Nigeria has announced a new partnership with RwandAir to expand its air cargo export corridor under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), in a move aimed at lowering shipping costs and boosting access to African markets for Nigerian businesses.

The announcement was made on Africa Day 2026 by the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI) in Abuja.

The new agreement extends Nigeria’s export corridor to Kigali in Rwanda, Harare in Zimbabwe and Lusaka in Zambia, while also providing exporters with an additional cargo carrier option for Nairobi and Johannesburg routes.

Government officials say the initiative could significantly reduce the cost of moving Nigerian goods across the continent, especially for small and medium-sized exporters.

Why the partnership matters

Before the cargo corridor was introduced, Nigerian exporters reportedly paid between $3 and $10 per kilogram to ship goods to East and Southern Africa.

According to the ministry, those costs made many Nigerian products less competitive in African markets.

Under the new RwandAir arrangement, cargo rates will fall to below $2 per kilogram across all five destinations.

The partnership builds on an earlier agreement signed with Uganda Airlines in 2025, which introduced discounted cargo routes to Uganda, Kenya and South Africa.

Officials said the corridor is part of Nigeria’s broader strategy to turn AfCFTA from a policy framework into a practical trade tool for businesses.

Non-oil exports rise

Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, said the initiative is already producing measurable economic results.

“One year ago, we promised that the AfCFTA would work in practice for Nigerian businesses, not only on paper,” she said.

“We set out to solve a practical problem: Nigerian businesses have goods that African markets wanted, but the cost of cargo was too high.”

She added that Nigeria’s non-oil exports to African markets increased from $150m in 2024 to $207m in 2025.

“With RwandAir, we are widening the air cargo corridor, so that more Nigerian exporters can reach more markets at a cost that allows them to compete.”

Economists say expanding non-oil exports is critical for Nigeria as the country seeks to reduce dependence on crude oil revenues and strengthen regional trade ties.

Sectors expected to benefit

The ministry said the expanded corridor is expected to support businesses in:

Agribusiness

Fashion and textiles

Cosmetics

Processed foods

Light manufacturing

Exporters in these sectors have often cited logistics costs, customs delays and limited cargo options as major barriers to accessing African markets.

Trade analysts say cheaper and faster air freight could help Nigerian products become more visible across Africa, particularly under AfCFTA’s tariff reduction framework.

Regional cooperation under AfCFTA

The government said the RwandAir partnership also reflects growing economic cooperation between Nigeria and Rwanda.

Negotiations were led by the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, alongside advisers from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Regional Bureau for Africa and the Nigeria AfCFTA Coordination Office.

Officials linked the agreement to discussions between President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame during the Africa CEO Forum held in Kigali earlier in May 2026.

The ministry also acknowledged support from several institutions, including:

Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development

Nigeria Customs Service

Nigerian Export Promotion Council

Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria

Nigerian Shippers’ Council

Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA)

What’s next for exporters?

The RwandAir cargo partnership is expected to be formally launched in June 2026.

Nigerian exporters interested in using the corridor have been advised to contact licensed freight forwarders or cargo desks operated by Uganda Airlines and RwandAir at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.

The ministry also directed businesses to consult the report titled Accelerating Routes for Nigerian Exports into the AfCFTA for cargo rates and trade procedures.

Industry and public reaction

Business groups have welcomed the announcement, saying lower cargo costs could help Nigerian businesses compete more effectively within Africa.

Trade experts, however, say long-term success will depend on infrastructure efficiency, customs processing speed and sustained policy coordination across African markets.

Some exporters have also called for similar trade corridors covering West and North Africa to further deepen regional integration.

Fidelity Bank Plc has distributed food packs to more than 1,500 residents in Surulere, Lagos, as part of its nationwide Food Bank initiative aimed at tackling hunger and supporting vulnerable communities.

The outreach was carried out in partnership with the Office of the Personal Assistant to the President on Constituency Affairs and the Sodiq Abiodun Ogundare (SAO) Foundation.

The initiative comes at a time when many Nigerians are grappling with rising living costs, inflation, and increasing food insecurity, making food intervention programmes more critical for low-income households.

Why the Initiative Matters

According to the bank, the Fidelity Food Bank initiative has distributed more than 150,000 food packs across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones since its launch.

Speaking during the outreach event, Regional Bank Head, Victoria Island/Lekki, Fidelity Bank Plc, Nnamdi Edekobi, represented by Branch Leader, Adeola Odeku Branch, Fidelity Bank Plc, Ifeyinwa Asomugha, said the programme reflects the bank’s broader commitment to community welfare.

“Today goes beyond the distribution of food items; it is about uplifting lives, creating opportunities, and strengthening our commitment to the wellbeing of families in this community,” he said.

Edekobi added that the intervention aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 2, which focuses on ending hunger.

“Today’s outreach has provided over 1,500 beneficiaries with essential feeding supplies that will help address hunger, support healthy living, and improve the overall wellbeing of families. This initiative also aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 2, which focuses on achieving Zero Hunger,” he added.

The bank also acknowledged the support of the Personal Assistant to the President on Constituency Affairs, Hon. Khadijat Kareem Omotayo, for helping facilitate the partnership.

Government Representative Praises Collaboration

Hon. Khadijat Kareem Omotayo described the initiative as a significant opportunity for residents in Surulere Constituency 1.

