In 2013, two Nigerian girls—Kikelomo Fola-Ogunniya and Ujama Akpata—returned from college within the UK and got here face-to-face with an issue that almost all diasporans know too effectively: delivery something into Nigeria was gradual, costly, opaque, and deeply irritating. The logistics expertise was riddled with excessive charges, lengthy supply instances, poor monitoring, shock customs expenses, and no simple recourse when issues went flawed.
So the duo did what many founders do—they solved the issue for themselves after which turned it into an organization, CargoPlug.
CargoPlug’s first iteration was “Jand2gidi”— colloquial phrases for ‘overseas’ and Lagos—however that id shortly grew to become too small for what the enterprise was changing into. What began with suitcases and make-up bins changed into 1000’s of worldwide deliveries spanning the UK, US, Canada, China, Turkey, and past. Over time, they launched home supply, export companies, freight consolidation, and e-commerce integrations.
CargoPlug affords a lean, asset-light sea and air freight logistics mannequin. The corporate owns an area fleet for intra-Lagos deliveries however companions with world freight gamers, last-mile brokers, and clearing companies for worldwide and nationwide logistics. That enables CargoPlug to function with decrease mounted prices whereas sustaining management over their most important routes.
Their flagship mannequin revolves round a “self-run hub” within the UK—a warehouse that consolidates packages despatched by customers ordering from e-commerce retailers like Amazon or ASOS. As soon as items arrive on the hub, CargoPlug handles end-to-end delivery, customs clearance, and supply to its Lekki, Lagos base. From there, clients can both decide up their items or request doorstep supply for a small extra charge.
The mannequin repeats throughout corridors: from the U.S., clients pay per kilogram with a decrease minimal threshold; from China and Turkey, companies importing in bulk get tailor-made quotes with a 20kg or 100kg minimal relying on the origin. CargoPlug doesn’t faux to be the most cost effective courier—however says it stands out by making pricing clear, and predictable.
Enterprise income
In an area the place clients typically uncover the actual price of logistics after their cargo arrives, CargoPlug says it stands out by giving customers clear knowledge about its pricing. Clients see the total breakdown on their dashboard earlier than paying, together with insurance coverage choices, supply mode, and monitoring.
From the UK, the corporate expenses a flat charge of £5 per kilogram, with a 5kg minimal—equal to £25 complete. That charge consists of delivery, customs clearance, and supply to CargoPlug’s Lagos hub. From the U.S., the speed is $14.19 per kg, with a 1kg minimal. From China and Turkey, the corporate helps B2B bulk shipments beginning at 20kg. Costs are quoted on a case-by-case foundation, beginning round $9/kg. From Europe and Asia, minimums begin at 100kg, once more with bespoke pricing. For doorstep supply in Lagos, customers pay a small add-on—usually ₦3,000–₦4,000 ($1.89–$2.5) relying on the placement.
Though a lot slower than the air freight, CargoPlug additionally affords sea freight choices to its shoppers at a less expensive charge—about $2 per kilogram for normal cargo in a 20-foot container. “If that you must flip over stock shortly, you’ll pay for air,” Fola-Ogunniya stated. “It’s not nearly price. It’s about velocity and predictability.”
Cargoplug is competing in a keenly contested house that includes each worldwide and native gamers like gamers like Topship, Sendbox, DHL, and Courierplus. CargoPlug’s wager is that there’s nonetheless undefended terrain between DHL’s speed-at-any-price and Topship’s freight-forwarding scale. Its risk-based pricing and APIs goal for retailers shifting 5-500 kg every week—too large for normal couriers, too time-sensitive for ocean freight.
Personalisation, API Integration, and B2B push
Whereas DHL and different legacy couriers stay the dominant world manufacturers, CargoPlug is carving out a distinct segment by providing a mix of enterprise-grade service and consumer-level personalization. For small companies importing style, electronics, books, or equipment, CargoPlug is ready to predict prices, ship on time, and provide an API suite that plugs instantly into e-commerce platforms.
With its APIs, on-line sellers throughout the UK and Europe can combine CargoPlug into their logistics stack, permitting them to cite delivery prices and provide supply monitoring for Nigerian patrons instantly on their web site—similar to Amazon does for American clients.
“We’re not simply delivering packages,” Akpata stated. “We’re delivering belief.”
The enterprise was bootstrapped for practically a decade earlier than elevating its first exterior funding—$100,000 from family and friends in 2021. In 2024, the workforce joined Techstars Washington DC and raised one other $100,000 in pre-seed funding. Immediately, they continue to be worthwhile and cautious with burn. “We’re open to extra funding,” Fola-Ogunniya stated, “however we run a lean operation. Our numbers show we will scale responsibly.”
CargoPlug claims a year-on-year income progress of at the least 28% and over 1 million packages efficiently delivered. And their service combine now helps each people and companies, with B2B shipments—significantly bulk imports from Europe and China—forming a fast-growing vertical.
How CargoPlug is increasing
CargoPlug’s most up-to-date transfer is the launch of its UK self-run hub, a strategic improve that provides the workforce tighter management over logistics timelines and customs workflows. By now not counting on companion consolidators, the workforce has diminished supply delays, optimized customs clearance, and improved buyer satisfaction. “It means fewer surprises and sooner turnaround,” Ama defined. “We’re now not bundling our shipments with another person’s delays.”
It’s additionally opened up a stronger margin profile. Worldwide shipments are CargoPlug’s most worthwhile phase, and the UK hall—nonetheless their greatest by quantity—now runs leaner and extra effectively beneath their management.
The UK growth is simply the primary in a broader world push. The corporate has its sights set on North America and Asia subsequent, beginning with warehousing partnerships that may replicate its UK playbook. These areas are important for long-tail African commerce—particularly as B2B cross-border e-commerce is projected to hit $1.8 trillion globally by 2028. With extra Africans shopping for from overseas and extra diaspora communities sending items residence, CargoPlug needs to be the logistics spine that powers this movement.