BY OLAPEJU OLUBI
The Federal Government has launched RwandaAir’s first dedicated cargo flight on the Nigeria-East and Southern Africa route, a move aimed at strengthening intra-African trade, expanding export opportunities for Nigerian businesses and improving connectivity across the continent.
The cargo service was officially flagged off in Lagos on Friday by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, alongside the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole.
The launch marks a significant step in the Federal Government’s efforts to leverage aviation as a catalyst for economic growth and regional integration under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony, Keyamo described the new cargo route as a critical link between aviation, trade and investment, stressing that improved air connectivity is essential to unlocking Africa’s vast economic potential.
According to him, the initiative is designed to provide Nigerian exporters with direct access to markets across East and Southern Africa, while also facilitating smoother movement of goods within the continent.
“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,” Keyamo said.
He noted that the cargo operation aligns with the objectives of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which seeks to create a single market for goods and services across Africa and boost trade among member countries.
“You cannot transform African trade without connecting Africa first,” the minister added.
Keyamo said the commencement of the cargo service demonstrates the government’s commitment to positioning the aviation sector as a strategic enabler of trade facilitation, industrial growth and economic diversification.
Industry stakeholders have long identified poor logistics and inadequate connectivity as major barriers to trade within Africa.
Despite the continent’s growing economic potential, direct transport links between African countries remain limited, often forcing cargo to transit through hubs outside the continent.
The minister said the new route would help address some of these challenges by providing exporters with faster and more reliable logistics solutions, particularly for time-sensitive products.
He explained that sectors expected to benefit significantly from the service include agriculture, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals and other non-oil export industries.
The initiative is also expected to support Nigeria’s drive to increase non-oil exports, reduce dependence on crude oil revenues and deepen participation in regional value chains.
Keyamo further linked the development to the implementation of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM), a flagship African Union initiative aimed at liberalising air transport services across the continent.
He noted that SAATM seeks to eliminate restrictions that have historically limited connectivity among African nations and constrained the growth of trade and investment.
The minister recently advocated stronger implementation of the open-skies framework during the African Air Transport Expo held in Lomé, where he called on African governments to remove barriers to air transport and create a more integrated aviation market.
Analysts say improved air cargo connectivity could play a crucial role in supporting the goals of AfCFTA by reducing delivery times, lowering logistics costs and enabling businesses to reach new markets more efficiently.
The launch of the RwandaAir cargo route is expected to strengthen supply chains between West, East and Southern Africa, creating new opportunities for exporters and investors while fostering greater economic cooperation across the continent.
The event was attended by government officials, exporters, aviation stakeholders, trade representatives and executives of RwandaAir, who expressed optimism that the service would contribute to building a more connected and economically integrated Africa.
The new cargo operation is expected to commence regular services immediately, providing a dedicated platform for the movement of Nigerian goods to key markets across East and Southern Africa and reinforcing Nigeria’s ambition to become a major trade and logistics hub on the continent.
Olapeju is a journalist and aviation reporter.
