By Joshua Yousouph
The Secretary General of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Mr Godfrey Emeka Nwosu, has called on the Federal Government to integrate freight forwarding development into Nigeria’s Blue Economy strategy, describing the subsector as critical to sustainable trade facilitation, revenue generation and the country’s aspiration to become a leading maritime hub in West Africa.
Nwosu made the call in a policy brief titled “Harnessing the Blue Economy for Freight Forwarding Development in Nigeria,” where he argued that aligning Blue Economy initiatives with freight forwarding reforms would strengthen Nigeria’s maritime ecosystem, improve professional standards and enhance the efficiency of port operations.
According to him, the Blue Economy presents a unique opportunity to reposition Nigeria’s maritime industry through sustainable use of ocean resources, while also promoting economic growth, improving livelihoods and protecting the marine environment.
He noted that the adoption of smart port technologies would significantly reduce congestion and cargo clearance delays, thereby making Nigerian ports more competitive within the West African sub-region.
The NAGAFF scribe also advocated the integration of digital trade solutions, including artificial intelligence, blockchain technology and electronic customs systems, to improve transparency, efficiency and accountability in cargo handling and logistics operations.
Nwosu said the Blue Economy would also promote sustainable exploitation of marine resources through fisheries, aquaculture and marine biotechnology, creating new revenue streams for states and coastal communities while enhancing regional competitiveness.
He maintained that states stand to benefit from the policy through diversified revenue sources beyond oil, increased employment opportunities in logistics, shipping and marine services, improved infrastructure and greater integration into regional and global trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
On the freight forwarding subsector, Nwosu described practitioners as a critical link in international trade, stressing that the Blue Economy would support the sector through capacity building, digital transformation, improved customs processes and enhanced global competitiveness.
He explained that structured training in compliance, artificial intelligence and digital logistics would equip freight forwarders with the skills required to meet international standards, while streamlined customs procedures would reduce bottlenecks and improve cargo clearance efficiency.
To maximise the opportunities offered by the Blue Economy, Nwosu recommended mandatory training and certification for freight forwarders in line with global standards, to be enforced by the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN).
He also called for the adoption of AI and digital tools across freight forwarding operations, stronger collaboration among the Nigeria Customs Service, CRFFN and freight forwarding associations, as well as strategic investment in smart port infrastructure and inland waterways.
The policy brief further urged strict enforcement of the CRFFN Act to protect indigenous freight forwarders and uphold professionalism within the industry, alongside sustained public awareness campaigns on the economic importance of indigenous practitioners and the opportunities inherent in the Blue Economy.
Nwosu concluded that immediate policy action was necessary to fully integrate freight forwarding into Nigeria’s national Blue Economy agenda, noting that such reforms would strengthen capacity building, improve trade facilitation, increase government revenue and position Nigeria as a leading maritime and logistics hub in West Africa.
