The agreement marks an expansion of the existing Nigeria–East and Southern Africa Air Cargo Corridor, which was first launched a year earlier in partnership with Uganda Airlines. The initiative is part of Nigeria’s broader push to make intra-African trade more practical by addressing one of exporters’ biggest challenges—high transportation costs.
In a statement marking Africa Day 2026, the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment said the new arrangement would extend Nigeria’s cargo network to Kigali in Rwanda, Harare in Zimbabwe and Lusaka in Zambia. It will also give exporters an additional airline option on established routes to Nairobi and Johannesburg.
According to the ministry, the expansion is aimed at improving competitiveness for Nigerian goods by significantly reducing freight charges that have historically priced many products out of regional markets.
The statement, issued by the minister’s office, read:
“As Nigeria celebrates Africa Day 2026 the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI) is pleased to announce a major expansion of Nigeria’s implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) through a new strategic partnership with RwandAir for the Nigeria–East and Southern Africa Air Cargo Corridor.”
Before the corridor was introduced, exporters reportedly paid between $3 and $10 per kilogramme to ship goods to East and Southern Africa, a cost structure that made Nigerian products less competitive in regional markets. Under the new arrangement, cargo rates on RwandAir routes are expected to fall to below $2 per kilogramme across all five destinations.
The ministry added:
“On Africa Day 2025, the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment launched the Nigeria–East and Southern Africa Air Cargo Corridor through a partnership with Uganda Airlines.”
That earlier partnership offered discounted freight rates—up to 70 per cent lower than standard commercial carriers—for shipments to Entebbe, Nairobi and Johannesburg. The addition of RwandAir now introduces both new destinations and increased carrier competition on existing routes.
“Today one year later, on Africa Day 2026, the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment is pleased to announce a partnership with RwandAir that extends the corridor to Kigali, Harare and Lusaka as new destinations and gives Nigerian exporters a second choice of carrier on the Nairobi and Johannesburg routes.”
The ministry emphasised that the reduced pricing structure is expected to ease one of the most persistent barriers to export growth.
“Cargo rates on the RwandAir routes are set at under US$2 per kilogram for all five destinations, ensuring that Nigerian goods can access destination markets quickly and affordably.”
The RwandAir partnership is expected to be formally inaugurated in June 2026.
Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment Jumoke Oduwole said the development shows that Nigeria’s AfCFTA strategy is beginning to deliver measurable results.
“One year ago, we promised that the AfCFTA would work in practice for Nigerian businesses, not only on paper. We set out to solve a practical problem: Nigerian businesses have goods that African markets wanted, but the cost of cargo was too high,” she said.
She added that Nigeria’s non-oil export performance has improved under the initiative.
“Nigeria’s non-oil exports to other African markets rose from $150m in 2024 to $207m in 2025.”
Oduwole said the expanded corridor reflects a deliberate effort to deepen market access for Nigerian businesses while strengthening regional economic ties.
“With RwandAir, we are widening the air cargo corridor, so that more Nigerian exporters can reach more markets at a cost that allows them to compete,” she said.
She also credited improved coordination between government institutions and private sector actors for the progress, noting contributions from agencies such as the Nigeria Customs Service, Nigerian Export Promotion Council, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Nigerian Shippers’ Council and the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture.
The ministry explained that negotiations for the expansion involved technical input from development partners, including the United Nations Development Programme Regional Bureau for Africa, as well as Nigeria’s AfCFTA Coordination Office.
Officials said the agreement also followed discussions between President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Rwandan President Paul Kagame at the 13th Africa CEO Forum held in Kigali on May 13, 2026.
The government expects the expanded corridor to boost exports in sectors such as agribusiness, fashion and textiles, cosmetics, processed foods and light manufacturing—areas where Nigeria already has production capacity but has struggled to compete due to high logistics costs.
Since AfCFTA trading officially began in 2021, Nigeria has gradually increased participation, formally commencing commercial trade under the framework in 2024. Authorities say efforts are now focused on improving infrastructure, export readiness and access to regional markets.
The Federal Government has urged exporters and freight operators to take advantage of the new corridor, noting that cargo bookings can be made through licensed freight forwarders or airline cargo desks at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.
Photo: Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole