Sea Empowerment and Research Center (SEREC) has raised serious concerns over the state of leadership within Nigeria’s freight forwarding industry, warning that failure to adapt to ongoing reforms and global technological trends could result in the sector’s decline.
In a bulletin released on 9th August,2025 , signed by Head of Research, Fwdr Eugene Nweke, SEREC highlighted that while the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) is implementing vital reforms to modernize trade operations and tackle maritime corruption, the leadership of freight forwarding associations remains mired in internal disputes, supremacy battles, and protracted litigations.
The bulletin noted that the NCS has intensified efforts to enforce anti bribery laws and whistleblower protections while deploying advanced Information and Communication Technology (ICT) tools to facilitate trade and ensure compliance. However, freight forwarding associations, according to SEREC, have not evolved in tandem with these developments and continue to function under outdated leadership models.
SEREC emphasised that the industry’s sustainability hinges on leadership that is responsive to change, technologically informed, and capable of fostering collaboration with regulatory bodies and government institutions. The council underscored the need for freight forwarding leaders to shift focus from internal rivalry to collective progress and national interest.
Nweke also called for the underutilization of the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding Practice in Nigeria (CRFFN), particularly its Professional Operating Fee (POF) structure. This fee collection mechanism, SEREC explained, was designed to provide financial support to professional associations through periodic subventions. These funds are meant to aid in training, capacity development, and welfare of members, yet the benefits remain largely untapped due to ongoing leadership instability and a lack of accountability.
SEREC also identified a significant professional development gap within the sector. As global freight forwarding integrates advanced technologies such as blockchain, artificial intelligence, robotics, machine learning, and drone based logistics, Nigerian freight forwarders have yet to align with these trends. The organization warned that without targeted investment in technology and capacity-building, the industry could quickly lose competitiveness on the global stage.
In addition to technological lag, the bulletin cited the growing influence of foreign firms as another area of concern. It linked this development to the failure of local associations to present a united and strategic front. The disunity, according to SEREC, has opened the door for foreign dominance in key areas of the logistics value chain.
He outlined several key steps needed to reposition the industry, including the adoption of technology, stronger collaboration with stakeholders, promotion of professionalism, full engagement with CRFFN initiatives, protection of local industry interests, and consistent investment in professional development.
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