Nigeria, Canada expand air pact for direct flights

Nigeria and Canada have signed an expanded air transport agreement, paving the way for direct scheduled flights between the two countries for the first time. The agreement was signed on Thursday, August 6, 2026, in Abuja by aviation officials from both nations.

The new framework allows both countries to designate multiple airlines to operate scheduled passenger and cargo services. It establishes a capacity of up to 14 weekly passenger flights and 10 weekly all-cargo flights for designated airlines from each country. A key feature is the inclusion of Fifth Freedom Traffic Rights for cargo operations, which permits cargo airlines to transport freight between two foreign countries as part of a service that begins or ends in their home country. The agreement represents a major expansion of the bilateral aviation relationship, which was first negotiated in 2014 and formally signed in March 2025.

The signing ceremony was attended by Mohammed Ahmed Tijjani, Director of Air Transport Management at Nigeria’s Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, who signed on behalf of Minister Festus Keyamo, and Shendra Melia, Canada’s Chief Air Negotiator for Global Affairs. The deal followed...