African Supply Chain Outlook 2026: Building Resilience in the Face of Challenges
What will it take for Africa to not just survive, but thrive, by 2026? Supply chain expert Daniel Onwalezi offered a powerful vision: the key to the future lies in how we tackle today’s toughest challenges.
With over a decade of experience in West African FMCG and retail innovation, Onwalezi provided a clear-eyed assessment of the current landscape and a strategic roadmap for the years ahead. The message was clear: resilience will be the ultimate competitive advantage.
The Present Reality: Pressures Shaping Today’s Supply Chains
The discussion was grounded in the immediate hurdles that define the operating environment in markets like Nigeria. These are not just minor issues, but fundamental pressures that strategies for 2026 must address.
The Raw Material Bottleneck for Manufacturers: He pinpointed sourcing as the primary challenge, stating:
“One of the major challenges is raw material costs and availability. This has been one of the key problems in the industry. Sourcing for raw material as well as the cost of the materials.”
This reliance on imported materials creates constant vulnerability to global price swings and currency volatility.
The Logistics Tightrope: Delivering products to consumers remains a significant challenge. Inconsistent infrastructure and distribution networks make last-mile delivery inefficient and expensive, especially for FMCG companies.
Energy and Utility Constraints: According to him, the high cost of fuel and the significant expense of alternatives like solar power directly impact production costs, often eroding the competitiveness of products in the market.
The Cash Flow Constraint: Perhaps the most critical operational bottleneck is limited liquidity. Onwalezi highlighted how this paralyses strategic action:
“So many times when we got those materials, making payment for them, we have very limited access to cash in circulation, especially when you have to make bulk payment.”
This inability to act quickly on procurement opportunities can cripple competitiveness.
A Dual Strategy of Localisation and Collaboration
Onwalezi’s outlook for 2026 is not about waiting for these problems to disappear. It’s about using them as a catalyst for building smarter, more self-reliant supply chains. The strategy rests on two pillars:
Pillar 1: Strategic Localisation. The solution to the sourcing dilemma is to look inward. By investing in and developing strong local and regional sourcing networks, businesses can achieve better price control, reduce foreign exchange exposure, and dramatically increase their resilience. This shift from import dependence to local empowerment is the cornerstone of a better future.
Pillar 2: Unlocking Continental Collaboration. Onwalezi expressed strong optimism that the future will be defined by stronger intra-African teamwork. He envisions a landscape where breaking down language barriers, discouraging segregation, and fostering government-level cooperation will reshape regional trade. This collaborative spirit is essential for creating the seamless logistics corridors needed for growth.
The most powerful insight from the webinar reframed the challenge entirely: the African supply chain of 2026 is being shaped by the choices we make now. This isn’t a passive waiting game; it’s an active design process. We are the architects. By courageously prioritising local sourcing, creatively innovating in logistics, and passionately championing cross-border collaboration, we can stop viewing current constraints as barriers and start seeing them as the raw materials for a stronger, self-determined future. The goal is clear, to co-create a new era of African trade powered by supply chains that are resilient by design, integrated by collaboration, and homegrown by choice.
