Last updated: November 6, 2026. We added the current NIPOST CLRD licence categories and fees, a list of regulators, and a section on what a logistics company does not do.
A logistics company moves goods for other people and answers for them until delivery. It picks up, stores, moves, clears, tracks, and delivers. Most operators in Lagos do only part of that chain, so the right company depends on what you are sending.
Your situation might be a Temu order you are tracking, a container you are clearing at Apapa, or cartons of stock you are moving to Onitsha. Each one needs a different kind of provider. Pick the wrong one and you lose money, time, or the goods.
This guide explains what a logistics company does, which parts of the job each type of operator handles, who licenses them in Nigeria, and what they charge in Lagos.
Key takeaways
- A logistics company handles six jobs: pickup, storage, movement, delivery, paperwork, and proof of handover.
- Four service types cover most Lagos shipments: dispatch riders, courier firms, bus parcel desks, and haulage operators.
- Courier, dispatch, and logistics businesses need a licence from NIPOST CLRD. There are four categories, and each lasts one year.
- A licence proves registration, not quality. Check the licence, the written quote, and the claim terms before you pay.
- Same-day delivery inside Lagos usually runs about ₦2,000 to ₦8,000. Weight, distance, and speed move the figure.
What does a logistics company do?
A logistics company takes control of goods it does not own. You hand over a parcel, a pallet, or a container, and the company becomes responsible for it until someone signs for it at the other end.
That is the whole business. The differences between one company and another sit in how much of that chain they cover and how well they record it.
Retailers, traders, importers, and online sellers hire them because running a delivery operation in-house is expensive. One company already has the bikes, trucks, warehouses, and licence. You rent a slice of it instead. For a wider view, see our guide to logistics companies in Lagos.
The six things a logistics company actually does
1. Pickup
The company collects the goods. It might come to your shop in Yaba, your home in Ikeja, or a factory gate in Agbara. Some operators only accept drop-offs at their own counter or terminal, so confirm the collection point before you plan your day.
2. Storage and sorting
Goods often wait before they move. A warehouse holds stock, a hub sorts parcels by route, and a consolidation centre combines small loads into one truck. This is where a courier and a full logistics firm part ways. A courier moves your box. A logistics firm may also store it, count it, and pack it to order.
3. The long move
This is the line haul, meaning the main trip between cities or between a port and a depot. It runs by road, rail, water, or air. Lagos covers all four, from trucks on the Lagos to Ibadan corridor to barges working the lagoon. See how each mode compares in our guide to freight and shipping in Lagos.
4. Last-mile delivery
The final leg is the one your customer sees. A rider brings a document to Ikoyi, a van brings a fridge to Surulere, or a bus terminal hands a carton to your receiver in Onitsha. Last-mile is the most expensive part of the trip for the operator, which is why it drives the price you pay.
5. Paperwork, tracking, and proof
A real company records the handover. That means a waybill or consignment note at pickup, a tracking reference, and a signature or photo at delivery. This record is your only leverage if something goes wrong. Our guide to proof of delivery in Nigeria shows exactly what should be recorded at each handover, and our piece on delivery tracking links explains how sellers keep customers informed.
6. Returns and reverse logistics
Returns, exchanges, and repairs move backwards, from buyer to seller. Many Lagos couriers now offer return pickups as an add-on rather than a separate product. If you sell online, ask about this before you sign. Returns handled badly cost more than the delivery did.
What a logistics company does not do
This part saves people money, so read it before you pay anyone.
- It does not insure your goods unless you buy cover. Compensation is usually capped by weight or by the declared value you wrote on the waybill. Under-declaring to save a small fee can wipe out your claim.
- It is not the seller. If a shop sent you the wrong item, that is a shop problem, not a courier problem.
- It will not accept everything. Cash, live animals, some batteries, and hazardous goods are commonly refused or need special handling.
- It cannot beat Lagos traffic. A “two hour” promise on the Third Mainland Bridge at 5 p.m. is a marketing line, not a plan. Agree a realistic window.
- It does not clear customs for free. Duty, terminal charges, and agency fees are separate from transport.