“I am very happy that the foundation is growing. Fidelity Bank are our people and I appreciate this collaboration that has brought this massive opportunity to our people in Surulere Constituency 1,” she stated.

She also expressed optimism about future collaborations with the bank and development partners to support more Nigerians facing economic challenges.

Community members and local stakeholders at the event reportedly described the outreach as timely, particularly as many families continue to struggle with the rising cost of food and household essentials.

Fidelity Bank’s Growing CSR Footprint

The Surulere outreach is the latest in a series of corporate social responsibility projects undertaken by Fidelity Bank.

The bank was recently named CSR Champion of the Year at the 2025 Independent Newspaper Awards, largely due to the impact of its Food Bank initiative.

Beyond humanitarian interventions, Fidelity Bank says it continues to invest in digital banking, SME financing, and export support services across Nigeria and the United Kingdom through its subsidiary, FidBank UK Limited.

The lender currently serves more than 10 million customers through its digital platforms and 255 business offices.

Industry Perspective

Corporate social responsibility experts say food intervention programmes are becoming increasingly important in Nigeria as economic pressures deepen.

Analysts note that partnerships between financial institutions, government offices, and non-profit organisations can help expand social support networks while strengthening public trust in private sector institutions.

The Fidelity Food Bank initiative also reflects a growing trend among Nigerian banks to combine profitability with social impact programmes focused on education, healthcare, food security, and entrepreneurship.

What’s Next?

Fidelity Bank indicated that the Food Bank initiative will continue expanding to underserved communities across the country.

Observers say sustained interventions and stronger public-private partnerships could help cushion the effects of economic hardship for thousands of vulnerable Nigerians.

Vice President Kashim Shettima on Monday commissioned the Onyearugbulem–Shagari/Irese Road Flyover and Junction Improvement Project in Akure, describing the infrastructure as a strategic development expected to improve transportation, reduce accidents, and stimulate economic growth in Ondo State.

The project, located along the Ilesha–Akure–Owo Expressway, is the first flyover bridge to be constructed in Akure, the Ondo State capital.

Speaking during the commissioning ceremony, Shettima said the flyover would improve traffic circulation, enhance road safety, and support commercial and industrial expansion along one of the region’s busiest transport corridors.

He praised the Ondo State Government for investing in infrastructure that addresses long-standing transportation challenges affecting commuters and businesses.

Ondo State Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa said the project represented more than just a physical structure, describing it as a response to years of deadly congestion and economic disruption at the Irese junction.

“This development goes beyond physical infrastructure. It represents a deliberate effort to address long-standing traffic challenges, improve safety, and enhance economic productivity within the metropolis,” the governor said.

Why the flyover matters

For years, the intersection connecting the Onyearugbulem–Shagari axis with the Akure–Benin Expressway had been identified as a major accident hotspot and traffic bottleneck.

Residents and motorists frequently complained about long delays, gridlock, and road crashes, particularly during peak travel periods.

Governor Aiyedatiwa said the corridor serves as a major gateway into South-West Nigeria, making traffic efficiency critical for trade, movement of goods, and regional connectivity.

The governor added that the project was initially started under the administration of late former governor Rotimi Akeredolu and later sustained by his administration to ensure completion.

Transport and urban development analysts say flyover projects in growing state capitals can help reduce travel time, improve logistics, and attract new investments when combined with broader road infrastructure upgrades.

Flyover named after Pa Reuben Fasoranti at 100

During the event, Governor Aiyedatiwa announced that the flyover would be named after Reuben Famuyide Fasoranti, the leader of the pan-Yoruba socio-political group Afenifere, who turned 100 on Monday.

The governor described the naming as recognition of Fasoranti’s contributions to national development and Yoruba leadership.

The commissioning ceremony was attended by Dapo Abiodun, members of the Ondo State Executive Council, traditional rulers, and security chiefs.

Ondo government highlights wider infrastructure push

Governor Aiyedatiwa said his administration had intensified infrastructure development across the state over the past year.

According to him, ongoing and completed projects include the dualisation of the Akure–Idanre Road, Akungba–Ikare Road, Okitipupa–Igbokoda Road, and College Road in Igbokoda.

He also said more than 100 kilometres of roads had undergone rehabilitation and asphalt overlay across Ondo State’s three senatorial districts.

Among the roads mentioned were Akure–Ijare Road, Akure–Imafon Road, Aiyegunle–Oka Road, and Igbotako Road.

“Quality infrastructure remains the backbone of economic growth, investment attraction, and improved quality of life,” Aiyedatiwa said.

The governor commended engineers, contractors, and indigenous professionals involved in the project, saying the flyover demonstrated local technical capacity.

Public and economic impact

Road users and businesses along the Akure corridor are expected to benefit from shorter travel times and reduced congestion.

Commercial transport operators have also expressed hope that improved traffic flow would lower fuel consumption and reduce delays in moving passengers and goods.

Infrastructure experts say sustained investment in urban transport systems could become increasingly important as Nigerian cities continue to expand rapidly.

What happens next?

The Ondo State Government says attention will now shift toward completing other ongoing road and urban renewal projects across the state.

Analysts say maintaining the new infrastructure and improving traffic management around adjoining roads will be critical to ensuring the flyover delivers long-term benefits.