Friday, July 31, 2026 - Nigeria and Canada have renewed efforts to strengthen aviation ties as both countries advance discussions aimed at launching direct flights between the two nations.
The commitment was reaffirmed during a meeting in Abuja
between the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, and
the Chargé d’Affaires of the Canadian High Commission to Nigeria, David
Sproule.
According to the minister's office, talks focused on
expanding bilateral air services and creating a framework for direct air
connectivity between Nigeria and Canada. Sproule disclosed that a high-level
Canadian delegation will visit Nigeria in the first week of August to continue
negotiations on the proposed Air Services Agreement and related issues.
The Canadian envoy also proposed incorporating Standard
Operating Procedures (SOPs) into the cooperation framework to facilitate the
processing and repatriation of Nigerian nationals who are not legally entitled
to remain in Canada. He said the measure would strengthen collaboration on
immigration matters and address one of the remaining obstacles to approving
direct flight operations.
Responding, Keyamo welcomed the prospect of direct flights,
noting that demand among Nigerian travellers has remained consistently high
over the years. He said many passengers travelling to Canada are currently
forced to transit through Europe or the United States because of the absence of
direct air links.
"The aviation component is one aspect of the
discussions, while the immigration-related issues require the involvement of
other relevant ministries," Keyamo said. "We are prepared to
facilitate those engagements because if reaching an understanding on the SOP is
what is required to move the process forward, then we will ensure the
appropriate government institutions are brought into the discussions."
The minister said the Federal Government remains committed
to expanding international connectivity, reducing travel time and strengthening
economic and people-to-people relations between Nigeria and Canada.
He, however, acknowledged that immigration and deportation
matters fall outside the mandate of the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace
Development and would require collaboration with the Ministry of Interior and
other relevant agencies.
Both countries agreed to continue negotiations during a
bilateral meeting scheduled for August 6, 2026, where officials are expected to
address the outstanding issues. Although Keyamo said he would be unavailable
because of prior official engagements, he assured the Canadian delegation that
senior officials from the ministry would represent Nigeria and continue the
discussions.
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