The African Finance Corporation (AFC) has endorsed Nigeria’s expansion of air cargo routes to East and Southern Africa, describing the initiative as a practical step towards deepening intra-African trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Speaking in an interview with The PUNCH, AFC President Samaila Zubairu said the long-term success of the initiative would depend on how effectively Nigerian businesses take advantage of the new trade channels rather than government policy alone.
“Nigeria’s expansion of trade routes to the East-Southern Africa region is a very good initiative,” Zubairu said, adding that the AFC supports efforts that strengthen regional trade integration and advance the implementation of AfCFTA.
He noted that while government policies can create an enabling environment, private sector participation remains the key driver of trade growth.
“The government has made the pronouncement, but it is companies that will make it work,” he said, urging exporters to actively explore new markets created by the expanded corridor.
The Nigeria-East and Southern Africa Air Cargo Corridor, launched in partnership with RwandAir, provides exporters with direct access to Kigali, Lusaka and Harare, while also offering additional cargo services to Nairobi and Johannesburg. The initiative is designed to reduce transport costs and improve market access for Nigerian goods across the continent.
According to the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, exporters holding valid AfCFTA Certificates of Origin issued by the Nigeria Customs Service will benefit from cargo rates of less than $2 per kilogramme to the five destinations, significantly below the previous range of $3 to $10 per kilogramme.
Speaking at the launch of the expanded corridor on June 19, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, said the programme is intended to lower the cost of cross-border trade and improve the competitiveness of Nigerian businesses.
She said the expansion builds on the initial corridor introduced with Uganda Airlines and demonstrates the government’s commitment to translating AfCFTA into tangible commercial opportunities for exporters.
The ministry has said the corridor recorded a 40 per cent increase in export volumes within its first year of operation following its initial launch in 2025. The programme primarily supports exporters in agribusiness, processed foods, fashion and textiles, cosmetics, and light manufacturing.
Zubairu also encouraged businesses seeking to expand exports to access financing through commercial banks, noting that financial institutions have an important role in supporting trade.
While reaffirming AFC’s commitment to facilitating trade, he clarified that the corporation primarily finances infrastructure and industrial development rather than direct trade transactions.
“We are an infrastructure and industrial bank, not a trade bank. But we can support the banks with trade lines,” he said.
The expanded cargo corridor also underscores strengthening commercial ties between Nigeria and Rwanda following high-level engagements between President Bola Tinubu and Rwandan President Paul Kagame during the Africa CEO Forum in Kigali. The initiative was implemented through collaboration among the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, the Nigeria Customs Service, the Nigerian Export Promotion Council, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria and the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, as part of broader efforts to improve regional trade connectivity under AfCFTA.
