The new corridor was formally unveiled on Friday during the flag-off of RwandAir’s inaugural dedicated cargo flight on the Nigeria–East/Southern Africa route, an event jointly led by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, and the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole.
Describing the initiative as a strategic milestone under the administration’s economic agenda, the government said the development is designed to deepen regional integration and strengthen Africa’s logistics backbone for trade.
According to a statement issued by Tunde Moshood, Special Adviser on Media and Communications to the aviation minister, the cargo service marks “a major breakthrough under the renewed hope agenda of President Bola Tinubu,” with expectations of improved export capacity and continental market access for Nigerian businesses.
‘You cannot transform African trade without connecting Africa first’
Speaking at the launch ceremony, Keyamo underscored the importance of physical connectivity in achieving the goals of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), stressing that aviation remains central to unlocking the continent’s economic potential.
“I am excited to be here with my sister, the honourable minister of industry, trade and investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, to supervise and launch this effort in support and consonance with the principles and letters of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA),” he said.
He added pointedly: “You cannot transform African trade without connecting Africa first.”
Keyamo further explained that the cargo route aligns with broader efforts to liberalise air transport across the continent under the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM), which seeks to remove barriers limiting movement of goods and services between African countries.
Boost for exporters across key economic sectors
The government expects the new air cargo link to significantly improve logistics efficiency for Nigerian exporters, particularly those in agriculture, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, and the non-oil sector.
By providing faster and more predictable shipping options, officials believe the route will reduce trade bottlenecks, expand market access, and ultimately increase export volumes between Nigeria and partner countries in East and Southern Africa.
Jumoke Oduwole, who co-led the launch, echoed the broader trade integration goals, noting that improved connectivity is essential for building competitive regional value chains and strengthening intra-African commerce.
Strengthening regional supply chains and continental integration
Beyond immediate trade benefits, the initiative is positioned as part of a wider strategy to reinforce Africa’s supply chain resilience and economic interdependence.
The government said the route will help “create new opportunities for Nigerian exporters to access markets across East and Southern Africa while strengthening regional supply chains and boosting continental commerce,” according to the statement by Moshood.
Stakeholders at the flag-off ceremony included government officials, aviation industry players, exporters, trade representatives, and executives from RwandAir, which will operate the dedicated cargo service.
With the launch, Nigeria signals a renewed push to leverage aviation as a catalyst for trade expansion, regional integration, and long-term economic growth across the continent.