Faisal Jarmakani, a leading voice in West African logistics and a key figure behind Aramex Nigeria’s operations, provides a masterclass on the mechanics of moving goods in Africa’s largest economy. As Nigeria enters 2026, Jarmakani identifies a market that is no longer just “emerging” but is actively maturing into a technology-driven $8 billion powerhouse.
1. The Growth Drivers: E-Commerce and the Diaspora Effect
Nigeria’s air freight demand is being reshaped by a shift in consumer and business behavior. Jarmakani identifies two explosive sectors:
-
The SME Revolution: Cross-border trade for small businesses is growing exponentially. These players favor air freight for its speed-to-market and high value-density.
-
The Diaspora Export Corridor: A notable surge in B2B and C2C exports is being driven by the global Nigerian diaspora, creating a robust “reverse logistics” flow that is balancing the traditional import-heavy lanes.
2. The Geography of Trade: Nigeria’s Busiest Corridors
In the Aramex network, the “Golden Triangle” of Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt continues to dominate domestic flows. Internationally, the lanes remain clearly defined:
-
China → Nigeria: The primary artery for e-commerce and SME replenishment.
-
USA/UK ↔ Nigeria: High-frequency flows supported by consumer parcels and specialized industrial components.
3. Operational Realism: Solving the “Airport-to-Warehouse” Friction
Jarmakani is candid about the bottlenecks that still separate Nigeria from hubs like Dubai. The primary inefficiency is not the flight itself, but the “ground-handling lag.”
-
Regulatory Overlap: Multiple clearance steps and manual documentation at airports significantly affect turnaround times.
-
The Fulfillment Gap: There is a critical shortage of “Grade-A,” technology-enabled warehouses. Jarmakani notes that cargo often clears the airport quickly, only to sit idle due to manual inventory processes or limited storage capacity.
-
The Last-Mile Address Crisis: Poor address quality remains a “hidden tax” on logistics, leading to failed deliveries and increased costs per shipment.
4. The Aramex Strategy: Asset-Light and Tech-Heavy
To navigate these challenges, Aramex utilizes an “Asset-Light” integrator model. This allows the firm to scale rapidly while remaining customer-centric. The 2026 strategy focuses on:
-
Micro-Hubs: Investing in strategic facilities in Lagos, Ibadan, Benin, and Kano to ensure tighter control over the “middle mile.”
-
Route Optimization: Using AI-driven address validation to improve courier productivity in complex urban environments.
-
Inter-Agency Integration: Advocating for deeper digitization at the airports to reduce the “variability” that currently plagues the sector.
The 2026 Outlook
Looking ahead, Jarmakani sees a sector that is moving from a focus on volume to a focus on capability. With the right infrastructure upgrades at Lagos airport and a well-trained workforce, Nigeria is positioned to move from being a passive consumer of imports to an active, competitive player in global exports—particularly in fashion, food, and agriculture.
