CRFFN boss calls for national logistics policy to boost Nigeria’s global competitiveness

By Joy Enamuna

The Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN), Mr. Igwe Kingsley Onyekachi, has emphasized the urgent need for a national logistics policy to drive growth in the sector and position Nigeria for effective competition on the global stage.

Speaking during a press conference held in Abuja over the weekend, Onyekachi lamented the challenges local logistics and freight forwarding firms face, particularly from multinational companies.

He stressed that a national policy would provide strategic direction for the industry and help level the playing field for indigenous operators.

“For too long, the freight forwarding and logistics sector in Nigeria has operated without a coordinated national logistics framework. While other countries have developed such policies to enhance sectoral growth, Nigeria still lags behind,” he said.

Onyekachi pointed out that while global logistics operations have embraced digitization through technologies such as blockchain, ICT, and e-commerce, many logistics activities in Nigeria remain manual.

He noted that the CRFFN has already begun efforts to digitize the sector, and a national policy would further strengthen those initiatives.

To build capacity, he revealed that the CRFFN has launched digitization training for unskilled logistics service providers, with 300 freight forwarders already undergoing specialized training in air cargo logistics. He added that a committee has been established to oversee the implementation of these training programs and ensure their success.

Onyekachi maintained that the development of a national logistics policy is essential for modernizing the industry, boosting local participation, and positioning Nigeria as a competitive player in the global logistics ecosystem.