FG to cut African export costs with new RwandAir cargo deal

Nigeria has significantly expanded its African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) export corridor through a new strategic partnership with RwandAir. This collaboration aims to lower cargo costs and open new export routes for Nigerian businesses into East and Southern Africa.

The agreement builds on Nigeria's previous initiative, the Nigeria-East and Southern Africa Air Cargo Corridor, launched a year prior with Uganda Airlines. The new deal with RwandAir extends the corridor's reach to Kigali in Rwanda, Harare in Zimbabwe, and Lusaka in Zambia. It also provides Nigerian exporters with an additional carrier option for the Nairobi and Johannesburg routes.

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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.

This expansion directly addresses a major challenge for Nigerian exporters: high logistics and cargo transportation costs, which have historically made their products less competitive on the continent. Before the corridor's establishment, exporters reportedly paid between $3 and $10 per kilogram to move goods into East and Southern African markets. Under the new arrangement with RwandAir, cargo rates are set at under $2 per kilogram across all five destinations, ensuring quicker and more affordable market access.

The Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment announced the expansion on Africa Day 2026, highlighting it as a practical result of Nigeria's AfCFTA implementation strategy. Minister Jumoke Oduwole expressed optimism that the AfCFTA would demonstrably benefit Nigerian businesses. The RwandAir partnership is slated for formal inauguration in June 2026.

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One year ago, we promised that the AfCFTA would work in practice for Nigerian businesses.