The Potentials of Indigenous Logistics Systems to Drive Trade in Africa: Nigeria As a Case Study

Centuries after its introduction in Africa, the western-style logistics system has not replicated the same results it has in other parts of the world. The continent continues to grapple with a poorly developed logistics and supply chain management system, infrastructure, and low intra-Africa trade at a time when African governments have committed to expanding trade and manufacturing through the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement.

Centuries after its introduction in Africa, the western-style logistics system has not replicated the same results it has in other parts of the world. The continent continues to grapple with a poorly developed logistics and supply chain management system, infrastructure, and low intra-Africa trade at a time when African governments have committed to expanding trade and manufacturing through the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement.

There is a persistent myth that Africa had no indigenous logistics and supply chain management system before coming in contact with Europeans is inferior to the Western prototype. This has resulted in systemic neglect of research on indigenous logistics and supply chain management systems by scholars and practitioners within and outside Africa.

The continuous failure of the Western logistics and supply chain management system and the ongoing implementation of AfCFTA have necessitated the urgent development of a logistics system designed for the African socioeconomic environment and the peculiarities of the people. The interaction of indigenous logistics and its existence side by side with the western system for centuries has evolved into a hybrid system better suited to the needs and circumstances of the people.

This explorative study examined the history of Indigenous Logistics Systems (ILS) in pre-colonial Nigeria, its development over time, and its modern-day incarnation in Nigeria, Africa's most populous country, through qualitative data gathered from the six geopolitical zones and a review of the literature. The study found that ILS in Nigeria is the cultural creation of the people through the efficient management of available resources and the use of indigenous knowledge. For the first time, this study defined indigenous logistics systems and supply chain management. The modern-day expression is called the "waybill system", which is sending goods through registered vehicles at motor parks. It is the most popular and is the choice of the undisputed majority of the citizens. The system is consistent with the cultural norms and habits of the people, prioritizes the use of local knowledge and resources in an integrated manner, offers a competitive advantage to practitioners, and is sustainable. The system derives its strengths and effectiveness from its availability, simplicity, affordability, and trust. This study concludes that, if standardized and improved with the application of simple technology, the "waybill" system has the answers to the challenges of logistics and supply chain management (SCM) in Africa and could well be the sole supply chain management system in Nigeria and across Africa.