Types of logistics companies in Lagos
| Type | Typical load | Typical speed | Who regulates it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dispatch rider | Documents, small parcels | Same day, often hours | NIPOST CLRD |
| Courier company | Parcels, e-commerce orders | 1 to 3 days | NIPOST CLRD |
| Bus parcel desk | Cartons to other states | Matches the bus | NIPOST CLRD, plus the operator |
| Haulage and trucking | Pallets, bulk, containers | Scheduled, often multi-day | NIPOST CLRD where courier work is involved |
| Freight forwarder and clearing agent | Imports and exports | Weeks by sea, days by air | CRFFN |
| Warehouse and 3PL | Stored stock | Ongoing | NIPOST CLRD where delivery is offered |
| Cold chain operator | Food, drugs, vaccines | Ongoing | NIPOST CLRD plus health rules for the goods |
For a full breakdown of each service and when to use it, read 12 types of logistic services in Lagos. If you want names and street addresses instead, our list of logistics companies in Lagos and their addresses covers nine operators.
Courier and parcel companies
These firms collect from an address, move parcels on scheduled routes, and deliver door to door with a tracking number. GIG Logistics, DHL, Fez Delivery, and Sendbox all work this way. Fez Delivery’s own pricing page lists individual deliveries from ₦1,000, but a “from” figure is a floor, not a quote for your route.
Dispatch riders and delivery apps
Bikes win in gridlock. An Ikeja to Victoria Island run often finishes in two to three hours, while a van sits. Riders suit documents, phones, food, and medicine. They are a poor fit for anything heavy, fragile, or valuable, because liability is limited and paperwork is thin.
Haulage, freight forwarding, and clearing
Bulk cargo needs trucks, and imports need clearing agents. Lagos moves containers through Apapa, Tin Can Island, and Lekki Deep Sea Port, with air cargo through Murtala Muhammed. Our guides to truck transport in Lagos and freight forwarders in Lagos cover booking and costs. For port-linked heavy cargo, waterway freight in Lagos can beat road.
Who regulates logistics companies in Nigeria
Nigeria licenses courier and logistics operators. Before you wire money to a stranger, spend two minutes on this section.
NIPOST CLRD: the courier and logistics regulator
The Courier and Logistics Regulatory Department of NIPOST licenses businesses that carry goods for others. NIPOST’s licence categories page lists four levels, and each licence runs for one year. Fees published on the CLRD pages in October 2026 are:
| Category | New licence | Renewal |
|---|---|---|
| International | ₦20,000,000 | ₦1,877,500 |
| National | ₦3,000,000 | ₦627,500 |
| Regional | ₦2,000,000 | ₦440,000 |
| State or Special SME | ₦250,000 | ₦102,500 |
There is also a non-refundable ₦20,000 application fee. Applicants must show CAC registration, tax clearance, a traceable office, goods-in-transit insurance, and evidence of operating assets. The CLRD says a complete application takes about 30 days, and renewals should be filed at least three months before expiry. Late renewal carries a 12.5% penalty. You can read the application steps and the registered company list yourself.
Two points matter for a customer. First, these are fees the operator pays, not fees you pay. Second, the Special SME licence covers a business delivering to its own customers only, so a small online store with that licence is not licensed to courier other people’s goods. The full rules sit in the 2020 CLRD regulation, and NIPOST answers common questions on its FAQ page.
Other regulators you may need
- Freight forwarding and clearing: the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria registers practitioners.
- Rail: the Nigerian Railway Corporation runs rail services.
- Port users: the Nigerian Shippers’ Council represents cargo owners and handles port regulation matters.
- Context on performance: Nigeria ranked 88th of 139 economies on the World Bank’s Logistics Performance Index in 2023, with a score of 2.6 out of 5. That score is why written terms matter more here than in most markets.
How logistics companies charge
There is no fixed price list for Lagos. Two riders on the same street can quote different amounts for one trip, and both can be correct.
Indicative ranges from our own price research:
| Shipment | Planning range |
|---|---|
| Same-day document or small parcel within Lagos | ₦2,000 to ₦8,000 |
| Small interstate parcel by bus | ₦3,000 to ₦8,000 |
| Door-to-door courier, same route | Usually above the bus rate |
| Haulage and bulk | Negotiated per route and load |
We keep the working numbers in our delivery prices in Lagos guide and the courier-specific rates in courier service prices in Lagos. Treat all of it as a budget estimate, not a tariff.
