…New cargo route expected to boost exports and strengthen intra-African trade

…Initiative aligns with AfCFTA and Single African Air Transport Market objectives

…Keyamo says aviation remains critical to economic growth and regional integration

LAGOS, NIGERIA — The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo, SAN, alongside the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, has officially flagged off RwandaAir’s first dedicated cargo flight on the Nigeria-East/Southern Africa corridor, marking a major step toward strengthening intra-African trade and economic integration.

The launch, held in Lagos, is expected to create new opportunities for Nigerian exporters by providing direct access to markets across East and Southern Africa while improving regional supply chains and enhancing continental commerce.

Speaking during the ceremony, Keyamo described the initiative as a practical demonstration of how aviation can support trade, investment, and economic development across Africa.

“We’re here with some of our exporters; this is where aviation interlines with trade and investment. This is in pursuit of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to promote trade and investment across Africa,” he said.

According to the minister, the cargo route aligns with the objectives of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and will help unlock Africa’s economic potential by improving connectivity among African countries.

He noted that meaningful transformation of African trade cannot occur without first connecting the continent through efficient transportation networks.

Keyamo also highlighted the importance of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM), an initiative designed to liberalise air transport services across Africa and eliminate barriers that have historically limited trade and movement within the continent.

The minister recently advocated for broader implementation of SAATM during the African Air Transport Expo in Lomé, Togo, where he urged African nations to embrace open skies policies and seamless market access as tools for economic transformation.

Dr Jumoke Oduwole, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, said the partnership demonstrates Nigeria’s commitment to enabling and boosting inter-African trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area under (AfCFTA). 

Oduwole said the expanded corridor will address the challenge of high freight costs by providing 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.

“Our goal is to make it easier and cheaper for Nigerian businesses to trade across Africa. One year ago, we launched this corridor to solve a real problem for exporters, the high cost of moving goods into African markets. 

“Today, with RwandAir, we are expanding that corridor, opening more routes, and giving our exporters more options to compete.

“Eight businesses are receiving AfCFTA Certificates of Origin today, which shows that this is not just about policy, it is about real businesses, real exports, and real market access,” said Oduwole.

She hinted that the corridor will support exporters in agribusiness, cosmetics, processed foods, fashion and textiles, light manufacturing and other made-in-Nigeria products.

She disclosed that cargo rates on the routes operated by RwandaAir are set at under $2 per kilogramme, available to Nigerian exporters holding an AfCFTA Certificate of Origin issued by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), noting that this would help to reduce the cost of moving Nigerian goods into key African markets. 

Oduwole recalled that the Nigeria-East and Southern Africa Air Cargo Corridor was first launched in 2025 through a partnership with Uganda Airlines, which opened the Entebbe, Uganda; Nairobi, Kenya, and; Johannesburg, South Africa corridor.

She said with RwandaAir now joining the corridor, Nigerian exporters have a wider network and stronger logistics support to reach more markets across the continent. 

Director Cargo Services, RwandaAir, Jean Bosco Gakwaya, said the partnership would enable the airline to connect Nigerian manufacturers to key markets across East and Southern Africa.

“This is a pivotal moment for intra-African trade and for how we move goods across the continent. Our ability to efficiently connect businesses to markets across regions reinforces the role of air cargo in Africa’s economic development,” said Gakwaya.

The event attracted government officials, exporters, aviation industry players, trade representatives, and RwandaAir executives, all of whom emphasised the need for stronger regional cooperation through improved air connectivity.

The new Nigeria-East/Southern Africa cargo corridor is expected to play a significant role in advancing Africa’s economic integration agenda and supporting the continent’s growing trade ambitions.

The Comptroller of Murtala Muhammed International Airport Command, Comptroller Chidi Nworie, representing the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, said the new corridor would create new opportunities for exporters and enhance Nigeria’s competitiveness in regional markets.

Industry stakeholders believe the new cargo service will provide faster and more reliable logistics solutions for exporters in agriculture, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, and other non-oil sectors, thereby increasing trade volumes and supporting economic growth.