Nigeria's e-commerce and logistics sector faced significant challenges in 2024, with fuel prices quadrupling and inflation soaring. Despite these difficulties, industry experts are optimistic about the future, predicting growth and innovation in 2025. Eight founders and investors shared their predictions for the sector, highlighting potential areas of growth and opportunity.

One area of predicted growth is in exports, with Iyin Aboyeji, founder of Future Africa and Accelerate Africa, expecting significant growth in food exports, including produce like yam, to meet the growing demand for African foods abroad. Kachi Izukanne, CEO of TradeDepot, also sees opportunities in the reorganisation of global supply chains, which could open new pathways for African businesses.

Another area of predicted growth is in the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in e-commerce. Eghosa Omogui, founder of EchoVC, expects widespread deployment of AI agents for customer service and semi-autonomous transactions, which will reduce consumer anxiety around spending. Adeola Ayoola, CEO of Famasi, also sees AI playing a crucial role in primary care, reducing the reliance on human labour for managing common health issues.

In terms of logistics, Ope Onaboye, CEO of Renda, predicts that many companies will struggle due to insufficient capital, leading to mergers of smaller startups. He also expects logistics companies that operate software-only models to pivot to become infrastructure-focused, technology-enabled solutions.

Luther Lawoyin, CEO of Pricepally, predicts that the gap between online and offline retail will shrink, with digital-first retailers opening physical stores and brick-and-mortar businesses investing in e-commerce. He also expects platforms like WhatsApp and Instagram to play a bigger role, especially for small businesses.

In terms of food prices, Uka Eje, CEO of ThriveAgric, predicts that the agricultural sector will attract more investment in 2025, easing food inflation. Eghosa Omogui also expects major innovations in reducing food waste, which could lower food costs by 10-20%.

Overall, industry experts are optimistic about the future of Nigeria's e-commerce and logistics sector, citing potential growth in exports, increased use of AI, and lower food prices. While challenges remain, the sector is poised for innovation and growth in 2025.