President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Rwandan President Paul Kagame have agreed to deepen diplomatic and economic ties between Nigeria and Rwanda, with both leaders unveiling fresh plans aimed at boosting trade, improving regional connectivity, and strengthening African integration.
The agreement was reached during a high-level meeting between the two presidents at the Urugwiro Presidential Villa in Kigali, Rwanda, ahead of the Africa CEO Forum scheduled to hold between May 14 and 15.
According to a statement issued on Wednesday by the Special Adviser to the Nigerian President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, both leaders held extensive discussions on expanding cooperation in several strategic sectors, including trade, transportation, tourism, anti-corruption efforts, and consular relations.
The statement explained that President Tinubu and President Kagame resolved to reactivate important diplomatic frameworks that would help both countries pursue shared economic and political goals more effectively.
One of the major outcomes of the meeting was the decision to revive the Nigeria-Rwanda Joint Permanent Ministerial Commission (JPMC), an agreement initially signed in 2021 to strengthen bilateral cooperation between both nations.
The two leaders agreed that the commission remains a critical platform for improving collaboration and accelerating partnerships across different sectors of the economy.
Nigeria is also expected to host the next session of the ministerial commission as part of renewed efforts to sustain diplomatic engagement between both countries.
In a major development concerning travel and regional integration, President Tinubu disclosed that Nigeria would seriously consider introducing a visa-free arrangement for Rwandan citizens visiting the country.
This move is expected to mirror Rwanda’s existing 30-day visa-free entry policy for Nigerians and further promote easier movement of people, tourism, business activities, and cultural exchange between the two African nations.
The Nigerian leader reportedly described the proposed visa arrangement as being in line with the broader ideals of Pan-Africanism and regional unity.
The discussions between both presidents also covered pending Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) involving key sectors such as tourism development, anti-corruption cooperation, and the fight against illicit drug trafficking.
Both countries agreed on the need to move beyond negotiations and focus more on practical implementation of the agreements already reached.
President Tinubu and Kagame also exchanged views on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), with both leaders reaffirming their commitment to strengthening intra-African trade and reducing barriers to business across the continent.
According to the statement, the two presidents expressed strong support for the full operationalisation of the AfCFTA agreement, which is designed to create a unified African market capable of boosting industrialisation, investment, and economic growth.
The statement noted that both leaders remain committed to ensuring that African economies benefit more from regional trade opportunities instead of relying heavily on foreign markets.
Trade and logistics were also major parts of the discussions as Nigeria continues efforts to expand export opportunities for local businesses across Africa.
The meeting explored ways to improve air cargo transportation and logistics connectivity between Nigeria and Rwanda to support faster movement of goods and strengthen commercial activities.
The Nigerian government is reportedly in discussions with RwandAir regarding potential cargo partnerships aimed at improving continental trade routes and boosting exports.
This comes after Nigeria previously established a similar air cargo arrangement with Uganda Airways as part of efforts to improve regional commerce under the AfCFTA framework.
The statement further explained that the engagement between Tinubu and Kagame reflects a broader vision of stronger African cooperation built on economic partnerships, mutual respect, regional integration, and shared prosperity.
The meeting took place ahead of the Africa CEO Forum in Kigali, which is expected to attract top business executives, policymakers, investors, and economic stakeholders from across Africa and beyond to discuss investment opportunities, trade expansion, infrastructure financing, and strategies for accelerating economic growth on the continent.
