New initiative offers discounted air cargo costs and improved market access to East and Southern Africa under AfCFTA framework.
Nigeria is taking bold steps to expand its intra-African trade footprint with the launch of the Nigeria-East/Southern Africa Air Cargo Corridor—an initiative designed to strengthen trading links with Kenya, Uganda, and South Africa.
Announced in late May, the project operates under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) framework and is backed by significant cost incentives aimed at making Nigerian exports more competitive across African markets.
Lower Logistics Costs to Drive Competitiveness
One of the key features of the new air corridor is a sharp reduction in transportation costs. Exporters using the corridor will benefit from reduced air cargo rates of between 50 to 75 percent. The corridor will initially operate from Lagos and Abuja and is serviced via Uganda Airlines.
According to Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, this effort will “help in unlocking easier access for Nigerian businesses by significantly reducing transportation barriers and costs.”
“On Africa Day, we launch a bold new air corridor linking Nigerian goods to AfCFTA markets – via Uganda Airlines – cutting logistics costs by 50–75 per cent. This opens access to Uganda, Kenya and South Africa,” Oduwole’s statement read in part.
The initiative’s first cargo shipment—comprising textiles, cosmetics, fashion accessories, and agro-processed goods—has already been dispatched.
Expanding Access to Priority Markets
This strategic air link is intended to facilitate trade not only with Uganda, Kenya, and South Africa but to build a broader business matchmaking platform that fosters deeper commercial ties across Africa. By offering faster delivery times and reduced logistical risks, the Nigerian government aims to help its businesses scale exports with greater confidence.
The initiative supports President Bola Tinubu’s broader campaign to diversify Nigeria’s non-oil export economy by tapping into the opportunities created by the AfCFTA. The government reiterated its commitment to positioning Nigeria as an active player in shaping and advancing the agreement’s implementation.
AfCFTA Tariff Cuts Unlock Further Opportunity
In tandem with the new air corridor, Nigerian exporters now benefit from another major development: the official gazetting of AfCFTA tariffs. In April 2025, Nigeria transmitted its ECOWAS Tariff Schedule to the AfCFTA Secretariat, enabling zero duties on 90 percent of goods traded under the agreement.
This combination of lower tariffs and reduced logistics costs is expected to make Nigerian products far more competitive on the continent. Exporters of textiles, cosmetics, and agro-products in particular stand to gain from improved market access, while businesses across other sectors are also poised to benefit.
Positioning Nigeria as a Trade Leader
The launch of the air cargo corridor marks a significant milestone in Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to capitalize on the AfCFTA’s potential to drive economic integration across Africa.
By proactively investing in trade-enabling infrastructure and policy reforms, Nigeria is positioning itself as a leader in promoting intra-African commerce—one shipment at a time.
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