Nigeria has officially flagged off RwandaAir’s first dedicated cargo flight on the Nigeria–East/Southern Africa Air Cargo Route, creating a new logistics corridor aimed at boosting trade between Nigeria and key markets across East and Southern Africa.
The development was disclosed by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, on Friday, June 19, during the official launch ceremony of the cargo service in Lagos, according to a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Tunde Moshood.
The inaugural cargo operation marks the commencement of RwandaAir’s dedicated freight service connecting Nigeria with destinations across East and Southern Africa.
The route is expected to provide exporters with a faster and more reliable channel for transporting goods across the continent while strengthening regional trade links.
What they are saying
The Federal Government said the launch opens up new export opportunities for Nigerian businesses, improves access to regional markets and supports stronger supply chains across Africa.
Keyamo described the initiative as an example of how improved aviation connectivity can support trade and investment flows across the continent, particularly at a time when African countries are seeking to deepen economic integration under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
- “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.”
The minister also noted that the cargo route forms part of broader efforts to make continental trade easier by improving physical connections between African economies, a key objective of the AfCFTA framework.
- “I am excited to be here with my sister, the Honourable Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, to supervise and launch this effort in support and consonance with the principles and letters of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). You cannot transform African trade without connecting Africa first,” he added.
More insights
The new cargo service is expected to improve logistics efficiency for exporters operating in sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals and other non-oil industries by reducing transit times and expanding access to regional markets.
- The initiative also aligns with broader continental efforts to liberalise air transport through the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM), an African Union-backed programme designed to remove barriers to air connectivity and improve the movement of goods and people across the continent.
Keyamo has been one of the prominent advocates of the initiative, recently calling for stronger commitment by African governments to open-skies policies and improved market access during the African Air Transport Expo in Lomé, Togo.
Industry stakeholders believe improved cargo connectivity could help increase trade volumes, strengthen regional value chains and support economic growth by making it easier for businesses to move products across African borders.
What you should know
The launch builds on efforts by Nigeria and Rwanda to deepen economic and trade cooperation in recent months.
The corridor is being implemented through collaboration between RwandaAir and several Nigerian agencies, including the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, the Nigeria Customs Service, the Nigerian Export Promotion Council, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria and the Nigerian Shippers’ Council.
Under the policy, Rwandan nationals can enter Nigeria without a visa for up to 30 days for tourism, business and official engagements, with the Nigeria Immigration Service directed to implement the arrangement across airports, seaports and land borders.
