RwandAir has stated that the Visa free policy for Africans introduced by the Rwandan Government has further boost the traffick of tourists visiting the country and also promote trade within Africa .
This is just as the airline also said that Nigeria is a very strategic market in the West Africa subregion.
RwandAir’s Regional Manager for West and Central Africa, Ginette Kadigiri said this in an interview at the day 2 of the 2025 AKWAABA in Lagos today .
The Rwandan Government visa-free policy for all African nationals, she explained has significantly boosted tourism in the country , as according to her more and more people are now willing to visit the country as a result of the country’s seamless entry policy
She further stated that today, when people think about traveling, what readily comes to their minds , she said is travelling to Rwanda because the government has made it easier to visit the country.
According to her, “Our open visa policy is as simple as booking a ticket and a hotel, and you’re on your way to Kigali. The process at the airport is swift, seamless and visitors get visa-free entry on arrival.”
She stated that Visa free policy for Africa nationals has contributed to the increased the number of tourists visiting and people making Rwanda their destination of choice.
In her words, “More and more people are discovering Rwanda because it is easy to visit and easy to connect through Kigali”.
She pointed out that Nigeria with a very large population coupled with a very rich culture of travel is any airline’s choice for network building or expansion.
She hinted that presently, RwandAir carry out daily flights operations from Lagos to the airline’s hub in Kigali to multiple destinations and that the airline has been experiencing expansion since it started operating flights into Nigeria in 2011.
Speaking further, the Regional Manager said, “With our Airbus fleet, which offers a higher level of comfort, Nigerian travelers have shown great appreciation for the upgrade in service. From Kigali, we connect to about 20 destinations directly, and more than 120 through our codeshare partners like Qatar Airways and others.”
Recall that in November 2, 2023, Rwandan President, Paul Kagame announced visa-free entry for all African nationals, including Nigerians, allowing them to enter the country without a prior visa application.
This policy allows African citizens to get on a plane and enter Rwanda for free.
As an African nation, Nigeria is included in this visa-free policy, making it a hassle-free destination for Nigerian travelers and move is intended to promote tourism and trade within Africa and align with the African Union’s vision of free movement across the continent.
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