Nigeria, Canada Target Faster Visas, Direct Air Connectivity

Nigeria and Canada have agreed to deepen cooperation aimed at reducing visa processing delays and improving air connectivity between both countries.

The two countries reached the understanding during a meeting at the Ministry of Interior headquarters in Abuja, where officials also reviewed migration management and other areas of bilateral cooperation.

The Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr Magdalene Ajani, represented the Minister of Interior at the meeting. She received the Canadian Chargé d’Affaires, David Sproule, and his delegation.

Ajani said delays in processing Canadian visas had created difficulties for Nigerians, including students seeking to begin academic programmes in Canada.

She noted that some students had missed their scheduled programmes because of delays in obtaining study permits, even after their visa applications received approval.

The Permanent Secretary stressed the need for closer institutional cooperation to address the problem and improve the experience of Nigerian applicants.

She urged the Canadian authorities to give applications from Nigerians timely and expeditious consideration.

The officials also discussed the expansion of the Nigeria-Canada Air Transport Agreement, ATA, which could pave the way for direct flights between both countries.

The proposed arrangement would reduce the need for travellers to connect through Europe or the United States before reaching their destinations.

Both sides expressed optimism that direct air services would strengthen commercial relations, promote travel and make movement between Nigeria and Canada easier.

Migration management formed another major part of the discussions, particularly the proposed development of a Standard Operating Procedure between Nigerian authorities and the Canada Border Services Agency, CBSA.

The procedure would guide the removal of people without legal status in Canada while ensuring greater coordination between authorities in both countries.

Ajani assured the delegation that Nigeria would designate officials to engage their Canadian counterparts on the process.

She said the officials would work towards establishing a joint working group to advance discussions on migration-related matters.

Responding, Sproule acknowledged the concerns surrounding delays in Canadian visa processing.

He described the issue as an important pressure point in Nigeria-Canada relations and promised to convey the concerns to relevant Canadian immigration authorities.

Sproule said the engagement would seek to improve processing times and ensure that Nigeria receives appropriate attention within Canada’s visa-processing system.

Both countries agreed to establish a small technical working group to drive the discussions and maintain regular engagement among relevant agencies.

Sproule welcomed Nigeria’s commitment to stronger institutional cooperation and expressed appreciation for the openness of the meeting.

Ajani thanked the Canadian delegation for the visit and reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to closer cooperation on immigration, travel facilitation and border management.

She said stronger coordination would help address the concerns of Nigerian travellers while advancing broader Nigeria-Canada relations.