Nigeria and Canada have agreed to strengthen cooperation on migration and air travel, with a focus on addressing delays in visa processing and making movement between both countries more seamless.
According to The Nation, both countries deliberated on persistent delays in the processing of Canadian visa applications by Nigerian citizens, as well as emerging opportunities under the Nigeria-Canada Air Transport Agreement (ATA), according to a statement signed by the Head of Media in the Ministry of Interior, Mrs. Mary Ali.
Mrs Ali quoted the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr Magdalene Ajani, who represented the minister at a meeting with the Charge D’ Affairs of the Canadian High Commission, David Sproule, as saying that prolonged visa processing have over times affected Nigerians, including students. She explained that some Nigerian students had, on many occasions, been unable to travel to Canada to commence their academic programmes due to delays in the issuance of study permits, even after their visa applications had been approved.
She stressed the importance of addressing these concerns through sustained dialogue and stronger institutional cooperation between the two countries. The meeting also discussed the expansion of the Air Transport Agreement between Nigeria and Canada, which is expected to facilitate the introduction of direct flights between both countries, eliminating the need for passengers to connect through Europe or the United States. Both sides expressed optimism that the expanded agreement would boost commercial ties and improve convenience for travelers.
The meeting further addressed migration management, particularly the development of a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) between Nigerian authorities and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) for the removal of persons without legal status in Canada. The permanent secretary assured the Canadian delegation that Nigeria would designate relevant officials to engage with their Canadian counterparts and facilitate the establishment of a joint working group to advance the process. In his remarks, David Sproule acknowledged the concerns regarding visa processing delays, describing the issue as an important pressure point in the bilateral relationship.
He assured the Nigerian side that the concerns would be conveyed to the relevant Canadian immigration authorities, with a view to improving processing times and ensuring that Nigeria receives appropriate attention within the visa-processing system. Both sides agreed on the need to establish a small technical working group to drive the discussions and maintain regular engagement among the relevant Nigerian and Canadian agencies. Sproule expressed appreciation for the openness of the Nigerian side and welcomed the Ministry’s commitment to strengthening institutional cooperation between the two countries.
