The Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) has highlighted that the rising influence of international companies in the local logistics and customs sector is a symptom of systemic flaws rather than merely a matter of nationality. Registrar Kingsley Igwe argued that shifting the discourse toward institutional reform is essential.
Igwe emphasized that the industry’s struggles stem from long-standing weaknesses rather than foreign competition alone. He pointed to a lack of professional training, inconsistent regulations, and insufficient human capital investment as primary obstacles. While other nations have fostered global competitiveness through rigorous certification, Nigeria has struggled with a disjointed professional development framework.
Additionally, capital constraints remain a significant hurdle for local firms. Modern logistics requires massive investment in digital infrastructure and integrated supply chains. Dera Nnadi, a former Deputy Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, supported this view. He noted that many local operators often neglect to reinvest their profits into their own businesses, opting instead to diversify their funds into industries outside of maritime logistics.
