Rising Transport Costs Drive Nigerian Businesses Towards Smarter Delivery Models

Nigeria's escalating transport costs are creating significant challenges for businesses that rely on regular deliveries, compelling merchants to seek more efficient fulfillment strategies. The rising expenses are forcing a re-evaluation of traditional delivery models as companies strive to control their operational costs.

Recent statistics from the National Bureau of Statistics highlight the severity of the issue. The average fare for intra-city bus journeys in Nigeria rose by 38.63 percent year-on-year to N1,431.25 in May 2026. Motorcycle taxi (Okada) fares saw an even steeper increase, climbing 52.45 percent to N1,072.51 over the same period. These figures add considerable cost pressure, particularly for small businesses and online merchants managing individual order fulfillment.

To combat these rising costs, Nigerian technology company ChamsAccess has introduced MarketRide. This digital commerce and delivery platform aims to create a unified ecosystem connecting consumers, merchants, and delivery riders. The platform comprises MarketRide User for customers, MarketRide Merchant for businesses, and MarketRide Go for logistics management.

MarketRide Go specifically employs a multi-order delivery approach, enabling riders to complete several deliveries within the same vicinity on a single trip. ChamsAccess asserts this model will reduce mileage and fuel consumption while increasing earning potential for riders. The platform also incorporates features like GPS tracking, OTP-based delivery verification, rider training, branded equipment, and timely payment settlements. ChamsAccess CEO Olayemi Odufeso stated the platform was built to bridge the gap for entrepreneurs and consumers in urban centers where inefficient logistics hinder economic growth.

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We built MarketRide to close the gap between ambitious entrepreneurs, and consumers ready to embrace digital commerce. This is not just for Lagos, but for every urban centre where inefficient logistics is holding back economic growth.