New cargo agreement aims to lower logistics costs and open additional African markets for Nigerian exporters.
Nigeria and RwandAir Extend AfCFTA Export Corridor
Nigeria has expanded its African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) export corridor through a new partnership with RwandAir aimed at reducing logistics costs and improving access to Eastern and Southern African markets.
According to reports, the agreement adds Kigali, Harare and Lusaka to Nigeria’s growing export network, while also providing exporters with an additional carrier option on existing Nairobi and Johannesburg routes. The partnership builds on the Nigeria-East/Southern Africa Air Cargo Corridor, covering Entebbe, Nairobi and Johannesburg, launched previously under the AfCFTA framework.
Lower Cargo Costs for Exporters
The Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade & Investment (FMITI) said the initiative is designed to make Nigerian products more competitive across regional markets by significantly reducing freight costs.
Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, while commenting on the partnership, said, “One year ago, we promised that the AfCFTA would work in practice for Nigerian businesses, not only on paper. We set out to solve a practical problem: Nigerian businesses have goods that African markets want, but the cost of cargo was too high.”
Prior to the partnership, many Nigerian exporters were faced with cargo costs ranging from $3 to $10 per kilogram for goods sent to East and Southern Africa, which made the cost of trade prohibitive and reduced the price competitiveness of Nigerian goods.
Cargo rates on the RwandAir routes have been set at under US$2 per kilogram across the five destinations covered by the agreement.
The ministry said the new arrangement gives Nigerian exporters access to destinations in East and Southern Africa at rates substantially below previous market levels.
Supporting Intra-African Trade
The initiative forms part of Nigeria’s broader effort to strengthen intra-African trade under AfCFTA by improving trade logistics and reducing barriers to market access.
The expanded corridor now connects exporters to Kigali in Rwanda, Harare in Zimbabwe and Lusaka in Zambia, while reinforcing links to Nairobi in Kenya and Johannesburg in South Africa. The government said the additional routes will help Nigerian businesses reach new customers and strengthen commercial ties across multiple African regions.
Creating More Export Opportunities
Officials said the agreement is expected to support exporters seeking faster and more affordable access to regional markets.
Speaking on the partnership, Oduwole said: “Today, on Africa Day 2026, the ministry’s partnership with RwandAir has extended the corridor to Kigali, Harare and Lusaka as new destinations and gives Nigerian exporters a second choice of carrier on the Nairobi and Johannesburg routes.” She added: “Cargo rates on the RwandAir routes are set at under US$2 per kilogram for all five destinations, ensuring that Nigerian goods can access destination markets quickly and affordably.”
Next Steps
The government said the RwandAir partnership will be formally flagged off next month as Nigeria continues efforts to expand export opportunities through AfCFTA-aligned trade initiatives.
For more information on African trade and logistics, visit our dedicated archives and follow us on LinkedIn.