The Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI), in collaboration with RwandAir, has officially launched an expanded Nigeria–East and Southern Africa air cargo corridor, marking a significant push in Nigeria’s efforts to operationalise the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The expanded network opens new export routes from Nigeria to Kigali in Rwanda, Lusaka in Zambia, and Harare in Zimbabwe. It also provides Nigerian exporters with additional carrier options on existing routes to Nairobi and Johannesburg, strengthening regional connectivity for trade.
Under the arrangement, cargo rates on RwandAir-operated routes have been set at under $2 per kilogram across the five destinations. The reduced pricing is expected to ease the cost burden on exporters and improve the competitiveness of Nigerian goods in key African markets.
Access to the preferential rates is limited to exporters holding an AfCFTA Certificate of Origin issued by the Nigeria Customs Service.
Before the introduction of the corridor, exporters reportedly faced shipping costs ranging between $3 and $10 per kilogram for goods bound for East and Southern Africa, a factor that significantly constrained their ability to compete and expand into regional markets.
Officials say the expanded corridor is designed to address these challenges by offering faster, more affordable and more predictable logistics options for Nigerian businesses seeking to scale across the continent.
Speaking at the launch event in Lagos, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, described the initiative as a practical demonstration of Nigeria’s commitment to ensuring the AfCFTA delivers tangible benefits for businesses.
She said the corridor would particularly support exporters in high-growth sectors such as agribusiness, fashion and textiles, cosmetics, processed foods, light manufacturing and other Made-in-Nigeria products, while also advancing Nigeria’s industrialisation and export diversification agenda.
RwandAir’s Director of Cargo Services, Jean Bosco Gakwaya, said the partnership would enable the airline to connect Nigerian producers with major markets across East and Southern Africa through its established network. He described the development as a pivotal moment for intra-African trade.
The latest expansion builds on the original Nigeria–East and Southern Africa Air Cargo Corridor launched in 2025 in partnership with Uganda Airlines, which opened up routes to Entebbe, Nairobi and Johannesburg. With RwandAir now joining the framework, exporters are expected to benefit from broader reach and improved logistics support across the continent.
Dr Oduwole also urged exporters, MSMEs, logistics operators and trade associations to take advantage of the corridor to expand Nigerian products into African markets. She advised businesses to engage licensed freight forwarders or contact the RwandAir cargo desk at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos for guidance on rates and export procedures.
