By David Akinmola
CANADA and Nigeria are working towards establishing direct commercial flights between both countries as part of broader efforts to deepen bilateral trade, investment and people-to-people relations, Canada’s Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, Carlos Rojas-Arbulú, has said.
The envoy disclosed this during the Leading Africa’s Future: Business, Purpose and the Canada-Nigeria Partnership event held at Lagos Business School, noting that while both countries already operate under a bilateral codeshare air transport arrangement, discussions are progressing towards direct flight operations.
According to him, improved air connectivity remains a priority in ongoing bilateral engagements aimed at strengthening commercial and diplomatic ties.
“On air connectivity, Canada and Nigeria have advanced a bilateral air transport relationship to a codeshare arrangement. But the possibility of direct flights remains under consideration. I think it’s fair to say that we’re working towards that,” Rojas-Arbulú said.
He added that direct flights would significantly ease travel between the two countries, eliminating the need for passengers to transit through third countries.
“I myself would like to have the ability to take a flight from Lagos directly to Toronto rather than have to go through a third location. Let’s cross our fingers that this is coming,” he said.
Beyond aviation, the Deputy High Commissioner described Nigeria as one of Canada’s most strategic partners in Africa, citing its entrepreneurial ecosystem, technology sector and growing global influence as key drivers of closer cooperation.
He said both countries are well positioned to deepen collaboration in trade, investment, education, artificial intelligence, mining, financial services and the creative economy.
The envoy noted that bilateral trade between Canada and Nigeria reached about $3.2 billion in 2025, representing a 10 per cent increase over the previous year, while more than 45,000 Nigerian students enrol in Canadian institutions annually. He added that over 120,000 Nigerians currently reside in Canada, strengthening economic and cultural ties between both countries.
The renewed push for direct air links comes more than a year after Nigeria and Canada signed a codeshare air transport agreement designed to pave the way for enhanced aviation cooperation between the two countries. Under the arrangement, designated airlines from both sides can market and sell seats on each other’s flights pending the commencement of direct services.
Industry analysts believe direct flights would reduce travel time, lower operating costs for passengers and businesses, facilitate tourism and cargo movement, and further boost trade and investment between the two countries, which have witnessed growing commercial relations in recent years.
