In a fervent call for economic transformation, Prof. Simon Emeje, the Executive Chairman of the Courier and Logistics Management Institute (CLMI), has urged the Federal Government to focus on the burgeoning courier and logistics subsector.
Speaking at the 2023 International Conference and Investiture of the institute in Lagos, Prof. Emeje emphasized the sector’s immense potential, contributing 3.5% to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and boasting an estimated worth exceeding three trillion naira.
The theme of the conference, “Logistics Solution And National Infrastructure Development,” underscored the pivotal role the courier and logistics sector plays in addressing the unemployment challenges faced by Nigeria.
Prof. Emeje warned against neglecting this crucial sector, asserting that any nation dismissing the courier and logistics industry does so at its own peril.
Highlighting the economic significance of the sector, Prof. Emeje urged the government to prioritize it for sustained growth.
He stated, “Logistics alone is commanding up to 3.5% GDP for Nigeria. It’s a big sector. If you combine courier and logistics together, you are talking of an industry that is worth over 3 trillion naira of assets. It’s a big sector and it’s a sector that will create a lot of jobs for the citizens.”
Addressing the issue of unemployment, Prof. Emeje stressed the need for government intervention and awareness creation.
He emphasized the potential for job creation within the courier and logistics industry, citing successful models from developed nations such as the United States Postal Service, which employs over 600,000 people.
Calling for governmental action, Prof. Emeje urged leaders to recognize the sector’s role in national development and emphasized that a collaborative effort is essential for unleashing the industry’s full potential.
He remarked, “The government cannot do it alone, but the government needs to know that there is a subsector that can help to do what it wants to do. The renewed hope is here. The renewed hope can come very violently from this sector, and we’ll make real meaning out of it.”
Prof. Emeje urged Nigeria to strive for excellence in global business rankings and logistics performance indices.
He said: “Nigeria is still behind In the index of ease of doing business, we are still number 131. And in logistics performance index, worldwide, we are still number 110. What is happening? Why can’t we come to number one? When we talk of developed nations, they don’t have two heads. You have one head. It’s a matter of determination on what to do and how to go about what you have to do.”
