Nigeria, Canada announce air transport agreement to ease direct flights

The Federal Government and the Canadian government have agreed on an air transport pact to ease transportation between both countries.

This was disclosed in an X statement by presidential social media aide Olusegun Dada on Friday.

According to the Nigerian government, the agreement will pave the way for direct scheduled flights between Africa’s most populous country and Canada.

With the agreement, multiple airlines can now operate scheduled flight services between both countries.

“Nigeria and Canada have signed an expanded Air Transport Agreement that paves the way for direct scheduled flights between both countries, marking a major milestone in bilateral aviation relations, trade, tourism, and economic cooperation.

“The agreement is expected to strengthen connectivity, reduce travel time and logistics costs, and deepen commercial, educational, and cultural ties between the two nations.

“The agreement provides for 14 weekly passenger flights and 10 weekly all-cargo flights for designated airlines of each country.

“It grants Fifth Freedom Traffic Rights for all-cargo operations, allowing cargo airlines to transport freight between two foreign countries as part of services originating or terminating in their home country.

“The expanded framework is expected to boost tourism, trade, investment, business travel, and cultural exchanges, while lowering travel and logistics costs.

“With over 25,000 Nigerians holding valid Canadian study permits as of March 31, 2026, the agreement is expected to further support educational exchanges and people-to-people relations.

“The agreement expands the bilateral air services framework originally negotiated in 2014 and formally signed in March 2025, representing its first major expansion in more than a decade,” he stated on X.