Uganda Air has officially launched a dedicated air cargo corridor connecting Nigeria with East and Southern Africa, a strategic move aimed at facilitating greater access for Nigerian exports within the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
According to guardian.ng, the new route is expected to streamline logistics, reduce barriers, and accelerate trade across key regional markets.
Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, who performed the flag off, in her speech, said the event marked a major milestone in the collective effort to make the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) a reality for Nigerian businesses, especially the micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) that form the backbone of the Nigerian economy.
The new corridor, which is meant to significantly reduce the cost of freight from Nigeria to East and Southern African countries, is framed by special rates that are currently 50 per cent lower than commercial rates and is applicable to Nigerian businesses that are members of the umbrella business groups in Nigeria.
This ensures that not only can a wide range of Nigerian businesses benefit from lower cargo rates, but the country can also, from inception, and in collaboration with the business groups, actively monitor the levels of trade with African partners.
The Minister said that with the establishment of the AfCFTA, Africa now boasts the world’s largest free trade area by number of countries.
“This market is important as intra-African trade records higher levels of trade in value-added products than trade with other regions,” she said, adding that this potential directly impacts Nigeria’s ambitions to industrialise, diversify exports, encourage the growth of businesses, stimulate job creation, and achieve broad economic development.
“Commencing from Lagos and Abuja, this corridor is more than a logistics initiative. It is a strategic trade enabler, accelerating regional integration and unlocking new opportunities for Nigerian exporters.
“For far too long, Nigerian exporters have faced steep logistics costs and long delivery times when they trade with African partners. This corridor reduces delivery timelines from months to days, and it ensures that time-sensitive, perishable goods reach their destinations in peak condition,” she noted.
The Minister said this solution is built by Africans, for Africans. “Let me emphasise: this air corridor is not just a pilot; it is a pathway. A pathway for Nigerian MSMEs to enter and expand across Africa with greater confidence, lower costs, shorter timeframes, and reduced risk,” she said.
She informed that today (Monday, May 26), the government will also be launching a powerful AfCFTA Market Insights/Intelligence Tool, developed with UNDP, to help businesses decode regulatory requirements and identify trends in East and Southern African countries.
She thanked Nigeria’s leading business groups—NACCIMA, NASME, NASSI, WCCIMA, and others—for their close collaboration in coordinating credible exporters for the air cargo corridor.
“I also extend my gratitude to the Government of Uganda and Uganda Airlines for being a committed partner in this bold initiative, and to the leadership of UNDP Regional Bureau for Africa, the Regional AfCFTA Portfolio, and the Country Offices in Nigeria and Uganda for their unwavering support in translating vision into impact,” she added.
Also present at the event, are Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, Comptroller General of Nigeria Customs and Ms Adebola Agunbiade, Director, Commercial and Business Development, FAAN who represented the Managing Director/CE FAAN, Mrs Olubunmi Kuku.
