AWC STATEHOUSE DESK
May 2026 – President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and President Paul Kagame of Rwanda have agreed to strengthen bilateral relations between Nigeria and Rwanda, with both leaders pledging deeper cooperation in trade, aviation, digital commerce, tourism, anti-corruption efforts, and continental economic integration under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
President Tinubu disclosed the outcome of the high-level bilateral engagement shortly after arriving in Kigali, Rwanda, from Nairobi, Kenya, where he participated in the Africa Forward Summit co-hosted by Kenyan President William Ruto and French President Emmanuel Macron.
The Nigerian leader was warmly received in Kigali by President Paul Kagame at the Urugwiro Presidential Village, where both heads of state held extensive talks focused on advancing regional integration and expanding economic cooperation between their countries.
In a statement following the meeting, President Tinubu said Africa’s future would depend on stronger intra-African trade, improved transportation networks, market connectivity, and strategic trust among African nations.
According to the President, discussions centered on expanding bilateral trade and creating practical frameworks to ease the movement of goods and services across the continent.
“Our discussions focused on expanding bilateral trade between our two countries. We are also in the early stages of discussions with RwandAir on a practical flat-rate arrangement that can help Nigerian businesses ship their goods more predictably across the continent,” Tinubu stated.
The President stressed that Nigeria and Rwanda, as strong advocates of the AfCFTA framework, remain committed to strengthening digital trade, improving market access, and dismantling barriers hindering African enterprise and industrial growth.
Observers say the proposed logistics partnership with RwandAir could significantly improve export opportunities for Nigerian businesses, especially small and medium-scale enterprises seeking wider continental access.
The meeting also produced agreements on reviving the Joint Permanent Ministerial Commission (JPMC), initially signed in 2021, as a strategic mechanism for advancing diplomatic, economic, and technical cooperation between both countries. Nigeria is expected to host the next session of the commission.
In a major diplomatic signal, President Tinubu disclosed that Nigeria would seriously consider reciprocating Rwanda’s existing 30-day visa-free policy for Nigerians, describing the move as consistent with the ideals of Pan-Africanism and regional mobility.
The two leaders further reviewed pending Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) covering tourism development, anti-corruption cooperation, and efforts against illicit drug trafficking.
Analysts view the renewed Nigeria-Rwanda partnership as part of a broader continental push toward economic self-reliance, regional supply chains, and reduced dependence on external markets.
President Tinubu reiterated that Africa’s prosperity would not emerge from speeches alone but through concrete commitments to trade, investment, innovation, and infrastructure development.
“From the Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi to the Africa CEO Forum in Kigali, my message remains the same. Africa’s future will not be built by speeches alone. It will be built by trade, investment, innovation, and the courage to trust one another’s markets,” the President said.
Tinubu also highlighted Nigeria’s upcoming hosting of the AfCFTA Council of Ministers and Digital Trade Forum in June, as well as the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) and Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX) events scheduled for November 5–11, 2026, and again in 2027.
Economic experts say Nigeria’s increasing engagement in continental trade diplomacy reflects a strategic shift toward positioning Africa as a major integrated market capable of competing globally through shared infrastructure, harmonised regulations, and cross-border investments.
The Africa CEO Forum, which begins in Kigali on Thursday, is expected to bring together heads of state, investors, development finance institutions, policymakers, and leading private sector players from across Africa and beyond to discuss strategies for accelerating economic transformation and sustainable growth across the continent.
