Nigeria Opens Air Cargo Route to East and Southern Africa
Nigeria has launched a new air cargo corridor linking the country to key markets in East and Southern Africa. The initiative is designed to support intra-African trade and expand the reach of Nigerian exports under the AfCFTA. Eight Nigerian companies have already been granted AfCFTA certificates of origin to use. . .
Nigeria has launched a new air cargo corridor linking the country to key markets in East and Southern Africa. The initiative is designed to support intra-African trade and expand the reach of Nigerian exports under the AfCFTA. Eight Nigerian companies have already been granted AfCFTA certificates of origin to use the new logistics platform. Nigeria has taken another step in implementing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), launching an air cargo route that connects the country with markets across East and Southern Africa. The new corridor, inaugurated on June 19, is expected to facilitate trade flows and strengthen the presence of Nigerian products across the continent. According to Nigeria’s AfCFTA Coordination Office, the logistics corridor was developed in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, RwandaAir and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The route is expected to speed up exports to several strategic markets, including Rwanda, Kenya, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe. “As Nigeria continues to deepen its participation under the AfCFTA, strengthening logistics and market access remains central to unlocking the full potential of intra-African trade,”the Coordination Office said in a statement. A New Corridor to Support Export DiversificationSpeaking at the launch ceremony in Lagos, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment Jumoke Oduwole described the project as a major milestone in Nigeria’s trade strategy. Oduwole said Africa has created the world's largest free trade area by the number of participating countries, but Nigeria's success will ultimately depend on how effectively its businesses take advantage of the opportunities it offers. According to the minister, the initiative should support the country’s industrial development by increasing demand for locally manufactured products. Vianney Rubagumya, representative of the Rwandan High Commission in Nigeria, said the first export flight was a concrete demonstration of Africa’s determination to move from commitments on paper to tangible action aimed at facilitating trade, creating opportunities for businesses and connecting African markets more effectively. The launch comes amid steady growth in trade between Nigeria and the rest of the continent. In the first quarter of 2026, Nigerian exports to African countries reached 4. 062 trillion naira (about $3 billion), compared with imports of 654. 94 billion naira. Togo, South Africa, Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt and Senegal were the leading destinations, accounting for more than 78% of Nigeria’s exports to Africa. The new cargo corridor is also part of a broader effort to accelerate AfCFTA implementation. The federal government has established a $1 billion credit facility in partnership with Afreximbank, managed by the Bank of Industry, to strengthen production capacity and improve the competitiveness of export-oriented businesses. In April 2025, Abuja also adopted the ECOWAS tariff schedule that provides for the elimination of customs duties on 90% of goods traded across Africa. The country had previously completed its first AfCFTA trade transaction in July 2024 through the Guided Trade Initiative, which enabled exports of manufactured goods to several African markets. Following the launch of the air cargo corridor, eight Nigerian companies received AfCFTA certificates of origin, granting them direct access to the new logistics platform. According to TVC News, the measure is expected to facilitate the movement of their goods into East and Southern African markets. Charlène N’dimon