularly because of its young population and strong entrepreneurial base.
It disclosed that more than 25,000 Nigerians held study permits for Canada as of March 31, 2026, underscoring the significant people-to-people links between the two countries.
According to Transport Canada, Nigeria was Canada’s 38th-largest international air transport market in 2025 and has now become its third-largest bilateral air market in Africa, behind Morocco and Algeria.
The Canada-Nigeria air transport market has also more than doubled in size over the past decade, which the Canadian government said reflected strong commercial and people-to-people connections between the two countries.
The expanded agreement represents the first expansion of the Canada-Nigeria air transport arrangement since 2014.
Transport Canada said the original Canada-Nigeria Air Transport Agreement, which was limited to code-share operations, was negotiated in 2014 and signed in March 2025.
The new provisions are therefore expected to move the relationship beyond the previous code-share framework by creating the regulatory basis for direct scheduled passenger and cargo services.
The increased cargo capacity could also facilitate stronger trade links, particularly as both countries seek to expand commercial engagement and diversify their international economic relationships.
Under the agreement, each country can designate multiple airlines to provide scheduled services, potentially creating greater competition and choice for passengers and shippers once airlines begin operating under the expanded rights.
The Canadian government said expanding international air transport agreements remained part of its broader effort to improve connectivity and provide more options for travellers and businesses.
It added that Canada currently has air transport agreements or arrangements covering more than 125 countries.
For Nigeria, the agreement comes as air connectivity with Canada assumes greater importance because of the sizeable Nigerian community in the country, growing educational links and expanding commercial interests.