Experts in Courier and Logistics Management sector have urged the Federal Government to create a special purpose ministry for courier and logistics sector so as to enable it to harness the untapped resources in the sector.
Prof. Simon Emeje, Executive Chairman of the Courier and Logistics Management Institute made the call while delivering his opening speech at the institute’s 2023 International Conference and Investiture with the theme “Logistics Solutions and National Infrastructure Development” held on November 23, at Oriental Hotel Lagos.
He noted that any serious government that neglects the courier, logistics, and transport management sector does so at his or her own peril, stressing that the sector is estimated to worth over N3 trillion, which according to him could help solve the nation’s current financial and unemployment woes.
“The logistics, courier, transport, and management industry should not be ignored, it commands an average asset worth of over N3trillion, with the capability of creating millions of jobs.
“So, the take home here is that government should look into this industry, because it’s an important industry, one with the capability to create millions and millions of employment opportunities for our youths”.
While highlighting the critical role of logistics in economic development Prof. Emeje called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu led administration to tap into the inherent resources in the industry by involving Logistics Professionals in national, urban and enterprise planning to ensure seamless implementation of various projects.
He further explained that the institute is ready to assist government in fashioning out a robust template that would enable it harness its real potentials.
Equally, Barr. Adebayo Shittu, former minister of communications, in his keynote address charged the institute to develop a robust proposal for government’s adoption and implementation, adding that he will help facilitate engagement between the institute and the government.
In the same vein, the former minister while highlighting some of the important attributes of the sector, joined Prof. Emeje to call on federal government to create an enabling environment in the sector by creating a new ministry purposefully curated for the sector.
“My appeal and advocacy today are that so far as government has found it necessary, particularly, this new government found it necessary to create ministry of entertainment, hitherto nobody ever considered it to be the business of government to be concerned about entertainment, but this government found that there are potential economic implications for the country.
“So equally I want to believe that the importance of logistics and supply chain with regards to every other service requires that government creates an enabling environment by way of a new ministry for Courier and Logistics Management”.
The high points of the conference were the induction of over 60 new fellows and the public presentation of the book titled: ‘Logistics Solutions for Enterprise and Infrastructure” written by Prof. Emeje.
Notable dignitaries at the convention were: Dr. Madu Obiora, Director General, African Centre for supply chain, Dr (Pharm) Elijah Muhammed, Fmr Registrar, Pharmacy Council of Nigeria, Prof Nurudeen Oyekola, CEO, Institute of Classic Entrepreneurship, Mazi Sonny Allison, Founder of Red Star Express and Executive Chairman, GML Logistics, Bishop (Dr) Humphrey Erumaka, General Overseer, Wordbase Assembly and Chairman, Nehemiah Leadership Institute and many others.
