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From Aniekan Aniekan, Calabar
President, Nigeria Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Jani Ibrahim, has thrown his weight behind Sea Express, describing the firm as key in addressing Nigeria’s longstanding logistics challenges.
Speaking during a facility tour of the Cross River-based transportation company, Ibrahim stressed that effective logistics is critical for Nigeria to fully benefit from the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
“Sea Express is a very important company that we must encourage because of the challenge of logistics.
“We need to take advantage of the AfCFTA. With the right logistics, you can be in Calabar and trade seamlessly with South Africa, Egypt, or Senegal. That is what Sea Express is enabling, and we encourage them to do more”, he said.
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Also speaking, Kelly Ayamba, President of the Calabar Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (CALCCIMA), described Sea Express as a pioneering force in sea transportation.
“A lot has been achieved by the firm over the years. As key stakeholders, it was critical to bring the NACCIMA president here to explore potential collaborations,” Ayamba said.
Thompson Eja, Chief Executive Officer of Sea Express, highlighted the prohibitive costs and inefficiencies of inter-African trade. “Traveling within Africa is a massive problem. Lagos to Cameroon costs 1.5 million naira, while a much longer trip from London to Spain is just 60 pounds. If you are a businessman paying that much for travel, how are you going to make money?”
Eja emphasised the importance of export-driven initiatives and solving Nigeria’s logistics bottlenecks. “It is essential to focus on export exploration and address the logistics challenges in the country,” he said. He welcomed Ibrahim’s visit, noting that it provided an opportunity to showcase Sea Express’s vision, operational steps, and alignment with Nigeria’s maritime policy.
The NACCIMA president’s endorsement of Sea Express reflects a broader push to leverage efficient logistics networks to unlock Africa’s trade potential. As Nigeria seeks to maximize AfCFTA opportunities, innovative transport solutions such as Sea Express are emerging as critical enablers for businesses aiming to expand across the continent.
