By Oluyinka Onigbinde
In a move expected to strengthen Nigeria’s position as a key logistics hub in West Africa, global third-party logistics provider CEVA Logistics and leading Nigerian logistics company EFL Africa have launched a joint venture, CEVA EFL Limited, aimed at expanding integrated logistics services and enhancing connectivity between Nigeria and global markets.
The partnership, formally announced on Monday, combines CEVA Logistics’ extensive international network spanning more than 170 countries with EFL Africa’s established local operations and infrastructure in Nigeria.
Industry stakeholders believe the collaboration will deepen investments in Nigeria’s logistics sector while providing businesses with improved access to efficient transportation, customs clearance, warehousing and supply chain solutions.
Speaking on the significance of the development, the companies described Nigeria as one of the largest and fastest-growing logistics markets globally, noting that the country’s strategic location makes it a natural gateway to the wider West African region.
According to both partners, the new venture is designed to leverage their complementary strengths to deliver integrated and customer-focused logistics solutions capable of addressing the growing demands of importers, exporters and manufacturers operating within Nigeria and across regional markets.
One of the major highlights of the partnership is the introduction of dedicated barge operations to facilitate the movement of cargo containers from Lagos ports to Inland Container Depots (ICDs), thereby reducing reliance on the often-congested road network.
The initiative is expected to contribute significantly to easing traffic congestion around the Lagos ports while improving cargo evacuation efficiency and reducing transit times.
CEVA EFL will operate a combined Inland Container Depot infrastructure covering approximately 140,000 square metres across facilities located in Ikorodu and Apapa. The facilities also include an Export Processing Terminal (EPT), which is expected to support exporters seeking more efficient access to international markets.
In addition to transportation and warehousing services, the joint venture will offer customs clearance solutions through an in-house licensed customs brokerage team. The companies said this arrangement would ensure faster processing of cargo and provide customers with a seamless end-to-end logistics experience.
Analysts view the partnership as a significant vote of confidence in Nigeria’s logistics and supply chain sector, particularly at a time when stakeholders continue to advocate for greater investments in multimodal transport infrastructure and improved trade facilitation measures.
The companies also stressed the broader economic benefits of the venture, noting that the partnership would promote knowledge transfer, strengthen local capacity development and create opportunities for Nigerian logistics professionals to benefit from global best practices.
Vice President of Finance for India, Middle East and Africa (IMEA) at CEVA Logistics, Sylvain Kluba, described the venture as a major step in advancing the company’s commitment to connecting Nigeria and West Africa to global supply chains.
He said the combination of CEVA’s global logistics expertise and EFL’s deep understanding of the Nigerian market would enable the new company to deliver reliable and efficient solutions while creating new opportunities for growth across the region.
According to him, the joint venture is positioned to build a logistics ecosystem capable of supporting businesses and unlocking the vast economic potential of Nigeria and neighbouring countries.
Also speaking, Yemi Adunola, Chief Executive Officer of EFL Africa, said the partnership reflects the shared vision of both organisations to transform logistics operations in Nigeria and West Africa.
He noted that the collaboration would help address longstanding challenges within the regional logistics environment through innovative, integrated and customer-centric solutions.
Adunola added that the launch of CEVA EFL demonstrates the companies’ commitment to supporting economic development, facilitating trade and improving supply chain efficiency throughout the region.
With increasing demand for reliable logistics services driven by regional trade, industrial growth and expanding consumer markets, stakeholders say the CEVA EFL partnership could play a crucial role in strengthening Nigeria’s competitiveness as a logistics and distribution gateway for West Africa.
The launch also underscores growing international confidence in Nigeria’s logistics sector and highlights the strategic importance of multimodal transport solutions, customs efficiency and modern cargo handling infrastructure in supporting the country’s trade ambitions.
