Nigeria’s Exports to East, Southern Africa Now N1trn
Nigeria’s exports to countries in Eastern and Southern Africa rose by 42.95 per cent to N1.03tn in the first quarter of 2026, underscoring the growing importance of intra-African trade and setting the stage for further expansion following the Federal Government’s launch of an enlarged air cargo corridor linking Nigerian exporters to more markets across the continent.
Nigeria’s exports to countries along the East-Southern Africa trade corridor climbed to N1.03tn in the first quarter of 2026 from N718.79bn recorded in the corresponding period of 2025, according to an analysis of the National Bureau of Statistics Foreign Trade in Goods report.
The strong performance comes as the Federal Government seeks to deepen implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area and expand access for Nigerian businesses to regional markets.
While the first-quarter figures predate the latest expansion of the corridor, the government is optimistic that there is potential that could be unlocked as Nigeria broadens logistics connections to more destinations across Eastern and Southern Africa.
On June 19, the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, in partnership with RwandAir, flagged off the inaugural shipment under the expanded Nigeria-East and Southern Africa Air Cargo Corridor.
The initiative extends the network beyond the original destinations served through Uganda Airlines and opens additional export routes to Kigali in Rwanda, Lusaka in Zambia and Harare in Zimbabwe. It also provides Nigerian exporters with an additional carrier option on the Nairobi and Johannesburg routes.
Under the arrangement, cargo rates on RwandAir-operated routes are set at below $2 per kilogramme for exporters holding AfCFTA Certificates of Origin issued by the Nigeria Customs Service.
Before the corridor was established, many Nigerian exporters paid between $3 and $10 per kilogramme to move goods into East and Southern African markets.
Speaking during the flag-off ceremony in Lagos, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, said the initiative was designed to translate AfCFTA commitments into measurable commercial opportunities.
“Our goal is clear: to make it easier and cheaper for Nigerian businesses to trade across Africa. One year ago, we launched this corridor to solve a real problem for exporters, the high cost of moving goods into African markets. Today, with RwandAir, we are widening that corridor, opening more routes, and giving our exporters more options to compete. With eight businesses receiving AfCFTA Certificates of Origin today, we are also showing that this is not just about policy, it is about real businesses, real exports, and real market access. This is AfCFTA in action,” Oduwole said.
The minister disclosed that the original corridor, launched on Africa Day in 2025, had already delivered encouraging results.
“In the twelve months that followed, the corridor recorded a 40 per cent increase in export volumes. This statistic is more than a number. It represents the increased production of goods in Nigeria, jobs for Nigerians, export revenue and growth of Nigerian businesses, especially women-led businesses,” Oduwole said.
Export Boost
The latest trade figures from the NBS appear consistent with that trajectory.
An analysis of the data shows that exports to Eastern African countries increased from N555.93m in the first quarter of 2025 to N140.35bn in the corresponding period of 2026, representing a remarkable increase of 25,146.91 per cent.
Exports to Southern African countries also rose from N718.23bn to N887.13bn during the period, reflecting a 23.52 per cent increase.
At the same time, Nigeria reduced its imports from the broader corridor. Imports from Eastern and Southern African countries fell by 4.09 per cent to N273.21bn in the first quarter of 2026 from N284.85bn in the corresponding period of 2025.
The result significantly widened Nigeria’s trade surplus with countries across the corridor.
Regional Markets
Country-by-country analysis reveals that Ethiopia emerged as the fastest-growing export destination.
Nigeria exported goods worth N132.10bn to Ethiopia during the first quarter of 2026, compared to virtually no exports during the same period of 2025.
South Africa remained the dominant destination for Nigerian exports within the corridor. Exports to the country increased from N708.69bn in the first quarter of 2025 to N887.13bn in the corresponding quarter of 2026, representing growth of N178.45bn.
Kenya ranked third among the strongest growth markets. Exports rose from N233.95m to N7.10bn.
Exports to Tanzania increased from N288.36m to N945.79m, while exports to Mozambique rose from zero to N99.59m.
The five strongest export growth markets across the corridor were South Africa, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania and Mozambique.
