Business
Nigeria, Canada expand air deal, facilitate direct flights
Nigeria and Canada have expanded their bilateral air transport framework, paving the way for scheduled direct air services between the two countries and creating new opportunities for passenger and cargo operations.
The agreement, signed on Thursday in Abuja, provides for multiple airlines from both countries to operate scheduled services and establishes capacity for passenger and cargo flights.
It also provides for up to 14 weekly passenger flights and 10 weekly all-cargo flights for designated airlines from each country.
The agreement is expected to improve air connectivity between Nigeria and Canada while supporting trade, tourism, education, investment and stronger people-to-people relations.
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, was represented at the signing by the Director of Air Transport Management in the ministry, Mohammed Ahmed Tijjani.
Mr Tijjani signed the agreement with Canada’s Chief Air Negotiator for Global Affairs Canada, Shendra Melia, at the Canadian High Commission in Abuja.
The signing followed a technical review session in which officials from both countries examined the existing bilateral air services framework and agreed to expand it.
Shift towards direct connectivity
The new arrangement represents a significant expansion of the aviation relationship between Nigeria and Canada.
The two countries first negotiated an air transport agreement in 2014, but the framework was initially limited to code-sharing arrangements rather than direct scheduled flights.
The agreement was formally signed in March 2025, providing a framework for airlines to market services operated by partner carriers.
The latest expansion changes that framework by allowing designated airlines from both countries to operate scheduled services directly between Nigeria and Canada.
The agreement, therefore, provides the legal basis for airlines to pursue direct operations, although the signing itself does not mean such flights will begin immediately.
Airlines would still need to be designated by their respective governments and meet applicable regulatory, operational and commercial requirements before commencing services.
More opportunities for passengers and cargo
For travellers, direct scheduled services could reduce the need for connecting flights through third countries and make journeys between Nigeria and Canada more convenient.
The development could be particularly significant for Nigerians travelling to Canada for education, business, tourism and family visits, as well as Canadians travelling to Nigeria for business and other purposes.
As of 31 March 2026, more than 25,000 Nigerians held valid Canadian study permits, according to the information provided by the Federal Government, highlighting the importance of the education link between the two countries.
The agreement also provides a greater scope for cargo operations.
Under the expanded framework, designated airlines can operate up to 10 weekly all-cargo services, while fifth-freedom traffic rights have been granted for cargo operations.
Fifth-freedom rights allow an airline to carry traffic between two foreign countries as part of a service that originates from or terminates in the airline’s home country.
The provision could create additional options for moving goods through the two countries and strengthen commercial links between Nigerian and Canadian businesses.
Wider economic ties
The expanded aviation agreement comes as Nigeria and Canada seek to deepen economic relations beyond air travel.
Improved connectivity can support tourism, facilitate business travel, encourage investment and make it easier for people and goods to move between the two markets.
The Nigerian delegation at the signing included the Director of Air Transport Management, Mr Tijjani; the Director of Legal Services, Jummai Yahaya; and the Director of Air Transport Regulation at the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, Olayinka Babaoye-Iriobe.
The Canadian delegation was led by Ms Melia and included officials from Global Affairs Canada and Transport Canada.
READ ALSO: FG approves New York, Dubai, Canada routes for United Nigeria Airlines — Keyamo
The expanded framework gives airlines from both countries greater room to compete, as each country can designate multiple carriers rather than restricting scheduled operations to a single airline.
For Nigeria, the development also fits into the Federal Government’s wider effort to expand international air connectivity and secure new routes that can support tourism, trade and investment.
The agreement now provides the framework for airlines on both sides to pursue direct scheduled services, potentially bringing an end to years of reliance on connecting routes for travellers moving between Nigeria and Canada.
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The Federal Government has welcomed GIG Mobility Group’s (GIGM) expansion into digital mobility services, urging the company to prioritise reliable service delivery as it moves beyond interstate transportation into travel booking and premium vehicle hire.
The government said digital mobility solutions must not only simplify travel arrangements but also guarantee dependable services and protect customers who rely on technology to organise their journeys.
The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Transportation, Olufunso Adebiyi, represented by Usman Abubakar, Deputy Director, Road and Mass Transit, gave the admonition on Wednesday in Abuja at the unveiling of PASS by GIGM and hireX by GIGM.
Mr Adebiyi said the ministry remained open to partnerships with the company, describing the platforms as an innovation that could improve transportation and travel services.
He also stressed that the ministry hoped the company’s new services would benefit Nigerians and wished it success in its expansion.
