On 25th May 2025, a new chapter in African economic integration was written on the tarmac of Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, Nigeria. With the roar of jet engines and the hopeful cheers of entrepreneurs, Uganda Airlines and Nigerian exporters established a dedicated air cargo corridor linking the economic hubs of West Africa to the dynamic markets of Eastern and Southern Africa. But this is more than a logistics deal. It’s a bold leap toward realizing the vision of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA): an ambition for an Africa that trades more with itself, creates more value from its resources, and delivers prosperity for its people.

That this pact was launched on Africa Day is no coincidence. Africa Day commemorates the founding of the Organization of African Unity (now the African Union) in 1963, a day that symbolizes unity, self-determination, and pan-African solidarity. Launching the corridor on this day sent a powerful message: Africa is not waiting for the world; it is building its own future.  As United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative Ms. Nwanne Vwede-Obahor noted “This is not just about logistics. It is about leadership; it is about forging bold pathways toward an Africa that trades more with itself and delivers prosperity for its people.”

This landmark initiative is the result of months of technical collaboration between Uganda Airlines, the Government of Uganda, Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI) and UNDP. The Nigeria–East/Southern Africa Air Cargo Corridor is more than a bilateral agreement. It is a bold blueprint for reimagining how trade flows across Africa. It exemplifies what is possible when governments, development partners, and the private sector come together with a shared vision to unlock Africa’s trade potential.

Why this Matters for Intra-African Trade

Africa trades more with the rest of the world than it does with itself. Intra-African trade accounts for less than 15 percent of the continent’s total trade, in stark contrast to 60 percent in Europe and 40 percent in North America. The reasons for this are complex ranging from inadequate infrastructure to limited logistics connectivity, high transportation costs, fragmented supply chains and regulatory bottlenecks. The newly inaugurated Nigeria–East/Southern Africa Air Cargo Corridor is a practical and timely response to these challenges, aiming to strengthen intra-African trade and economic resilience. As His Excellency Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, President of the Republic of Uganda emphasized at the recently concluded 8th African Leadership Forum held on the margins of the eleventh African Regional Forum on Sustainable Forum (ARFSD-11), “Integration must be operationalized through investments in transport corridors and the ratification of pending AfCFTA protocols.”

This corridor brings the AfCFTA to life in a palpable yet impactful way, connecting key African markets in Nigeria, Uganda, South Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa. Operating from Lagos and Abuja, the corridor funnels all cargo through Entebbe International Airport, where consolidated shipments benefit from optimized storage, customs clearance, and onward distribution. The corridor offers consolidated cargo services at significantly reduced freight rates of up to 50–75 percent lower than previous costs. These preferential rates are available to members of business associations, creating a reliable, cost-effective route for goods to move seamlessly across African borders.

The economic impact of this partnership extends far beyond the cargo hold. By opening new markets, the corridor stimulates local production, encourages investment, and creates jobs across the value chain, from farming and manufacturing to logistics and retail while strengthening regional supply networks. The corridor supports President Bola Tinubu’s agenda to diversify the Nigerian economy and promote non-oil exports. It empowers micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), particularly those led by women and youth, to scale their operations and compete across regional markets. In Uganda, increased cargo traffic through Entebbe is expected to boost employment in ground handling, warehousing, and customs services. For Uganda Airlines, the partnership strengthens its regional footprint and revenue base, contributing to its long-term sustainability.