Nigeria has launched a new air cargo corridor in partnership with RwandAir, opening direct export routes to Kigali, Lusaka, and Harare as part of efforts to strengthen regional trade and improve market access for Nigerian exporters.
The development was announced on Monday by the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, who said the initiative is designed to deepen intra-African trade and reduce logistics bottlenecks affecting cross-border exports.
What they are saying
According to Oduwole, the new corridor was unveiled on Africa Day and forms part of broader efforts to enhance Nigeria’s export connectivity under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
▪ “Today, on Africa Day, we launch the expansion of the Nigeria–East and Southern Africa Air Cargo Corridor in partnership with @FlyRwandAir, giving our exporters affordable, direct access to three new key markets: Kigali, Lusaka, and Harare,” she stated.
She explained that the project is being implemented in collaboration with several government agencies, including the Federal Ministry of Aviation, Nigeria Customs Service, Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), and the Nigerian Shippers’ Council.
According to the Minister, the initiative is expected to provide more affordable and efficient export channels for Nigerian businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises seeking to expand into regional African markets.
Oduwole added that the programme builds on earlier pilot export shipments involving Nigerian businesses, including women-led enterprises, with the inaugural RwandAir cargo shipment scheduled for mid-June 2026.
Backstory
The launch follows bilateral discussions initiated during President Bola Tinubu’s recent visit to Rwanda for the Africa CEO Forum.
▪ The visit also resulted in Nigeria introducing a 30-day visa-free entry policy for Rwandan nationals, aimed at improving mobility and strengthening economic relations between both countries.
▪ The Nigeria Immigration Service confirmed that implementation arrangements have already been completed across airports, land borders, and seaports.
▪ Under the arrangement, Rwandan citizens can now enter Nigeria without a visa for tourism, business, and official purposes for stays of up to 30 days.
Officials described the move as reciprocal, reflecting Rwanda’s existing visa-free policy for Nigerians and supporting broader African integration objectives.
Discussions between both countries also covered trade cooperation, tourism, anti-corruption initiatives, anti-drug trafficking measures, and support for the AfCFTA framework.
What you should know
The latest corridor expands Nigeria’s growing network of AfCFTA-linked export routes.
Earlier in May 2025, Nigeria launched a similar air cargo corridor connecting exporters to markets such as Kenya, Uganda, and South Africa through Uganda Airlines.
The initiative was designed to reduce export logistics costs by between 50% and 75%, while improving access for Nigerian products including textiles, cosmetics, agro-products, and manufactured goods across the continent.
Authorities also confirmed that AfCFTA tariffs have now been officially gazetted, enabling Nigerian exporters to benefit from lower tariff rates and improved competitiveness within African markets.
