Nigeria has officially inaugurated a new air corridor under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) framework, designed to enhance export access to key African markets — Kenya, Uganda, and South Africa. This initiative aims to significantly reduce logistics costs for Nigerian exporters by an estimated 50% to 75%, fostering greater competitiveness and market reach for Nigerian goods across the continent.
Strategic Launch and Operational Details
The launch was announced on Sunday by Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, via her official X (formerly Twitter) account. The corridor will operate through Uganda Airlines, offering a direct air freight link to essential AfCFTA markets, thereby streamlining the movement of Nigerian products within Africa.
Dr. Oduwole emphasized that this air corridor is part of a larger strategy to eliminate transportation barriers that have long constrained Nigerian exporters. “On Africa Day, we launch a bold new air corridor linking Nigerian goods to AfCFTA markets—via Uganda Airlines—cutting logistics costs by 50–75%. This opens access to Uganda, Kenya & South Africa,” she stated.
Supporting Nigerian Export Growth
The corridor is expected to facilitate exports of key Nigerian products such as textiles, cosmetics, and agro-commodities. By drastically reducing logistics expenses, the initiative not only improves profitability for exporters but also encourages expansion into new African markets.
In addition to the air corridor, the Nigerian government has officially gazetted AfCFTA tariff schedules, which unlocks lower tariff rates and further enhances trade opportunities for Nigerian businesses. This dual approach of reducing both tariffs and logistics costs is poised to unlock new growth avenues under the AfCFTA.
The Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Nigerian enterprises in scaling operations continent-wide, leveraging this corridor alongside other AfCFTA initiatives to drive inclusive economic growth.
Broader AfCFTA Context and Nigeria’s Role
The AfCFTA agreement represents one of the most ambitious continental trade efforts, creating a unified market for goods and services among 54 African countries to promote intra-African trade and economic integration.
In April 2025, Nigeria formally gazetted its ECOWAS Tariff Schedule for Trade in Goods and submitted it to the AfCFTA Secretariat. This move enables zero tariffs on 90% of goods traded under the agreement, substantially improving Nigerian exporters’ market access and competitiveness.
Nigeria has followed a phased tariff reduction strategy since 2021. By 2025, it had implemented a 50% tariff reduction for trade with least-developed African countries and a 100% tariff elimination for trade with developing countries, applying these cuts annually to accelerate integration.
Vice President Kashim Shettima highlighted in April 2025 that the AfCFTA Digital Trade Protocol seeks to increase intra-African trade from 18% in 2022 to 50% by 2030, underscoring the transformative potential of the agreement.
Enhancing Export Competitiveness and Digital Trade
The newly launched air corridor complements Nigeria’s growing leadership in AfCFTA implementation. It particularly supports exports in textiles, cosmetics, and agricultural products, while also building momentum for digital trade initiatives aimed at empowering SMEs and tech-driven exporters.
By lowering logistical and tariff barriers, Nigeria is creating a more favorable environment for exporters to thrive and compete effectively within the burgeoning African single market.
This launch marks a critical milestone in Nigeria’s trade policy, opening new pathways for its businesses to engage more robustly with continental partners while reducing the cost and complexity of reaching key African markets.
