Logistics and Supply Chain Management as Strategic Drivers of Business Competitiveness in Nigeria
Keywords:
Logistics Management, Supply Chain Management, Business Competitiveness, Supply Chain Resilience, NigeriaAbstract
Logistics and supply chain management have become central to enterprise competitiveness, trade efficiency, customer satisfaction and national economic development. In Nigeria, firms operate within an environment marked by road infrastructure deficits, port congestion, high operating costs, customs delays, weak warehousing systems, unreliable electricity, security risks and uneven digital adoption. These conditions increase production and distribution costs, weaken delivery reliability, reduce customer trust and limit the ability of local enterprises to compete across wider markets. This paper examines logistics and supply chain management as strategic drivers of business competitiveness in Nigeria. It adopts a conceptual and framework-development approach grounded in the resource-based view, dynamic capability theory, transaction cost economics, systems theory and supply chain resilience thinking. The paper argues that logistics should not be treated merely as transport or delivery, but as an integrated managerial capability involving sourcing, procurement coordination, inventory control, warehousing, distribution, information visibility, relationship-enabled routing and disruption preparedness. Its central contribution is an integrated logistics capability framework which links enabling infrastructure, firm-level logistics competence, supply chain integration, digital visibility, human capability and resilience routines to operational performance and business competitiveness. The paper concludes that Nigerian firms can improve cost efficiency, delivery reliability, market reach and customer value when logistics is deliberately planned, measured and coordinated as a strategic function. It suggests stronger logistics education, digital adoption, supplier coordination, performance measurement, trade facilitation and infrastructure support as necessary conditions for improving supply chain performance in Nigeria.
References
Barney, J. (1991). Firm resources and sustained competitive advantage. Journal of Management, 17(1), 99–120. https://doi.org/10.1177/014920639101700108
Chopra, S., & Meindl, P. (2019). Supply chain management: Strategy, planning, and operation (7th ed.). Pearson.
Christopher, M. (2016). Logistics and supply chain management (5th ed.). Pearson.
Gunasekaran, A., Patel, C., & McGaughey, R. E. (2004). A framework for supply chain performance measurement. International Journal of Production Economics, 87(3), 333–347. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpe.2003.08.003
International Trade Administration. (2025). Nigeria—Logistics sector. U.S. Department of Commerce. https://www.trade.gov/country-commercial-guides/nigeria-logistics-sector
Ivanov, D., & Dolgui, A. (2020). Viability of intertwined supply networks: Extending the supply chain resilience angles towards survivability. International Journal of Production Research, 58(10), 2904–2915. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207543.2020.1750727
Lambert, D. M., & Cooper, M. C. (2000). Issues in supply chain management. Industrial Marketing Management, 29(1), 65–83. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0019-8501(99)00113-3
Mentzer, J. T., DeWitt, W., Keebler, J. S., Min, S., Nix, N. W., Smith, C. D., & Zacharia, Z. G. (2001). Defining supply chain management. Journal of Business Logistics, 22(2), 1–25. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.21581592.2001.tb00001.x
Ponomarov, S. Y., & Holcomb, M. C. (2009). Understanding the concept of supply chain resilience. The International Journal of Logistics Management, 20(1), 124–143. https://doi.org/10.1108/09574090910954873
Teece, D. J., Pisano, G., & Shuen, A. (1997). Dynamic capabilities and strategic management. Strategic Management Journal, 18(7), 509–533. https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1097-0266(199708)18:7<509::AIDSMJ882>3.0.CO;2-Z
United Nations Conference on Trade and Development. (2024). Review of maritime transport 2024: Navigating maritime chokepoints. United Nations. https://unctad.org/publication/review-maritime-transport-2024
Wieland, A., & Wallenburg, C. M. (2013). The influence of relational competencies on supply chain resilience.
International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management, 43(4), 300–320. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJPDLM-08-2012-0243
Williamson, O. E. (1985). The economic institutions of capitalism. Free Press.
World Bank. (2023). Connecting to compete 2023: Trade logistics in an uncertain global economy—The Logistics Performance Index and its indicators. World Bank. https://lpi.worldbank.org/report
