By Ndukwe Edward
The National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) has called on the Federal Government to urgently integrate freight forwarding into Nigeria’s Blue Economy strategy, arguing that the move is critical to unlocking the country’s maritime potential, boosting non-oil revenue, creating jobs, and positioning Nigeria as West Africa’s leading trade hub.
In a policy brief titled “Harnessing the Blue Economy for Freight Forwarding Development in Nigeria,” the association’s Secretary-General, Godfrey Emeka Nwosu, said the nation’s maritime sector remains one of the strongest pillars of economic growth but requires deliberate reforms to fully benefit from emerging opportunities within the Blue Economy.
According to Nwosu, Nigeria stands to gain significantly from a maritime ecosystem driven by innovation, sustainability and digital transformation, particularly through modern port infrastructure, smart logistics, and professional freight forwarding services.
He noted that adopting Blue Economy principles would enhance port efficiency through the deployment of smart technologies, reduce cargo clearance delays, improve transparency using artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain and electronic customs systems, while strengthening Nigeria’s competitiveness in regional and international trade.
“The Blue Economy provides a unique opportunity to reposition Nigeria’s maritime sector for sustainable economic growth, improved livelihoods and environmental stewardship,” he stated.
The NAGAFF scribe stressed that states across the federation would also benefit from the initiative through diversified revenue sources beyond oil, expanded employment opportunities in shipping, logistics and marine services, increased investments in port and inland waterway infrastructure, and stronger participation in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
He described freight forwarding as a strategic component of trade facilitation and national revenue generation, adding that developing the profession would improve customs efficiency, strengthen compliance with international standards, and enhance Nigeria’s competitiveness within global supply chains.
To maximise these benefits, NAGAFF recommended mandatory professional training and certification for freight forwarders in line with global best practices, with the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) playing a central regulatory role.
The association also urged the government to accelerate the integration of AI-powered digital tools into freight forwarding operations to improve documentation, logistics management and regulatory compliance.
Other recommendations include stronger collaboration between the Nigeria Customs Service, CRFFN, and freight forwarding associations, increased investment in smart port infrastructure and inland waterways, strict enforcement of the CRFFN Act to safeguard indigenous practitioners, and nationwide awareness campaigns on the strategic importance of the Blue Economy.
Nwosu maintained that empowering freight forwarders through continuous capacity development and regulatory reforms would significantly improve trade facilitation while increasing government revenue.
He warned that failure to strengthen indigenous freight forwarding capacity could undermine Nigeria’s ambition to become the preferred maritime gateway in West Africa.
“The Blue Economy is Nigeria’s gateway to sustainable growth and enhanced trade facilitation. Immediate policy action is required to integrate freight forwarding development into the national Blue Economy strategy to ensure capacity building, improved trade facilitation, and enhanced revenue generation,” he said.
Industry observers have increasingly identified the Blue Economy as one of Nigeria’s most promising frontiers for economic diversification, particularly as the country seeks to reduce dependence on crude oil earnings and expand its non-oil export capacity through a more efficient and globally competitive maritime sector
