Nigeria and the government of Canada have signed an expanded
air transport agreement that will, for the first time, allow direct scheduled
flights between both countries.
The agreement was signed on Thursday in Abuja by Mohammed
Ahmed Tijjani, director of air transport management at the Ministry of Aviation
and Aerospace Development, and Shendra Melia, Canada’s chief air negotiator for Global Affairs.
Tijjani represented Festus Keyamo, minister of aviation and
aerospace development, at the signing ceremony.
According to a statement by Tunde Moshood, special adviser
on media and communications to the minister, the agreement followed a technical
review of the existing bilateral air services framework by officials from both
countries.
Key highlights of the expanded air transport agreement
include allowing Nigeria and Canada to designate multiple airlines to operate
scheduled services between the two countries.
“A capacity allowance of 14 weekly passenger flights and 10
weekly all-cargo flights for the designated airlines of each country,” the
statement reads.
“The granting of Fifth Freedom Traffic Rights for all-cargo
operations, allowing cargo airlines to transport freight between two foreign
countries, provided the service originates or terminates in the airline’s home
country.”
According to the statement, the agreement is expected to
improve air connectivity by paving the way for direct flights, reducing travel
time, improving passenger convenience, lowering logistics costs, and
strengthening commercial and cultural ties between both nations.
Moshood said the expanded aviation framework is expected to
support educational exchanges, business travel, tourism, investment, and family
reunification.
“The Nigeria–Canada Air Transport Agreement was originally
negotiated in 2014 as a code-share-only arrangement and formally signed in
March 2025,” he said.
“The current agreement represents the first major expansion
of the bilateral air services framework since its negotiation over a decade
ago.”
The ministry had announced that Nigeria and Canada would
resume talks on direct flight operations on August 6 to resolve outstanding
issues delaying the commencement of air services between them.
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