Chargeable weight, in plain terms
Couriers charge by whichever is greater: the real weight of your parcel, or the space it takes up. That is why a large light box can cost more than a small heavy one. Many companies divide length by width by height by a fixed number to get that space figure, and the number is not the same everywhere. Ask which divisor the company uses before you compare two rates side by side.
Two quotes for the same route often differ because the companies are pricing different things. One is pricing a parcel. The other is pricing a truck.
Five things move a quote:
- Weight and size, which change the pricing band, not the margin.
- Distance and address, since Epe and Badagry attract extras that Yaba to Surulere does not.
- Speed, because same-day costs more than next-day or scheduled.
- Handling, since fragile, cold, or high-value goods carry surcharges.
- Season, because demand and fuel prices spike around Christmas, Easter, Sallah, and New Year.
Ask for the quote in writing, on the day you ship, through the company’s own channel. A forwarded screenshot is not a price.
What a written quote should contain
A proper quote answers seven questions. Run down the list before you send money:
- The pickup address, with a landmark the rider can find.
- The delivery address and the area it sits in.
- The declared weight or the dimensions of the parcel.
- The service level and the promised delivery window.
- The liability cap in naira, and whether extra cover is available.
- The full price, including fuel surcharges, remote-area fees, and VAT.
- What happens if delivery fails and the parcel comes back.
If any line is missing, you are holding an estimate. An estimate is exactly what the company will point to when the final price is higher than the one you agreed.
What to check before you pay
- Confirm the licence. Ask for the NIPOST CLRD licence and confirm it has not expired. Licences last one year, so an old certificate proves nothing.
- Get the quote in writing, including your exact destination, not just the nearest major road.
- Ask about liability in naira, and whether you can buy extra cover for a valuable parcel.
- Confirm the delivery window and what happens if it slips.
- Pay the company, not a person. Money to a personal account is the single most common loss in this market.
Red flags worth walking away from: a contact number that does not match the company’s website, pressure to pay within minutes, no office or terminal address, and a rate far below every other quote on the route.
Logistics for businesses: warehousing, 3PL, and fulfilment
This is where a logistics company earns more of your money and saves more of your time.
A parcel service hands your box to your customer. A fulfilment operation hands you a system: stock counted, orders picked, boxes packed, labels printed, and returns booked back in. Once you pass a few dozen orders a week, that system is usually the difference between growing and drowning.
What a warehouse actually provides
Storage is the easy part to understand and the hardest part to judge. A warehouse sells space, and space is not the same as control. Ask what you are paying for: floor space, a rack position, a pallet slot, or an agreed number of orders picked per day.
Then look at the four things that decide whether your stock survives. Security, meaning manned gates, cameras, and a written procedure for who can remove goods. Stock records, meaning a system count you can request at any time. Access hours, because a warehouse that closes at 4 p.m. will cost you a sale. And location, since a cheap depot in Ikorodu is expensive if every delivery then crosses the bridge.
How 3PL contracts are priced
A third-party logistics provider rarely quotes one number. It quotes a set of fee lines, and the total depends on your volume. Expect to see these separately:
- Storage per pallet, per square metre, or per carton, charged monthly.
- Inbound handling per carton or pallet received into the warehouse.
- Pick and pack per order, plus a small charge for each extra item in the box.
- Delivery per drop, often priced by zone across Lagos.
- Returns processing per item checked, cleaned, and restocked.
- A monthly minimum, which is the figure that actually decides if the deal is cheap or expensive.
Ask for every line in writing, then test the total against your real order numbers. A low pick-and-pack rate means nothing if the monthly minimum sits above your entire volume.
What to check before you sign
- Who insures stored stock. Many contracts exclude theft and water damage. Confirm in naira what you can recover.
- The daily cutoff time for same-day dispatch, and what happens to orders that miss it.
- Reporting. Ask to see a sample stock report and a sample delivery report before you sign.
