The hidden wealth in logistics: how Nigerians can profit from the $150bn gap

Last year alone, 20 Nigerian companies spent over ₦164 billion on travel and logistics. Just 20 companies o, not the entire corporate Nigeria.

Across Africa, there’s a logistics gap worth $150 billion. That’s not a problem. That’s an opportunity of a lifetime waiting for sharp Nigerians and Africans like you to grab.

Let me gist you.

Every carton of Indomie you see at the kiosk, every Dangote cement bag at a site, every Jumia package, every palm oil container that leaves Apapa, all of them must move.

And in this age where everybody wants everything delivered to their doorstep, the people who control movement are the ones who control the money.

Here are the numbers:

Corporate Nigeria doubled travel spend to ₦164.4bn in 2024
Transport inflation rose 30.5% year-on-year
Africa’s logistics gap = $150bn opportunity

The beauty of logistics is this: when transport costs rise, those who move goods earn even more.

The 7 big logistics opportunities

Let’s call them the “seven doors” into the logistics goldmine:

Freight forwarding
Trucking
Warehousing
Order fulfilment (pick, pack, ship)
Parcel tracking software
Cold chain logistics
Corporate travel and mobility management

Whether you’re a hustler with small capital or a big investor with millions, there’s a door here with your name on it.

You don’t need to own a shipping line to cash out. Look at these plays:

Rent two delivery bikes (~₦600k each) and earn ₦30k+ daily per bike. That’s about ₦900k monthly.
Start a small warehouse (~₦3m setup) and charge SMEs ₦5k per pallet.
Partner with farmers to move produce into Lagos weekly. Middlemen are already doing this and smiling to the bank.
Start an errand/delivery service using GIG Logistics or other aggregators.

This is not theory. These are real, everyday hustles that people are doing right now.

If you’ve got deep pockets, logistics will reward you heavily:

Own a truck (₦55m). Lagos–Onitsha trips alone can bring ₦2m+ monthly.
Cold chain van (₦30m). Pharmacies and supermarkets will pay ₦1m+ monthly for reliable cold delivery.
Warehousing hub (₦30m–₦50m setup). With the right location, you’ll earn millions storing goods.
Freight forwarding company. Handling just 5 containers monthly can bring ₦4m–₦5m profit.

Big money attracts big responsibility, but it also brings big returns.

Let’s count the money

The maths is clear:

1 truck moving Lagos–Onitsha twice weekly = ₦2m+ monthly
Small warehouse (₦20m setup) renting 100 pallets at ₦5k each = ₦500k monthly
Cold storage with 20 clients = ₦2m+ monthly
100kg dried fish = ₦400k in Nigeria → sells ₦5.6m in the UK (export logistics is crazy profitable)

Every gap in movement is a profit stream. If goods can’t move, wealth is stuck. Be the bridge, and money will flow through you.

How to start step by step

Logistics can look intimidating, but it’s like every other hustle. One step at a time:

Pick your niche (bike, truck, warehouse, cold chain, forwarding etc).
Do your research. Know your market.
Register your business and open a bank account. Credibility matters.
Partner with platforms like ShipAfrica, Sendbox, GIG Logistics.
Start small. Rent instead of buying if you can. Test the waters.
Insure your goods and vehicles. Risks are high, so protect yourself.
Reinvest profits, scale gradually, and expand.

If you take it step by step, what looks like a giant industry will become your playing field.

The deeper truth

“You shall be the head and not the tail” – Deuteronomy 28:13

Logistics is the head of every economy. Nothing moves until logistics moves. And those who own a part of this system own a part of national wealth.

For Nigerians, this is not just business advice, it’s survival. Jobs are shrinking, costs are rising, but goods will always need to move. That’s why logistics is not just the future, it’s the present.

Logistics is not about trucks and containers alone. It’s about understanding that everything people eat, wear, build, or export must move. And where there’s movement, there’s money.

So don’t just watch the Indomie carton roll past you. Ask yourself: “How can I own a piece of this journey?”

Remember, we don’t grow by learning alone. We grow by doing.

Grab the gist?

Isaac Oladipupo

Isaac Oladipupo is a money and education expert helping professionals and entrepreneurs build wealth, grow businesses, and access quality education.