Kikelomo Fola-Ogunniya, co-founder of Cargoplug, has shared how innovative shipping APIs, end-to-end tracking, and a customer-first approach are revolutionising cross-border logistics between the UK and Nigeria. In a recent interview, Fola-Ogunniya explained the journey from Jand2Gidi to Cargoplug and how the startup is tackling the major hurdles in international shipping to improve reliability and affordability for African businesses and individuals.
Founded in 2013 as Jand2Gidi, the business began when Fola-Ogunniya and co-founder Ujama Akpata returned to Nigeria after studying in the UK. Struggling with high shipping costs, long delivery times, and lack of package tracking, they created a logistics solution to bridge the gap for returnees and small businesses. Ten years later, the brand evolved into Cargoplug to reflect a broader pan-African reach and a diverse range of services covering imports, exports, and local deliveries from countries such as the UK, US, China, and Turkey.
“Our transformation to Cargoplug was about scale and clarity,” Fola-Ogunniya said. “We became more than just UK-to-Nigeria shipping. Now we’re a logistics plug across air, sea, and land.”
Fola-Ogunniya explained that the company’s recent expansion into the UK is a strategic move to enhance control over international shipments, reduce costs, and offer better service to diaspora customers and businesses looking to trade with Africa. “The UK is not only a major shipping origin, but a vital link to Europe’s wider supply chain,” she said.
When asked about the most common challenges customers face while shipping between the UK and Nigeria, Fola-Ogunniya listed high shipping costs, customs delays, inconsistent timelines, poor visibility, and last-mile delivery issues. She noted that Cargoplug actively addresses these problems by using technology to improve transparency and efficiency.
The company’s air freight services, which can deliver parcels from the UK to Nigeria within 24 hours, have become especially popular. “We’re seeing very fast growth in air freight because of the need for speed and reliability,” she explained. “But sea freight is still a strong option for bulk and cost-sensitive shipments.”
Fola-Ogunniya revealed that Cargoplug charges a flat rate of £5 per kilogram for standard air freight from the UK to Nigeria, with deliveries taking 7 to 10 working days. She stressed the importance of transparent pricing and clear communication. “Clients know all the fees up front—no hidden charges,” she said.
Beyond pricing, she identified poor customs infrastructure and payment limitations as major barriers to unlocking Africa’s full trade potential with the Global North. “Even if we have trade finance or industrial growth, without smooth logistics and payment systems, trade will stall,” she noted.
Cargoplug also ensures insurance coverage for shipped items and a streamlined claims process in the event of loss or damage, giving customers peace of mind. For last-mile delivery, the firm works with trusted local partners who understand Nigeria’s infrastructure challenges.
Asked which sectors stand to gain the most from Nigeria’s growing adoption of digital logistics, Fola-Ogunniya pointed to e-commerce, agriculture, manufacturing, healthcare, and small businesses. She believes faster delivery and improved tracking will allow these sectors to scale more competitively.
In particular, she highlighted e-commerce’s rapid rise in Nigeria, saying digital logistics could help unlock a new wave of consumer demand. “If logistics become seamless, more Nigerians will trust online shopping. That’s a game-changer for the economy.”
She also weighed in on how to improve Nigeria’s performance on the World Bank’s Logistics Performance Index, where the country’s customs currently scores 2.4 out of 5. Fola-Ogunniya recommended digitising customs processes, improving infrastructure, and enforcing risk-based inspections. Transparency, she said, would increase efficiency and build global trust in Nigerian ports.
Fola-Ogunniya concluded by reaffirming Cargoplug’s mission to simplify and streamline logistics across Africa. “We built this solution because we knew the pain of waiting endlessly for a parcel with no update. Today, we’re not just solving our problem—we’re powering trade for thousands of Africans.”