- Accuracy terms. A provider that will not discuss stock count accuracy is telling you something.
- Exit terms. How fast can you collect your stock, and is there a fee for leaving.
The five business services worth comparing:
- Warehousing. Secure storage with stock counts. Compare warehouse services in Lagos and visit the site before you sign.
- 3PL and fulfilment. A third-party logistics provider stores your stock, picks and packs orders, and ships them. Big operators such as MDS Logistics run nationwide distribution, while smaller firms handle a few hundred orders a day. Our list of 3PL companies in Lagos covers both.
- E-commerce delivery. Cash-on-delivery handling, return pickups, and proof of delivery matter more than headline rates. Start with e-commerce delivery in Lagos and set delivery cutoff times you can actually meet.
- Dedicated business accounts. Regular shippers usually pay less per parcel than walk-in customers. Our guide to business delivery services in Lagos explains what to negotiate, and business logistics in Lagos covers the wider setup.
- Cheaper city runs. Services built for small businesses can undercut standard courier rates. See how GIG Logistics can cut delivery costs for Lagos SMEs.
If you run a store, the pattern that works is simple. Use a 3PL for storage and packing, a courier for tracked national parcels, and dispatch riders for urgent Lagos drops. One provider rarely wins on all three.
Sending within Lagos, across Nigeria, or abroad
Match the route, not the brand.
- Inside Lagos: a rider for speed, a van for volume. Compare pickup and delivery services in Lagos.
- To another state: bus parcel desks are cheapest, couriers are safest. Our interstate delivery from Lagos guide compares both. ABC Transport publishes its own parcel and terminal services.
- Door to door nationwide: see door-to-door delivery in Lagos for what a proper tracked service includes.
- Around the Island: counters near Marina and Broad Street are listed in shipping on Lagos Island.
- Abroad: couriers for documents and small parcels, forwarders for pallets and containers. GIG Logistics publishes its national network, and Sendbox serves online sellers through its shipping platform.
Frequently asked questions
What does a logistics company do?
It moves goods for other people. That covers pickup, storage, transport, delivery, paperwork, and proof of handover. A courier is one type of logistics company. A warehouse operator or freight forwarder is another.
What is the difference between a courier and a logistics company?
A courier moves parcels between two points. A logistics company may also store your stock, clear imports, pack orders, and handle returns. In practice, many Lagos firms call themselves logistics companies while running a courier operation.
Do logistics companies in Nigeria need a licence?
Yes. Courier, dispatch, and logistics businesses that carry goods for others need a NIPOST CLRD licence, and it must be renewed every year. Freight forwarders and clearing agents register with CRFFN.
How much does delivery cost in Lagos?
Same-day delivery of a document or small parcel usually runs about ₦2,000 to ₦8,000. Bus parcels to other states often start around ₦3,000 to ₦8,000. Haulage is quoted per route and load.
What can I not send through a logistics company?
Cash, live animals, hazardous materials, and some lithium batteries are commonly refused. Fragile and high-value goods need declared value and sometimes extra cover. Ask before you pack.
Who pays if my goods are damaged?
The operator’s claim terms decide this, and liability is often capped by weight or declared value. Report damage in writing on the day of delivery, keep the waybill, and photograph the packaging before you open it.
Do logistics companies deliver on Sundays?
Many couriers run Monday to Saturday. Some dispatch services work daily at a premium. Confirm the day before you promise a customer a Sunday delivery.
The short version
A logistics company takes your goods, answers for them, and hands them over with a record. Everything else, from a bike in Ikeja to a barge on the lagoon, is choosing how much of that chain to rent.
Check the licence, get the quote in writing, and pay the company rather than a person. Then keep the waybill until someone signs. For provider names and comparison, move on to our guide to logistics companies in Lagos or our best logistics company in Lagos breakdown.
Sources
- NIPOST CLRD: licence categories, application steps, registered companies
- NIPOST: CLRD Regulation 2020 and FAQs
- CRFFN: membership requirements
- World Bank: Logistics Performance Index
LagosMove publishes sourced guides and separates confirmed facts from estimates. Prices in this article are planning ranges, not quotes. If you spot an error, tell us and we will correct it.
