Stakeholders warn that over 40 million metric tonnes of food wasted yearly due to infrastructural gaps and inconsistent government policies

Nigeria’s logistics sector is facing severe challenges, leading to an estimated annual loss of ₦5 trillion and wastage of more than 40 million metric tonnes of food, according to the President of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) Nigeria, Dr Boboye Oyeyemi. Speaking in Lagos on Wednesday at the 10th Anniversary lecture of City Business News, themed ‘Logistics as the Engine Room of Nigeria’s Economy’, Oyeyemi highlighted how inefficiencies within the supply chain are impacting both the economy and food security nationwide.

Oyeyemi, who is also a former Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), explained that persistent issues such as poor infrastructure, inadequate transport facilities, and frequent changes in policy have contributed to rising costs for goods across the country. He stated that logistics failures after harvest are responsible for a financial drain estimated between $2.3 billion and $3.3 billion annually (equivalent to over ₦5 trillion at current exchange rates), with millions of tonnes of agricultural produce lost before reaching consumers.

The CILT president emphasised that these losses are not just financial but also have social consequences, as they contribute to increasing food prices and limit access for vulnerable Nigerians. The situation has become more critical in recent years due to lack of investment in road networks and storage facilities, as well as delays caused by regulatory bottlenecks.

“The financial consequences of these logistics failures are immense. Post-harvest logistics failures result in an estimated annual financial drain… The numerous challenges facing the sector have triggered high cost of products,” Oyeyemi said during his address at the event.

Industry experts and stakeholders present at the lecture called on government to prioritise long-term solutions by investing in transport infrastructure and ensuring consistent policies that support supply chain growth. They warned that unless urgent action is taken, Nigeria’s ability to achieve food security targets may be undermined.

As at now, there has been no official response from government agencies regarding new measures to address these challenges. However, analysts say improving coordination between ministries responsible for agriculture, transport, and trade will be crucial if Nigeria is to reduce food waste and minimise financial losses linked to poor logistics.

Source: https://guardian.ng/business-services/poor-logistics-inconsistent-policies-cause-40m-metric-tonnes-of-foods-n5trn-loss-yearly/