By Funmilola Gboteku
Stakeholders in the logistics and courier industry on Thursday called on the government to enact laws and policies that would further aid the development of logistics in Nigeria.
The stakeholders made the call at the 2024 International Conference and Investiture of the Courier and Logistics Management Institute, held in Lagos.
The theme of the conference is “Unlocking Economic Potentials and Fostering Nation-Building Through Logistics Instruments”.
The Chairman of the conference, Prof. Anya O Anya, said that Nigeria had a lot to benefit if the industry’s potential were properly harnessed for development.
“We have a path to follow and that is how we can be successful as a nation. It is not about where we are coming from, but where we are heading.
“Nigeria is blessed with brains that can help her grow, but the question is are we making use of the opportunities?
Similarly, Dr Mazi Ohuabunwa, Chairman, African Economic Summit 2024, called on the government to critically look at the policies to ensure they were not endangering the growth of the economy.
“We still have a long way to go when it comes to the development of our economy. Many things are actually wrong which we needed to fix,” he said.
Dr Shittu Adebayo, a former Minister of Communication, called on the government to extend its dragnet to those that are not in the “political party” to draw ideas from them.
“Ideas have their gestation period at which they grow. I am happy that we have a national assembly that listens.
“We want people with exceptional ideas to bring national reforms to boost the growth of the logistics industry,” Adebayo said.
Also, Dr Segun Musa, the Deputy President of Air and Logistics at the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), urged the government to improve the infrastructure associated with the logistics sector.
“We are still at the lowest stage of logistics compared to advanced countries.
“Considering the way we run logistics, we have yet to meet the expectations. Logistics is still at its infancy and we have yet to tap into the potentials within the confines of trade.
“Looking at the total value chain we realised that logistics takes a critical role especially if we have to develop the economy, “Musa said.
Musa noted that it was necessary to identify the potential in the industry and explore them.
“How do we explore the potential? There must be policy drive for the logistics sector to align with the best international practice around the world,” he said.
Musa also emphasised the importance of adequate infrastructure for the logistics sector.
“We need to collaborate and bring resources from areas that are concentrated, to where they are needed.
“We need to look at it holistically. The world has advanced from using bicycles to deliver packages. Others are looking at possibilities such as using drones to speed up delivery, ” he said.
Musa noted that it was necessary to modernise logistics by bringing experts together to discuss technical issues hindering the development of the industry in Nigeria.
Similarly, Prof. Simon Emeje, the convener of the conference and the Executive Chairman, Courier and Logistics Management Institute (CLMI), underscored the role of logistics as a force and driver of every economy.
“Nigeria needs collaborative and innovative thinking to unlock its economic potential, enabling the country to harness its own creative resources and drive development independently, rather than relying on external influences.
“It is a reality that the worth of the logistics and courier service in Nigeria put together is not less than N15 trillion.
“Also, the market size of this industry is not less than N25 trillion, these are empirical facts,” he said.
The professor added that government partnerships was needed in courier, logistics and transportation sector, noting that the industry was mind-blowing not only in Nigeria, but globally.
“Many nations of the world are yet to comprehend the worth of this industry. Globally the inputs of the logistics sector has been measured minimally saying it has contributed only seven to eight per cent to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
“It is actually more than that. Nigeria alone has about four per cent of the GDP in logistics. We are not talking about small sector of the economy but a big sector,” he said.
Emeje noted that more government involvement was vital for the growth of the sector. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Vivian Ihechu
