The Secretary General of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Godfrey Nwosu, has urged the Federal Government to integrate freight forwarding development into Nigeria’s national Blue Economy strategy, describing it as critical to sustainable trade growth, improved revenue generation and enhanced port competitiveness.
Nwosu made the call in a policy brief titled, “Harnessing the Blue Economy for Freight Forwarding Development in Nigeria,” in which he argued that aligning freight forwarding with the country’s Blue Economy agenda would strengthen trade facilitation, build professional capacity and position Nigeria as a leading maritime hub in West Africa.
He noted that Nigeria’s maritime sector remains a cornerstone of national development, stressing that the Blue Economy presents a unique opportunity to reposition the nation’s maritime ecosystem through the sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods and environmental protection.
He said modernising ports through smart technologies would reduce congestion and cargo clearance delays, while the adoption of digital trade solutions such as artificial intelligence, blockchain and electronic Customs systems would improve transparency and operational efficiency.
According to him, sustainable exploitation of marine resources, including fisheries, aquaculture and marine biotechnology, would diversify revenue streams for coastal states and communities, while efficient maritime infrastructure would strengthen Nigeria’s competitiveness and reduce cargo diversion to neighbouring countries.
Nwosu also identified freight forwarding as a critical component of trade facilitation and revenue generation, saying the Blue Economy would support the subsector through structured capacity building, digital logistics and improved compliance with international standards.
“Skilled freight forwarders will improve the efficiency of Customs operations, strengthen trade facilitation and enhance Nigeria’s competitiveness within global supply chains.”
The NAGAFF scribe further stated that embracing Blue Economy principles would enable states to diversify their economies beyond oil through fisheries, tourism, port services and other marine-based activities, while creating employment opportunities across logistics, shipping and allied sectors.
He also said strategic investments in modern ports and inland waterways would attract investment, strengthen trade corridors and improve Nigeria’s readiness to maximise opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
To realise these objectives, 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), alongside the integration of artificial intelligence and other digital tools into freight forwarding operations.
He also advocated stronger collaboration among the Nigeria Customs Service, CRFFN and freight forwarding associations to enhance capacity development, increased investment in smart port infrastructure and inland waterways, strict enforcement of the CRFFN Act to protect indigenous practitioners, and sustained public awareness campaigns on the opportunities presented by the Blue Economy.
Nwosu maintained that immediate policy action was needed to incorporate freight forwarding development into the national Blue Economy strategy, saying such a move would strengthen capacity building, improve trade facilitation and drive sustainable economic growth.
