Canada-Nigeria relations

Bilateral relations

Canada and Nigeria established diplomatic relations in 1962, shortly after Nigeria’s independence in 1960.

In Nigeria, Canada is represented by its High Commission in Abuja (previously in Lagos from 1962 to 1997), as well as a Deputy High Commission located in Lagos. Since 2004, Canada has an Honorary Consul in Port Harcourt.

Nigeria is represented in Canada by a High Commission in Canada, which opened in Ottawa in 1973.

Established in 2012, the Canada-Nigeria Binational Commission (BNC) provides a high-level forum to discuss about commercial, political, development, security, and immigration issues. On September 2024, Canada hosted the 6th Canada-Nigeria BNC in Ottawa. Canada and Nigeria exchanged views on regional and domestic security, global issues, mobility opportunities and challenges, trade and investment, and development. The Joint Communiqué of the Sixth Session of the Canada-Nigeria Binational Commission is available online.

Trade relations

Commercial merchandise trade is the cornerstone of the Canada-Nigeria economic relationship and has led to Nigeria becoming Canada’s second-largest trading partner in Africa in 2024, totalling $2.9 billion in bilateral trade (exports $534 million / imports $2.3 billion). In 2024, Canada’s primary exports were cereals, motor vehicles and parts and industrial machinery, while imports were primarily petroleum oils, cocoa, and soya beans.

Canada is a growing source of foreign investment in Nigeria. In 2024, Canadian direct investment in Nigeria amounted to $32 million, representing a 68.4% increase over the previous year, whereas the Canadian portfolio investment in Nigeria stood at $590 million, representing a 1.0% increase over the previous year. Trade and investment between Canada and Nigeria are facilitated through a double taxation agreement.

Canadian business activity in Nigeria is growing, with interest developing in a broad range of sectors. Nigeria’s sector diversification policies and priorities line-up well with Canadian expertise, products and services in several sectors, which could lead to opportunities in extractive industries, energy, information and communications technologies (ICT), education, clean technologies, infrastructure, and agriculture and processed foods.

International assistance

In 2023-2024, Canadian international assistance to Nigeria totalled $106.2M in funding.

Canada values its multifaceted relationship with Nigeria, grounded in a shared commitment to reducing extreme poverty and fostering a more peaceful, inclusive, and prosperous society.

Canada’s bilateral development assistance in Nigeria aligns with Nigeria’s Medium-Term National Development Plan (2021 to 2025) and with Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy. Current development efforts in Nigeria focus on:

health, especially sexual reproductive health, and rights
inclusive economic growth, particularly growing women-and-youth-led businesses
gender equality, including women’s political participation and rights

Canada supports development results in Nigeria through multilateral, humanitarian, Canadian, international, and local organizations. Major multilateral and international partners such as the World Health Organization, GAVI, the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, and the Global Fund have significant programs in the country. Canadian organizations like Plan International Canada, MEDA, Nutrition International, and Grand Challenges Canada also contribute meaningfully. Nationally, ActionAid Nigeria supports over 100 women’s rights organizations and networks through Canada’s largest Women’s Voice and Leadership project worldwide.

Canada is closely monitoring the humanitarian situation in Nigeria, particularly the plight of populations affected by the Boko Haram and the Islamic State in West Africa Province insurgencies, both in Nigeria and throughout the Lake Chad Basin. Canada works with international partners to help respond to humanitarian needs in Nigeria as well as those of Nigerian refugees and host communities in the neighbouring Cameroon, Chad and Niger.

Canada’s provides humanitarian assistance to Nigeria through experienced humanitarian partners, such as the Red Cross, the UN and NGOs, to support a gender-responsive multi-sectoral response to address the specific needs of conflict-affected women, girls, men and boys. This includes providing food assistance, treatment for acute malnutrition and other critical health care, safe water and sanitation, and protection services to vulnerable populations.

See the Project Browser for additional information on development and humanitarian programming in Nigeria.

Peace and security

Canada is also providing security assistance in Nigeria:

Weapons Threat Reduction Program (WTRP): Canada’s WTRP supports Nigeria through concrete programming to address biological, radiological and nuclear proliferation and terrorism threats. This includes designing, constructing and supporting biological containment facilities, enhancing nuclear security and radiation safety infrastructure, strengthening the sustainable management of radioactive material and delivering training, technical assistance and equipment. Canada is also leading efforts in the G7‑led Global Partnership Against the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction to implement the Signature Initiative to Mitigate Biological Threats in Africa.

Counter-Terrorism Capacity Building Program (CTCBP): Through the CTCBP, Canada is committed to preventing and responding to the threat of terrorism and violent extremism in Sub-Saharan Africa. Nigeria is among the 9 priority countries for CTCBP programming in the region.

Regional technical assistance: Canada supports cooperation with Nigeria on border control management and migration.

Partnerships and organizations

To develop effective responses to today’s most pressing global challenges, Canada and Nigeria work closely in multilateral fora, such as:

Date modified:: 2025-11-06

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