Nigeria’s courier and logistics sector recorded a turnover of N248.14 billion in the first nine months of 2025, reflecting the growing role of logistics in supporting e-commerce and intra-city trade, according to industry data. The figure represents a 56.28 per cent increase from N158.73 billion in the same period in 2024.
Data showed that the sector earned N140.35 billion in Q1, dropping to N54.79 billion in Q2 and N53 billion in Q3. Analysts attributed the strong year-on-year growth to booming e-commerce, rising small-scale exports, and robust parcel delivery services, while quarterly variations reflected seasonal factors such as dry-season mobility and the rainy-season slowdown.
Experts say the sector acts as a barometer of economic activity, linking producers, traders, and consumers across cities and borders. A Transport Company of Anambra State driver, identified as Stephen, noted that business slows during heavy rains, particularly in June and July, affecting delivery volumes.
Supply chain expert Marcel Mba highlighted the seasonal trends in logistics, noting peaks during the dry season and festive periods, which boost consumer purchases and deliveries. He described logistics as a key indicator of overall economic vibrancy.
E-commerce Drives Sector Growth
Dr. Muda Yusuf, Director of the Centre for Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE), said the growth of the courier sector is driven by structural shifts in consumer behavior, especially the rise of home delivery services. He noted that intra-city couriers, small exports, and air cargo contribute significantly to sector expansion, though informal operators remain largely untracked in official statistics.
Persistent Challenges
Despite the strong performance, stakeholders cited infrastructure, financing, regulation, and industrial output as ongoing challenges. Okey Uba, President of the Association of Nigerian Courier Operators (ANCO), highlighted poor roads, high fuel costs, and prohibitive interest rates as constraints. He also raised concerns about multiple levies, unregulated operators, and competition from informal delivery services that undercut formal courier firms.
Uba added that collaboration among operators has helped mitigate costs, as firms increasingly rely on partnerships rather than costly branch networks. However, the sector’s growth remains tied to manufacturing output, with factory closures directly affecting delivery volumes.
As e-commerce continues to expand, courier services are increasingly central to Nigeria’s economic ecosystem, linking urban and rural markets while supporting small businesses, exports, and consumer access to goods.
