ACSC Conference Urges African Businesses to Strengthen Supply Chains

At the second African Centre for Supply Chain (ACSC) conference in Lagos, stakeholders addressed the increasing vulnerabilities in African supply chains due to geopolitical tensions and changing trade policies. Dr. Obiora Madu, Director General of ACSC, emphasized that businesses must diversify their suppliers and identify vulnerabilities, stating that reliance on efficiency alone is no longer sufficient.

He noted that the COVID-19 pandemic revealed the risks of excessive dependence on China and highlighted rising energy costs as a catalyst for adopting alternative energy solutions. Professor Frank Ojadi from Lagos Business School stressed that the ability to maintain production and delivery during disruptions is crucial for competitiveness, advocating for regional production networks under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

Olasunkanmi Ojowuro, Director of Mechanical Engineering at the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation, underscored the importance of transport infrastructure for supply chain security, calling for proactive investment in logistics systems before crises occur.