Nigeria expands AfCFTA cargo corridor as air freight costs to Africa fall below $2/kg

Nigeria expands AfCFTA cargo corridor as air freight costs to Africa fall below $2/kg

Nigeria has expanded its African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) air cargo corridor through a partnership with RwandAir, opening new export routes to East and Southern Africa and reducing freight costs for eligible exporters seeking access to regional markets.

“Our goal is clear: to make it easier and cheaper for Nigerian businesses to trade across Africa,” said Jumoke Oduwole, minister of industry, trade and investment, on Friday during the launch of the expanded Nigeria-East and Southern Africa Air Cargo Corridor in Lagos. “With RwandAir, we are widening that corridor, opening more routes, and giving our exporters more options to compete.”

The partnership introduces new export routes from Nigeria to Kigali, Rwanda; Lusaka, Zambia; and Harare, Zimbabwe, while also providing exporters with an additional carrier option on existing routes to Nairobi, Kenya, and Johannesburg, South Africa.

According to the ministry, cargo rates on RwandAir-operated routes will be set at below $2 per kilogram for exporters holding AfCFTA Certificates of Origin issued by the Nigeria Customs Service, a significant reduction from previous freight charges that ranged from $3 to as much as $10 per kilogram on some routes.

The government said the lower rates are expected to improve the competitiveness of Nigerian products in African markets by reducing one of the major cost barriers faced by exporters, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises.

The corridor is expected to support exporters in sectors including agribusiness, fashion and textiles, cosmetics, processed foods, and light manufacturing as Nigeria seeks to deepen non-oil exports and diversify sources of foreign exchange earnings.

“This partnership between RwandAir Cargo and Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment enables us to connect Nigerian manufacturers to key markets across East and Southern Africa using our network,” said Jean Bosco Gakwaya, director of cargo services at RwandAir.

“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.”

The latest expansion builds on the cargo corridor launched in 2025 through Uganda Airlines, which provided access to Entebbe, Nairobi, and Johannesburg under the AfCFTA framework. With RwandAir joining the initiative, Nigerian exporters now have access to a wider network across East and Southern Africa.

Analysts have long identified logistics and transportation costs as a major obstacle limiting Nigeria’s ability to take advantage of opportunities under AfCFTA. While the agreement has lowered trade barriers across the continent, exporters continue to face challenges related to freight costs, customs procedures, and market access.

The ministry said eight businesses received AfCFTA Certificates of Origin during the launch event, allowing them to benefit from preferential trade arrangements and discounted cargo rates under the corridor.

The partnership also reflects growing commercial ties between Nigeria and Rwanda following bilateral engagements between President Bola Tinubu and President Paul Kagame during the Africa CEO Forum held in Kigali in May.

Officials said the initiative was implemented in collaboration with agencies including the Nigeria Customs Service, the Nigerian Export Promotion Council, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, and the Nigerian Shippers’ Council.