The federal government and RwandAir have launched an expanded air cargo corridor to reduce export costs and boost intra-African trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The minister of industry, trade, and investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, said this on Friday in Lagos during the flag-off of the inaugural shipment under the corridor.
Oduwole said the initiative would provide Nigerian exporters with lower freight rates and improved access to key African markets.
She said the partnership expanded the existing corridor by opening export routes to Kigali, Rwanda; Lusaka, Zambia; and Harare, Zimbabwe, while providing additional carrier options on the Nairobi, Kenya, and Johannesburg, South Africa routes.
According to her, cargo rates on RwandAir-operated routes have been reduced to below two dollars per kilogramme from previous rates of between three and $10 per kilogramme.
She said the preferential rates would be available to exporters holding an AfCFTA Certificate of Origin issued by the Nigeria Customs Service.
“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,” she said.
The minister recalled that the corridor was first launched on May 25, 2025, covering Entebbe, Uganda; Nairobi, Kenya; and Johannesburg, South Africa.
According to her, the initiative recorded a 40 per cent increase in export volumes within its first year of operation.
“That statistic represents increased production, jobs, export revenue and growth for Nigerian businesses, especially women-led enterprises.
“It also signifies stronger commercial relationships between Nigerian businesses and African buyers,” she said.
Oduwole described Nigeria as a champion of the AfCFTA market, noting that it remained the first and currently the only country to establish a dedicated logistics solution aimed at significantly lowering the cost of transporting goods across Africa.
Also speaking, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr Festus Keyamo, said the initiative aligned with ongoing efforts to achieve a Single African Air Transport Market and remove barriers to trade and movement across the continent.
Keyamo said discussions at a recent aviation conference in Lome, Togo, focused on eliminating visa restrictions and protectionist policies that hinder seamless air connectivity in Africa.
“You cannot transform Africa or promote the AfCFTA without connecting Africa first.
“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,” he said.
The minister also disclosed plans to commence cargo flights between Guangzhou, China, and Enugu by December to facilitate trade flows and improve logistics for Nigerian businesses.
According to him, the initiative will support commercial hubs such as Aba and Onitsha through more efficient cargo distribution channels.
Mr Vianney Rubagumwa, representing the Embassy of Rwanda in Nigeria, described the inaugural export flight as a practical demonstration of Africa’s commitment to translating AfCFTA goals into tangible economic outcomes.
Rubagumwa said the collaboration would reduce trade barriers and create new opportunities for exporters seeking access to markets across East and Southern Africa.
He added that Rwanda remained committed to regional integration, trade facilitation and efficient logistics systems, noting that the partnership would strengthen economic ties among West, East and Southern Africa.
Representing the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, the Comptroller of Murtala Muhammed International Airport Command, Comptroller Chidi Nworie, said the initiative would create new opportunities for exporters and enhance Nigeria’s competitiveness in regional markets.
Nworie said the corridor would support greater market access for Nigerian products, 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.
“As Africa moves towards greater economic integration, partnerships such as these will strengthen intra-African trade and unlock the continent’s immense potential,” he said.
Some exporters at the event expressed optimism that the expanded corridor would deepen regional integration, improve the competitiveness of Nigerian exports and accelerate the realisation of AfCFTA objectives. (NAN)
