LAGOS — In a major boost for intra-African trade, Nigeria has officially expanded its African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) air cargo corridor through a strategic partnership with RwandAir. The move opens critical new export routes to East and Southern Africa while aggressively slashing air freight costs for eligible Nigerian exporters to under $2 per kilogram.
The expansion, launched on Friday in Lagos, introduces direct export routes from Nigeria to Kigali (Rwanda), Lusaka (Zambia), and Harare (Zimbabwe). Furthermore, it provides exporters with an additional carrier option for existing high-demand routes to Nairobi (Kenya) and Johannesburg (South Africa).
By driving freight rates below the $2/kg mark for businesses holding AfCFTA Certificates of Origin from the Nigeria Customs Service, the Federal Government is directly addressing one of the most significant barriers to regional trade. Previously, exporters faced steep logistics charges ranging from $3 to as high as $10 per kilogram on these routes.
Jumoke Oduwole, Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment, emphasized the government’s commitment to reducing trade barriers for local businesses.
“Our goal is clear: to make it easier and cheaper for Nigerian businesses to trade across Africa,” Oduwole said during the launch. “With RwandAir, we are widening that corridor, opening more routes, and giving our exporters more options to compete.”
Empowering Non-Oil Exports
The dramatically reduced rates are expected to give a competitive edge to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across several key sectors, including agribusiness, fashion and textiles, cosmetics, processed foods, and light manufacturing. The initiative aligns directly with Nigeria’s broader economic strategy to deepen non-oil exports and diversify its foreign exchange earnings.
RwandAir has positioned itself as a vital logistical bridge for this initiative. Jean Bosco Gakwaya, Director of Cargo Services at RwandAir, highlighted the airline’s role in facilitating continental economic growth.
“This partnership between RwandAir Cargo and Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment enables us to connect Nigerian manufacturers to key markets across East and Southern Africa using our network,” Gakwaya stated. “This is a pivotal moment for intra-African trade and for how we move goods across the continent.”
Building on Bilateral Progress
This latest development builds upon the initial air cargo corridor launched in 2025 in collaboration with Uganda Airlines, which first unlocked preferential access to Entebbe, Nairobi, and Johannesburg.
The inclusion of RwandAir reflects growing commercial and diplomatic ties between Nigeria and Rwanda, following high-level bilateral engagements between President Bola Tinubu and President Paul Kagame at the Africa CEO Forum held in Kigali in May.
To mark the launch, the Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment issued AfCFTA Certificates of Origin to eight domestic businesses, immediately granting them access to the discounted cargo rates and preferential trade arrangements under the corridor.
The initiative was executed through a multi-agency collaboration featuring the Nigeria Customs Service, the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), and the Nigerian Shippers’ Council.
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