The data also identified markets where exports weakened. Exports to Eswatini fell from N9.47bn in the first quarter of 2025 to zero in the corresponding period of 2026, making it the largest decline within the corridor.
Exports to Namibia declined from N79.98m to zero, while exports to Uganda fell from N33.61m to N14.40m.
The broader trend nevertheless points to strengthening commercial integration between Nigeria and African markets.
The expansion of the air cargo corridor comes as the government seeks to unlock additional opportunities in sectors such as agribusiness, textiles, cosmetics, processed foods and light manufacturing.
According to Oduwole, the corridor demonstrates that AfCFTA is moving beyond negotiations into practical implementation.
“If you ever wonder whether the AfCFTA is real, or what the AfCFTA means, then this corridor, pioneered by Nigeria, gives you a concrete answer,” Oduwole said.
“The African Continental Free Trade Area rests on a single proposition: that African economies should trade more with each other. This is not a sentimental ambition. It is a pragmatic decision of Africans to convert our potential and ambition into shared and lasting prosperity,” Oduwole added.
The minister stressed that lower logistics costs could significantly improve the competitiveness of Nigerian products across African markets.
“Nigerian exporters previously paid between $3 and $10 per kilogramme on other commercial services. Through our partnership with RwandAir, the rates currently stand at under $2 per kilogramme to all destinations. This means that Nigerian goods can reach more markets quicker, and at a more affordable cost,” Oduwole said.
The corridor now provides access to Kigali and Nairobi in East Africa and Johannesburg, Lusaka and Harare in Southern Africa.
According to the ministry, the arrangement also reflects growing commercial ties between Nigeria and Rwanda following bilateral engagements between President Bola Tinubu and President Paul Kagame on the sidelines of the Africa CEO Forum held in Kigali in May 2026.
The ministry believes the lower cargo rates, combined with tariff reductions available under AfCFTA, will help Nigerian products compete more effectively across the continent.
RwandAir’s Director of Cargo Services, Bosco Gakwaya, said the partnership would strengthen regional trade connectivity.
“This partnership between RwandAir Cargo and Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment enables us to connect Nigerian manufacturers to key markets across East and Southern Africa using our RwandAir network. This is a pivotal moment for intra-African trade and for how we move goods across the continent. Our ability to efficiently connect businesses to markets across regions reinforces the role of air cargo in Africa’s economic development,” Gakwaya said.
Import Performance
While exports expanded, import trends were mixed. Imports from Eastern Africa declined by 32.63 per cent from N115.68bn to N77.93bn. However, imports from Southern Africa rose by 15.44 per cent from N169.16bn to N195.28bn.
South Africa remained Nigeria’s largest import source within the corridor. Imports from the country increased from N125.38bn in the first quarter of 2025 to N155.26bn in the corresponding quarter of 2026.
Imports from Uganda also rose significantly from N6.91bn to N26.34bn. Other countries recording import growth included Ethiopia, Zambia and Mozambique.
The five strongest import growth markets were South Africa, Uganda, Ethiopia, Zambia and Mozambique.
Conversely, imports from Tanzania recorded the largest decline, falling from N68.43bn to N18.98bn.
Imports from Madagascar dropped from N6.24bn to N201.28m, while imports from Kenya, Namibia and Botswana also declined.
The five countries where imports slowed the most were Tanzania, Madagascar, Kenya, Namibia and Botswana.
The broader export performance aligns with the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment’s 2026 priority of unlocking regional demand to drive non-oil exports and industrial productivity.
According to the National Bureau of Statistics, total exports in the first quarter of 2026 stood at N21.17tn, representing a 2.77 per cent increase from N20.60tn in the corresponding period of 2025.
As Nigeria pushes deeper into AfCFTA implementation, policymakers are betting that improved logistics, lower transportation costs and expanded air connectivity will help convert the country’s manufacturing and agricultural capacity into greater export earnings.
With exports to Eastern and Southern Africa already surpassing N1tn before the latest corridor expansion took effect, the inauguration of the RwandAir partnership is expected to provide another platform for Nigerian businesses seeking a larger share of Africa’s rapidly growing consumer markets.