courier market leader, DHL Express has launched a domestic cargo operation in Nigeria to offer logistics services between major cities in the country while strengthening its intra-Africa air network. The logistic company is using a newly dedicated Boeing 737-400 aircraft for its logistic services to all the cities in Nigeria.
According to Randy Buday, DHL’s Lagos-based Managing Director for Anglophone Africa; the aircraft which is able to carry up to 16 tonnes of cargo, represents a major breakthrough in local logistics, as it is the first dedicated express cargo plane for the Nigeria market, allowing for increased trade between the cities.
The cargo aircraft would operate out of Lagos, and allows for an enhanced offering into, out of and within Nigeria, he said.
Buday explained that “We (DHL) are constantly looking for ways to improve our service offering. Previously, we were trucking the majority of our Express consignments within Nigeria as there was little air cargo capacity available on the commercial carriers and their schedules were fitted around the needs of their passengers, rather than our requirements’’.
“DHL is the only carrier to offer a dedicated air network in Africa and this investment is further evidence of the importance and potential of the region’’.
DHL’s business is growing at a rate of 15 percent a year.
The courier and logistics company also operates an overnight courier service to Abuja, Nigeria’s Federal capital.
In a related development, DHL Global Forwarding opened its first office in Tripoli, the capital city of Libya. The office is close to the Tripoli’s business centre.
With this, the Global Forwarding operation will offer customers in oil and energy, construction, telecommunications and pharmaceuticals sectors access to international standard services such as documentation handling, customs clearance and warehousing, air and ocean freight, domestic and cross-border trucking. It will serve clients in all major Libyan provinces and territories including Benghazi, Misarata, Sirte and Sabha, operating through three main ports — Tripoli, Khoms and Benghazi — and the two main airports of Tripoli and Benina.
“Libya is opening up to investors from all over the world to help develop the oil rich country. The country’s post-revolution oil recovery has advanced faster than expected,” Thomas Nieszner, CEO, Europe, Middle East and Africa, DHL Global Forwarding, said.
He added that “Production for 2012 is close to 90 per cent of pre-conflict levels and is expected to match pre-conflict levels in 2013. This is spurring increased public spending to rebuild the nation as well as all-round economic growth, both of which require logistics support of the kind that DHL is best-equipped to provide.”
CEO, Mena and Turkey, DHL Global Forwarding, Claudio Scandella, collaborated that “The opening of the Libyan office shows DHL’s commitment to the potential we see in the continent. The trade triangle between Africa, the Middle East and Asia will shape the future of global trade and DHL’s continued investment in people and processes ensures that businesses — both local and international — have access to world-class logistics operations across the region.”
Meanwhile, Hazem Ibrahim, country manager, DHL Global Forwarding, Libya, believes that with the formation of Libya’s new government, “this is the right time to step in and offer logistics support to Libya’s global partners and local traders.”
“The products and services offered by DHL Global Forwarding extend from standardized logistics operations to multi-modal transport solutions and highly individualized industrial projects, all of which Libya needs to build its recovery, maintain stability and gain confidence,” he said.
