![](\"https:\/\/quicknews-africa.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/serec.png\" "\\"serec\\"")
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Abuja, Jan.28,2026(NAN) The Sea Empowerment and Research Centre (SEREC) has called for the establishment of a National Cargo Consolidation Policy Framework to ensure effective implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).<\/p>\n
SEREC made the call in its January bulletin made available to newsmen by its Head of Research, Dr Eugene Nweke on Wednesday in Abuja.<\/p>\n
Nweke noted that inspite Nigeria\u2019s market size, production base and strategic location, the country remained logistically under-prepared for effective participation in the AfCFTA.<\/p>\n
He said that although Nigeria\u2019s accession to the AfCFTA represented one of the most significant economic integration opportunities in the nation\u2019s modern history, strong logistics systems was needed for effective trade.<\/p>\n
\u201cStructural deficiencies in road haulage, port evacuation, inland connectivity, and most critically cargo aggregation and consolidation, continue to inflate trade costs and weaken Nigerian shippers\u2019 competitiveness within Africa.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis paradox rising trade opportunity constrained by weak logistics demonstrates that cargo consolidation is a missing, yet a decisive policy lever required to translate AfCFTA aspirations into practical trade outcomes, \u201che said.<\/p>\n
The SEREC offcial underscored the importance of cargo consolidation as a strategic trade and employment enabler under AfCFTA.<\/p>\n
He described cargo consolidation as not merely a logistics practice, but a national economic instrument without which, Nigeria could remain a passive AfCFTA signatory.<\/p>\n
Nweke explained that cargo consolidation, which involved combining smaller shipments into larger and more cost-efficient freight units, had been globally recognised as a key driver of trade competitiveness, particularly for emerging economies and SME-led export markets.<\/p>\n
According to him, with it, Nigeria can become a continental trade anchor, reducing logistics costs, creating jobs, retaining freight value and empowering indigenous operators.<\/p>\n
He said that without structured consolidation, Nigerian exporters faced higher per-unit freight costs, irregular sailings and flights, indirect routing through non-African hubs and loss of delivery-time competitiveness.<\/p>\n
He noted that cargo consolidation in Nigeria was largely ad hoc, import-focused and underdeveloped, allowing foreign companies to benefit more while the country missed out on trade-related economic gains.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt present, indigenous freight forwarders lack policy-backed consolidation platforms, foreign integrators dominate high-value consolidation and express segments and Nigerian cargo is often consolidated offshore, resulting in value leakage.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis reality undermines freight forwarding professional development, indigenous logistics capital formation and national trade sovereignty under AfCFTA,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
A structured cargo consolidation ecosystem, he said, would unlock significant direct and indirect employment, as each hub functions as a logistics cluster, multiplying economic activity around ports and airports.<\/p>\n
He said that in airfreight, consolidation enables access to lower weight-break tariffs, scheduled African trade lanes and predictable cargo volumes for airlines.<\/p>\n
Nweke added that shipping consolidation enables regular short-sea African services, supports container pooling for SMEs and improves port throughput efficiency.<\/p>\n
Nigerian airlines, he said, should be deliberately encouraged to migrate, wholly or partially, from passenger-focused operations to dedicated airfreight services.<\/p>\n
The move, he said, was premised on the fact that air cargo provides more stable revenue streams and was less sensitive to seasonal travel volatility,<\/p>\n
In addition, he said cargo aircraft utilisation aligned better with Nigeria\u2019s export needs and dedicated freighters support night operations and regional hubs.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis migration will improve airline sustainability, reduce dependence on foreign carriers and anchor Nigeria\u2019s leadership in African air cargo, \u201cit said.(NAN)<\/p>\n
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