Experts in Nigeria’s logistics and maritime sector have called for a digital overhaul of Nigeria’s logistics system to unlock opportunities.
The experts argue that the full implementation of the national single window, automation of customs processes, and reduced human interference are critical to unlocking the country’s blue economy potential.
Despite new policies aimed at repositioning the marine and blue economy, experts say Nigeria’s logistics backbone remains too weak to support growth, urging government agencies to prioritise implementation, enforce rules, and embrace technology-driven reforms.
Speaking at the 2025 African Centre for Supply Chain (ACSC) Annual Awards & Dinner Night, themed ‘Global Trade, Local Impact: Positioning Nigeria in the Blue Economy,’ Emeka Akabogu, vice chairman, OTL Downstream Development in Africa Ltd., said that Nigeria cannot tap into emerging blue economy gains without confronting long-standing weaknesses in its logistics architecture.
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Akabogu argued that despite policy reforms and growing interest in the maritime economy, poor coordination across supply-chain institutions, weak enforcement of rules, and limited adoption of technology continue to undermine efficiency.
He noted that Nigeria has about 10,000 kilometres of inland waterways, saying, “This represents an important window for logistics initiatives and supply chains, which are significantly underexplored.”
“We need to reorder our framework of operations and implementation of our rules. Once we’re able to apply technology fully to remove the human interface, you will see a 900 to 1,000 percent improvement in the efficiency of logistics,” Akabogu said.
He stressed that the implementation of the national single window system in 2026 could transform logistics efficiency if fully adopted.
“The current effort towards ensuring that a single window system for the country is implemented is very useful. Hopefully, sometime in 2026, we’ll be seeing a lot more developments relating to that,” Akabogu said.
Obiora Madu, an export consultant and director-general of ACSC, said that supply-chain efficiency has become central to national competitiveness, and managing it is no longer a backend function, but now a strategic driver of competitiveness, national development, and global market integration.
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Madu added that the logistics sector still faces institutional hurdles, stressing that while interest in the industry has grown, there’s still one thing to conquer, the public sector.
Panellists at the event emphasised the need for intentionality, stronger rule enforcement, and the adoption of technology to curb dishonest import declarations, which currently fuel corruption and delays at the ports.
Violet Olaitan Williams, principal partner, Vow Ventures Ltd., also identified the need for inclusive policies that bring coastal communities, informal workers, SMEs, and non-literate artisans into the blue economy value chain through targeted skills development, documentation, and access to finance.
Williams highlighted that these communities know the wealth of the oceans and possess critical skills, yet face barriers such as a lack of formal education and access to finance.
She noted that human capital development must be people-driven, citing initiatives like the Ocean Ambassadors Foundation partnership with the Bank of Industry to empower indigenous girls with practical skills.
“We need to be intentional about having the gains of the economy through human capital development, and it has to be people-driven.
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“If coastal communities have skills acquisition centres, I’m telling you, the GDP of the non-oil sector will rise,” Williams said.
Other stakeholders from the logistics and education sectors urged the government to rethink their approach to workforce development, shifting focus from certificates to practical, revenue-generating skills.
They further called for consistent public-sector engagement, intentional implementation of reforms, and structured collaboration between government, industry, and academia to enable Nigeria compete effectively in emerging global and regional trade systems.
