Nigerian exporters are set to gain easier and cheaper access to some of Africa’s fastest-growing markets following the launch of an expanded air cargo corridor between Nigeria and East and Southern Africa through a new partnership with RwandAir.
The initiative, unveiled by the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment in Lagos, is expected to reduce export costs, improve market access and unlock fresh opportunities for businesses seeking to expand across the continent under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
For manufacturers, farmers, fashion entrepreneurs and small businesses, the new corridor could mean the difference between struggling to reach customers abroad and competing successfully in regional markets.
The expanded network opens new export routes from Nigeria to Kigali, Rwanda; Lusaka, Zambia; and Harare, Zimbabwe, while also providing additional cargo access to Nairobi, Kenya, and Johannesburg, South Africa.
Officials said exporters holding AfCFTA Certificates of Origin issued by the Nigeria Customs Service will benefit from cargo rates of less than $2 per kilogram on RwandAir-operated routes. Previously, many exporters paid between $3 and $10 per kilogram, costs that often eroded profits and reduced the competitiveness of Nigerian products.
Speaking at the launch, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, described the partnership as a practical step toward making continental trade more accessible and affordable for Nigerian businesses.
“Our goal is clear: to make it easier and cheaper for Nigerian businesses to trade across Africa,” she said.
“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 widening that corridor, opening more routes and giving our exporters more options to compete.”
According to the minister, the initiative goes beyond policy announcements and is designed to deliver real opportunities for businesses by expanding market access and supporting export growth.
The corridor is expected to benefit sectors such as agribusiness, fashion and textiles, cosmetics, processed foods, light manufacturing and other Made-in-Nigeria products, helping businesses reach new consumers across Africa.
RwandAir’s Director of Cargo Services, Jean Bosco Gakwaya, said the partnership would strengthen trade links between African economies and provide more efficient logistics solutions for exporters.
“This partnership enables us to connect Nigerian manufacturers to key markets across East and Southern Africa through the RwandAir network,” he said.
“This is a pivotal moment for intra-African trade and demonstrates the critical role air cargo plays in driving Africa’s economic development.”
The agreement also reflects growing economic cooperation between Nigeria and Rwanda, following recent engagements between President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Rwandan President Paul Kagame during the Africa CEO Forum in Kigali.
The Nigeria-East and Southern Africa Air Cargo Corridor was first introduced in 2025 through a partnership with Uganda Airlines. With RwandAir now joining the initiative, exporters will enjoy access to more destinations and greater flexibility in moving goods across the continent.
Government officials believe the expanded corridor will strengthen regional value chains, improve trade efficiency and position Nigerian products more competitively in African markets.
For thousands of exporters, especially micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, the development represents more than a logistics upgrade. It offers a new pathway to growth, job creation and increased participation in Africa’s emerging single market.
With lower freight costs, expanded route options and easier access to regional markets, the corridor is expected to give fresh momentum to Nigeria’s non-oil export drive while advancing Africa’s vision of deeper economic integration under AfCFTA.
