By Juliet Onyema
Copyright businessday
Experts have called for reforms in Nigeria’s supply chain system, stating that they are crucial for businesses to remain competitive and resilient amid global trade shifts, rising tariffs, and infrastructural challenges.
Speaking at the African Centre for Supply Chain (ACSC) maiden supply chain conference, themed, ‘The Supply Chain of Now: Technology, Sustainability, and Social Impact,’ experts stressed the need for reforms in Nigeria’s logistics sector and infrastructure, warning that without stronger and smarter supply chains, businesses will continue to lose competitiveness and struggle to adapt to a changing global trade environment.
Obiora Madu, an export consultant and director-general of ACSC, said that weak infrastructure, high logistics costs, and poor policy frameworks are crippling Nigerian businesses and making them uncompetitive, stressing the need for reforms that go beyond transport policy.
“If roads are good, delivery will be fast. In logistics, time is money. If you were using four days to deliver and you’re able to cut it to three, you have saved so much money.
Read also: Building robust, adaptable supply chains in a volatile world
“Nigeria urgently needs a logistics policy, not just a transport policy,” Madu said, while emphasising the importance of data, sustainability, and technology, including artificial intelligence, in building the supply chain.
He noted that while progress has been made in soft infrastructure like education, challenges in hard infrastructure, such as roads, rail, and transport systems, continue to derail the growth of the logistics sector.
He called for better power infrastructure, streamlined port processes, and reduced checkpoints, noting that corruption and sabotage continue to undermine supply chain efficiency.
Cephas Afebuameh, group director, Supply Chain, Flour Mills of Nigeria, in his keynote address, said Nigeria is bedevilled by the challenges of poor execution of policies.
“Policies are good, but what is also important is goals. How are we measuring attainment over those goals?” Afebuameh asked, highlighting talent as Nigeria’s most significant gap in the supply chain.
He further urged the government to fix infrastructure gaps that align with policies for a profitable supply chain sector.
These experts noted that shifting trade policies, tariffs, digital transformation, and sustainability requirements are reshaping trade flows and forcing companies to adapt, warning that unless reforms are prioritised, supply chain vulnerabilities will continue to weaken competitiveness and expose businesses to global shocks.
Read also: Bridging the skills gap: Why Nigeria’s construction workforce must embrace supply chain thinking
They highlighted how supply chain resilience is not only about logistics but also about financing, digital infrastructure, sustainability, and collaboration across markets.
Speaking on one of the panel sessions, titled ‘Adapting To Global Trade Shifts,’ Omolara Akanji, director, International Chamber of Commerce, while citing the U.S government’s 10 percent baseline tariff imposed on imports in April 2025, explained how such measures disrupt supply chains, increase costs, and reduce profit margins.
Akanji stressed the need for diversification, digital adoption, ESG compliance, and stronger partnerships to withstand global trade tensions and domestic governance challenges.
“To adapt to this trade shift, businesses must reconfigure their processes, build strong partnerships and collaborate with other countries and organisations to help navigate global trade shifts.
“Diversifying trade factors, products, and services can help mitigate risks associated with global trade shifts. If you don’t diversify, you will kill your markets,” she said.
Akanji urged businesses to invest in digital infrastructure and platforms that can enhance competitiveness and facilitate trade in the digital age, noting that prioritising sustainability and resilience in global trade practices can help mitigate environmental and social impact.
