Canadian envoy pushes Standatd Operating Procedures talks
NIGERIA and Canada are advancing negotiations on direct flight operations, shifting discussions to the first week of August.
During a meeting in Abuja between Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, and Canada’s Chargé d’Affaires, David Sproule, it was revealed that immigration-related procedures are the primary obstacle to approving non-stop services, rather than aviation issues.
A high-level Canadian team is set to visit Nigeria to further negotiate the Air Services Agreement and address outstanding operational matters.
The proposed Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) are crucial for managing the processing and return of Nigerian nationals lacking legal status in Canada.
Keyamo emphasized the strong passenger demand for direct flights and the necessity of inter-ministerial cooperation, as immigration matters fall outside his ministry’s responsibilities.
Both nations agreed to meet on August 6, 2026, to continue negotiations, signaling that resolving SOP negotiations could pave the way for long-awaited direct services between Nigeria and Canada.