E-commerce, SMEs Fuel Growth in Nigeria’s $8bn Air Freight Market
Nigeria’s air freight logistics market is emerging as a key growth segment of the economy, with rising e-commerce activity and expanding small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) trade pushing the sector’s value beyond $8 billion, according to the Managing Director of Aramex Nigeria, Faisal Jarmakani.
Speaking on this development, Jarmakani explained that activity in the market is concentrated in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Kano, with Lagos accounting for the largest share of cargo volumes due to its dominance in trade, consumption and international connectivity.
He noted that while growth may be uneven across routes, demand fundamentals remain strong, supporting a positive medium-term outlook for the sector.
According to him, e-commerce and SME-led cross-border trade have become the primary drivers of air freight demand, as more Nigerian businesses source inputs and sell goods internationally.
“Export volumes have also been rising, supported by Nigeria’s diaspora and the rapid expansion of business-to-business and consumer-to-consumer trade channels. These segments, he said, favour air freight because of shorter delivery timelines and higher shipment values.”
Despite the strong demand profile, Jarmakani identified operational inefficiencies, high costs and last-mile delivery challenges as major constraints to faster growth. Airport cargo processing remains the most critical bottleneck, with multiple clearance steps, overlapping regulatory agencies, documentation gaps and limited technology integration slowing turnaround times.
He pointed out that while Nigeria has made measurable improvements in recent years, the gap remains wide when compared with hubs such as Dubai, where same-day cargo clearance and delivery are common.
Cost pressures also remain significant, with Nigeria’s handling charges, aviation-related fees and last-mile delivery costs higher than those in neighbouring West African markets. This, he said, has strategic implications, as some companies increasingly route cargo through alternative regional hubs to reduce expenses, even when Nigeria is the final destination. Fragmented addressing systems and weak last-mile infrastructure further raise costs through failed deliveries and higher return rates.
Aramex’s operational data show that the busiest international inbound air freight corridors into Nigeria originate from Asia, North America and Europe, with China, the United States and the United Kingdom leading volumes. China–Nigeria routes are largely driven by cross-border e-commerce and SME sourcing, while UK and US routes are supported by diaspora-linked consumer shipments. Domestically, Lagos serves as the primary hub feeding high-volume routes to Abuja, Port Harcourt and Kano.
To support these flows, Aramex operates major hubs and micro-hubs in Lagos, Ibadan, Benin, Port Harcourt, Abuja and Kano, relying on an asset-light model and partnerships with mid-mile and last-mile operators to scale efficiently. Jarmakani said the fastest-growing routes are those linked to inbound e-commerce cargo into Lagos, which is then distributed across domestic corridors.
He identified warehousing and fulfilment as one of the weakest links in Nigeria’s multimodal logistics chain. While demand for e-commerce and FMCG fulfilment is growing rapidly, the supply of technology-enabled warehouses remains limited, leading to delays after cargo clears airports. These delays often cascade into last-mile bottlenecks, increasing delivery failures and costs.
Aramex, he said, is investing heavily in warehousing capacity, process discipline and operational tools to close this gap and support clients’ growth.
Technology, according to Jarmakani, is central to improving efficiency in the sector. Aramex uses real-time tracking, proactive shipment notifications, route optimisation and address validation tools to shorten delivery times, reduce failed deliveries and improve customer experience. The company has also invested in customer support systems to improve response quality and service consistency.
Looking ahead, Jarmakani said Nigeria’s air cargo and logistics sector is poised for steady expansion, driven by rising trade, e-commerce penetration and export potential.
He noted that future growth will depend less on volume alone and more on reliability, infrastructure maturity and capability, particularly at Lagos airport and other major cargo gateways.
With improved systems, he said Nigeria could significantly scale SME exports in sectors such as fashion, food and agriculture, positioning logistics providers like Aramex as critical partners in connecting Nigerian businesses to regional and global markets.