According to the Director-General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Joseph Osanipin, the launch marked the beginning of the work required to sustain the services, warning that the company would need to meet customers’ expectations as demand grew.
“After we have launched today, the real work is going to start. Many customers will come in and demand this service. We have to be up to it,” he said.
Mr Osanipin said trust, reliability and responsive customer service were essential to the success of digital mobility platforms, particularly where customers were required to provide personal information and make payments before travelling.
He added that innovation must address practical problems and deliver solutions through technology in seamless, efficient ways.
GIGM’s background and expansion
GIG Mobility Group is a Nigerian transportation and technology company that began operations in 1998 as God Is Good Motors, providing interstate passenger transportation.
Founded by Edwin and Stella Ajaere in Benin City, the company initially operated between Benin City and Lagos before expanding its bus services to other Nigerian cities.
After Edwin Ajaere’s death, his son, Chidi Ajaere, took over management and led the company’s expansion and adoption of technology-driven transportation services.
The company rebranded from God Is Good Motors to GIG Mobility in 2019, reflecting its expansion beyond conventional passenger transportation.
It also expanded into Ghana, where it operates transportation services, including routes connecting Accra and Kumasi.
GIGM has introduced digital booking and transport management systems into its operations, allowing customers to book interstate journeys online rather than relying solely on physical terminals.
The company says it operates more than 40 terminals across Nigeria and Ghana. Its Chief Executive Officer, Enahoro Okhae, said the Gwagwalada terminal, opened on Tuesday, was its 40th terminal across West Africa.
What the new platforms offer
The two platforms are designed to extend GIGM’s services beyond its traditional interstate bus transportation business into other aspects of mobility and travel.
PASS by GIGM is a travel and tours platform that brings together flight bookings, hotel reservations, airport pickups, curated tours and interstate bus ticketing. It is intended to allow customers to organise different parts of a journey through one digital channel rather than booking each service separately.
hireX by GIGM, on the other hand, is a vehicle-hire marketplace offering chauffeur-driven vehicles for hourly, daily and one-way bookings. The service is designed for airport transfers, business trips, events and other journeys requiring hired vehicles.
According to the company, its Abuja fleet will comprise vehicles owned by GIGM and those operated by partner providers.
The platforms form part of the company’s broader plan to develop a mobility ecosystem that connects transportation with travel and related services.
GIGM says customer expectations are changing
Mr Okhae explained that the expansion was informed by changing customer expectations, particularly demands for convenience, speed, digital access and simpler travel arrangements.
He said the company had traditionally been known for moving passengers between states but was now seeking to provide services covering other parts of their journeys.
“Strong companies evolve. Strong companies listen. Strong companies learn. They adapt. They invest,” he said.
Mr Okhae added that the company was seeking to respond to the movement of people across Africa for business, education, family engagements, tourism and other opportunities.
He noted that GIGM’s expansion was based on the belief that customers increasingly needed connected services rather than separate transportation arrangements.
“The future belongs to connected solutions, not isolated services,” he said.
He said the company was building an ecosystem that would let customers access different services and organise their journeys.
Mr Okhae added that Abuja was strategic to the company’s expansion, explaining that the launch was intended to extend services already introduced in Lagos to customers in the capital.
Technology and operational capacity
Charles Oloyede, GIGM’s Head of Product, said technology had enabled the company to expand into other segments of the mobility business.
ALSO READ: CREDICORP rolls out first CNG mobility activation in Adamawa, advancing its 10,000 mobility rollout
He explained that the company’s existing technological infrastructure supported road and air travel services, helping it manage operations and provide customers with different travel options.
Mr Oloyede said the company relied on technology to manage operational complexities that would be difficult to handle manually.
He added that GIGM had about 150 daily touchpoints, although he did not clarify whether the figure referred to transactions, operational contacts or customer interactions.
He also noted that the company’s technology had been developed to support its operations and provide customers with a more coordinated travel experience.
According to Mr Oloyede, Abuja was an important market for the company, and the launch was intended to extend services already available in Lagos to customers in the capital.
NADDC highlights reliability and customer trust
Mr Osanipin said customers would need confidence in the platforms before entrusting them with personal information, payments and travel arrangements.
He noted that reliability and responsive customer service were equally important, particularly when customers encountered difficulties or needed urgent assistance.
The NADDC director-general said the company’s experience in transportation could help it respond to customers’ needs but cautioned against assuming that the launch alone would guarantee success.
He urged the management to continue improving its services and avoid complacency.
“When you are number one, think as number two,” he said.
The platforms come at a time when customers increasingly use digital channels to arrange transportation and other services.
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