L-R: Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu and Rwanda’s President Paul Kegame. [X, formerly Twitter/@Deen_PR]
Rwanda and Nigeria have taken steps to deepen their bilateral relationship, with presidents Paul Kagame and Bola Tinubu meeting at the Urugwiro Presidential Villa in Kigali on the sidelines of the Africa CEO Forum to chart a new course for cooperation between Africa’s most populous nation and one of its fastest-growing economies.
Central to the talks was a decision to breathe new life into the Joint Permanent Ministerial Commission — a bilateral framework originally signed in 2021 — which has yet to be fully operationalised. Nigeria is expected to host the commission’s next sitting, signalling Abuja’s readiness to drive the agenda forward.
Trade and continental economic integration dominated much of the conversation, with both leaders reaffirming their commitment to the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) as a vehicle for expanding intra-African commerce. The discussions reflect a broader push by regional governments to translate the continent’s free trade ambitions into concrete economic outcomes.
Aviation emerged as a practical frontier for expanding bilateral commerce. Nigeria has opened discussions with RwandAir on creating new export opportunities for Nigerian businesses across the continent — building on a similar arrangement Abuja reached with Uganda Airlines last year when it established an air cargo corridor aimed at boosting cross-border trade.
On movement of people, Tinubu indicated that Nigeria was considering introducing a reciprocal visa-free arrangement mirroring Rwanda’s existing 30-day visa-free access for Nigerian citizens — a move that could significantly ease travel and business between the two countries. Immigration and consular matters were also reviewed as part of the broader conversation on removing barriers to people-to-people ties.
Both sides further discussed the implementation of pending agreements in tourism, anti-corruption and the fight against illicit drug trafficking, according to a statement issued by Nigerian presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga.
The Kigali meeting comes at a moment of renewed momentum for African economic integration, as governments across the continent seek to leverage multilateral frameworks to reduce dependence on extra-continental trade partners and build more resilient, self-sustaining regional economies.
By: Andrews Kwesi Yeboah