The federal government has launched a dedicated air cargo route connecting Nigeria with East and Southern Africa as part of efforts to deepen intra-African trade and economic integration.
The initiative was unveiled on Friday by Festus Keyamo,
minister of aviation and aerospace development, and Jumoke Oduwole, minister of
industry, trade and investment, during the flag-off of RwandAir’s first
dedicated cargo flight on the Nigeria–East/Southern Africa air cargo route.
According to a statement by Tunde Moshood, special adviser
on media and communications to the minister, the launch of the cargo service
represents a major breakthrough under the renewed hope agenda of President Bola
Tinubu.
Moshood said the cargo service will create new opportunities
for Nigerian exporters to access markets across East and Southern Africa while
strengthening regional supply chains and boosting continental commerce.
Speaking at the ceremony, Keyamo emphasised the strategic
importance of the initiative in unlocking Africa’s trade potential through
enhanced air connectivity.
“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 support and consonance with the principles and
letters of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA),” the minister
said.
“You cannot transform African trade without connecting
Africa first.”
He said the successful launch of the route demonstrates the
government’s commitment to positioning aviation as a critical enabler of
economic growth, trade facilitation, industrial development, and regional
integration.
Keyamo added that the initiative aligns with the vision of
the single African air transport market (SAATM), which seeks to liberalise air
transport services across the continent and remove barriers to connectivity and
commerce among African countries.
According to the statement, the Nigeria–East/Southern Africa
air cargo route is expected to provide faster, more efficient, and reliable
logistics solutions for exporters, particularly those in the agricultural,
manufacturing, pharmaceutical and non-oil sectors, thereby contributing to
increased trade volumes and economic prosperity across Africa.
The flag-off ceremony was attended by government officials,
exporters, aviation stakeholders, trade representatives, and RwandaAir
executives.
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
No comments
Post a Comment
Kindly drop a comment below.
(Comments are moderated. Clean comments will be approved immediately)
Advert Enquires - Reach out to us at NigerianEye@gmail.com