Towards Sustainable Transport in Developing Economies: Green Logistics Practices and Challenges in Nigeria

Abstract

The escalating global imperative to mitigate anthropogenic climate change has intensified 
scholarly and policy discourse on green logistics as a critical component of sustainable supply 
chain management (SSCM). The logistics and transportation sector, while indispensable to 
economic growth and trade facilitation, remains a major contributor to greenhouse gas (GHG) 
emissions, fossil fuel consumption, and environmental externalities. This study critically 
examines the barriers and opportunities associated with green logistics adoption in developing 
economies, using Kagibo Transportation Company in Kaduna State, Nigeria, as an empirical case 
study. A convergent mixed-methods research design was employed, integrating longitudinal 
quantitative performance data (2020–2024) with qualitative insights obtained from structured 
interviews and customer feedback. The quantitative analysis reveals that the implementation 
of incremental sustainability interventions—including route optimization using fleet telematics, 
preventive maintenance regimes, and fuel-efficiency monitoring—resulted in an estimated 86% 
reduction in carbon dioxide (CO₂) emission intensity and a twofold increase in fuel cost savings 
over the five-year period. These operational efficiencies also contributed to improved fleet 
reliability and reduced lifecycle operating costs. However, qualitative findings indicate that 
adoption remains constrained by systemic barriers, including limited access to green financing, 
inadequate transport infrastructure, weak regulatory enforcement, technological capacity 
deficits, and organizational inertia. Comparative benchmarking shows that Kagibo’s annual CO₂ 
emission reduction rate (4–6%) remains below global best-practice levels observed in countries 
such as South Africa (8–10%) and Germany (12–15%), underscoring the influence of institutional 
and technological ecosystems on sustainability performance. Interpreted through the lenses of 
the Triple Bottom Line, Ecological Modernization Theory, and Systems Theory, the findings 
demonstrate that effective green logistics transitions require an integrated framework 
encompassing technological innovation, institutional strengthening, and policy coordination. The 
study concludes that green logistics adoption is both technically feasible and economically 
advantageous in resource-constrained contexts, offering a viable pathway for aligning 
environmental sustainability with operational efficiency and long-term competitiveness in 
Nigeria’s transport sector.