The Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, alongside the Honourable Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, has officially flagged off RwandaAir’s inaugural dedicated cargo flight linking Nigeria with East and Southern Africa, opening a new chapter in regional trade connectivity.
The landmark launch signals a major step forward in Nigeria’s drive to deepen intra-African trade and economic integration under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The new cargo corridor is set to unlock access to key markets across East and Southern Africa for Nigerian exporters while strengthening regional supply chains.
Speaking at the ceremony, Keyamo highlighted the strategic importance of the initiative in bridging aviation and commerce across 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. I am excited to be here with my sister, the Honourable Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, to supervise and launch this effort in line with the principles of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
“You cannot transform African trade without connecting Africa first”, he said.
The Minister noted that the cargo route underscores the Federal Government’s commitment to leveraging aviation as a catalyst for economic growth, industrial development, and regional integration.
He further emphasised that the initiative aligns with the objectives of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM), which seeks to liberalise air transport across Africa and eliminate long-standing barriers to connectivity and commerce.
Keyamo recently reiterated this position at the African Air Transport Expo in Lomé, Togo, where he called on African nations to embrace open skies policies and seamless market access as critical drivers of economic transformation.
The Nigeria–East/Southern Africa Air Cargo Route is expected to deliver faster, more efficient logistics solutions for exporters in agriculture, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, and non-oil sectors, ultimately boosting trade volumes and economic prosperity across the continent.
The event drew a wide range of stakeholders, including government officials, exporters, aviation industry players, trade representatives, and RwandaAir executives, all united by a shared vision of a more connected and economically integrated Africa.