AfCFTA Gains Traction: Nigeria and RwandAir Expand Air Cargo Corridor to Slash Export Costs and Bolster Intra-African Trade
Nigeria and RwandAir have officially launched an expanded air cargo corridor, a significant initiative designed to substantially reduce export costs and invigorate intra-African trade under the auspices of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The move promises to unlock new avenues for Nigerian businesses seeking to access key markets across the continent.
The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, announced the development on Friday in Lagos during the inaugural shipment ceremony. She highlighted that this expanded partnership will provide Nigerian exporters with significantly lower freight rates and enhanced access to vital African markets. The initiative builds upon the existing corridor, now extending export routes to Kigali, Rwanda; Lusaka, Zambia; and Harare, Zimbabwe. Furthermore, it introduces additional carrier options for existing routes to Nairobi, Kenya, and Johannesburg, South Africa.
Crucially, cargo rates on RwandAir-operated routes have been reduced to below $2 per kilogramme, a dramatic decrease from the previous range of $3 to $10 per kilogramme. These preferential rates are contingent upon exporters possessing an AfCFTA Certificate of Origin, issued by the Nigeria Customs Service. As stated by Minister Oduwole, “The expanded corridor directly addresses the challenge of high logistics costs by providing faster, more affordable and predictable export options for Nigerian businesses. If you ever wonder whether the AfCFTA is real, or what it means, this corridor, pioneered by Nigeria, provides a concrete answer.”
The initial phase of this air cargo corridor was launched on May 25, 2025, covering Entebbe, Uganda; Nairobi, Kenya; and Johannesburg, South Africa. Within its first year of operation, this foundational initiative recorded a commendable 40% increase in export volumes. This statistic, according to the Minister, translates directly into increased production, job creation, enhanced export revenue, and overall growth for Nigerian businesses, with a particular emphasis on women-led enterprises. It also signifies a strengthening of commercial relationships between Nigerian businesses and their African counterparts. Nigeria is positioning itself as a vanguard for the AfCFTA market, being the first and currently the only nation to establish a dedicated logistics solution aimed at significantly reducing the cost of transporting goods across Africa.
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo, underscored the strategic alignment of this initiative with broader efforts to establish a Single African Air Transport Market and dismantle trade and movement barriers across the continent. He noted that recent discussions at an aviation conference in Lome, Togo, focused on eliminating visa restrictions and protectionist policies that impede seamless air connectivity. “You cannot transform Africa or promote the AfCFTA without connecting Africa first,” Mr. Keyamo asserted. “While the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment is driving trade facilitation, we in aviation are working to open up African skies and ensure the free movement of goods and people across the continent.” In a related development, Mr. Keyamo also disclosed plans to commence cargo flights between Guangzhou, China, and Enugu by December, aiming to further facilitate trade flows and improve logistics for Nigerian businesses, particularly supporting commercial hubs like Aba and Onitsha through more efficient cargo distribution.
Mr. Vianney Rubagumwa, representing the Embassy of Rwanda in Nigeria, hailed the inaugural export flight as a tangible demonstration of Africa’s commitment to translating AfCFTA objectives into concrete economic outcomes. He emphasised that this collaboration will reduce trade barriers and create new market access opportunities for exporters across East and Southern Africa, reinforcing Rwanda’s dedication to regional integration and efficient logistics.
Representing the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, the Comptroller of Murtala Muhammed International Airport Command, Comptroller Chidi Nworie, stated that the expanded corridor will foster new export opportunities and enhance Nigeria’s competitiveness in regional markets. He added that the initiative will support greater market access for Nigerian products, leading to increased foreign exchange earnings, job creation, and economic growth. “The Nigeria Customs Service remains committed to trade facilitation through simplified customs procedures, stakeholder engagement, technology-driven processes and effective border management,” Comptroller Nworie affirmed. “As Africa moves towards greater economic integration, partnerships such as these will strengthen intra-African trade and unlock the continent’s immense potential.” Exporters present at the event expressed considerable optimism that the expanded corridor will deepen regional integration, bolster the competitiveness of Nigerian exports, and accelerate the realisation of AfCFTA objectives.
