CLMI urges positive logistics investment in Nigeria, calling for reforms, training and infrastructure to unlock the industry’s full economic potential

Executive Chairman Simon Emeje of the Courier and Logistics Management Institute on Tuesday issued a call for positive logistics investment during the institute’s International Conference and Investiture 2025 in Lagos, urging the government, private sector and educational institutions to expand funding for reforms, training and infrastructure across Nigeria’s logistics industry.

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The conference assembled industry leaders, innovators, policymakers and media professionals who examined emerging trends, presented new solutions and discussed opportunities shaping Africa’s logistics, courier and transport management landscape.

Emeje said logistics remained a central part of daily life, influencing the movement of goods, transport systems and the coordination of essential human activities.

He explained that the institute’s programmes, developed in partnership with Old Bridge University in the United Kingdom, were designed to provide affordable and inclusive training, particularly for underserved and indigent groups.

He added that the global logistics sector was valued at an estimated 63 million dollars, while Nigeria’s market was worth roughly 3.5 trillion naira.

Emeje said the industry could contribute as much as half of a national budget if properly developed, describing the sector’s capacity for growth as a powerful opportunity for the country.

Senator Aliyu Bilbis, Chair of the Senate Committee on Communications and a former Minister of Information, told delegates that logistics formed a foundation for national economic development.

Senator Bilbis said efficient logistics networks supported the movement of goods and services and strengthened enterprise growth, adding that the sector held the potential to create millions of jobs.

Hon. Olabosun Oladele, representing Senator Adedayo Clement Adeyeye, Chair of the Nigerian Ports Authority, stressed that trade logistics was central to national competitiveness.

Oladele noted that more than 80 per cent of Nigeria’s international trade by volume and 70 per cent by value moved through maritime channels, highlighting the strategic role of the country’s ports.

Oladele added that logistics ecosystems depended on entrepreneurs who drove innovation in freight consolidation, warehousing, digital tracking, intermodal connections and maritime services.

He called on the government to strengthen policy support and encouraged private investors and financial institutions to explore opportunities in container depots, cold chain logistics and digital trade platforms.

The conference also underscored the need to introduce logistics education in secondary and tertiary institutions and highlighted the importance of regulatory reforms to create a more enabling environment for operators.

Panel discussions explored global supply chain coordination, improvements in trade logistics and the role of technology in enhancing service efficiency.

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The event concluded with renewed appeals for collaboration among government agencies, industry leaders and academic institutions to ensure that Nigeria’s logistics sector reaches its full potential as a driver of economic growth, employment and national competitiveness.