CargoPlug wants to make it easier to ship goods from abroad

In 2013, two Nigerian women—Kikelomo Fola-Ogunniya and Ujama Akpata—returned from university in the UK and came face-to-face with a problem that most diasporans know too well: shipping anything into Nigeria was slow, expensive, opaque, and deeply frustrating. The logistics experience was riddled with high fees, long delivery times, poor tracking, surprise customs charges, and no easy recourse when things went wrong. 

So the duo did what many founders do—they solved the problem for themselves and then turned it into a company, CargoPlug. 

CargoPlug’s first iteration was “Jand2gidi”— colloquial terms for ‘abroad’ and Lagos—but that identity quickly became too small for what the business was becoming. What started with suitcases and makeup boxes turned into thousands of international deliveries spanning the UK, US, Canada, China, Turkey, and beyond. Over time, they introduced domestic delivery, export services, freight consolidation, and e-commerce integrations. 

CargoPlug offers a lean, asset-light sea and air freight logistics model. The company owns a local fleet for intra-Lagos deliveries but partners with global freight players, last-mile agents, and clearing services for international and nationwide logistics. That allows CargoPlug to operate with lower fixed costs while maintaining control over their most critical routes.

Their flagship model revolves around a “self-run hub” in the UK—a warehouse that consolidates packages sent by users ordering from e-commerce retailers like Amazon or ASOS. Once goods arrive at the hub, CargoPlug handles end-to-end shipping, customs clearance, and delivery to its Lekki, Lagos base. From there, customers can either pick up their goods or request doorstep delivery for a small additional fee.

The model repeats across corridors: from the U.S., customers pay per kilogram with a lower minimum threshold; from China and Turkey, businesses importing in bulk get tailored quotes with a 20kg or 100kg minimum depending on the origin. CargoPlug doesn’t pretend to be the cheapest courier—but says it stands out by making pricing clear, and predictable.

Business revenue

In a space where customers often discover the real cost of logistics after their shipment arrives, CargoPlug says it stands out by giving users transparent data about its pricing.  Customers see the full breakdown on their dashboard before paying, including insurance options, delivery mode, and tracking.

From the UK, the company charges a flat rate of £5 per kilogram, with a 5kg minimum—equivalent to £25 total. That fee includes shipping, customs clearance, and delivery to CargoPlug’s Lagos hub. From the U.S., the rate is $14.19 per kg, with a 1kg minimum. From China and Turkey, the company supports B2B bulk shipments starting at 20kg. Prices are quoted on a case-by-case basis, starting around $9/kg. From Europe and Asia, minimums start at 100kg, again with bespoke pricing. For doorstep delivery in Lagos, users pay a small add-on—typically ₦3,000–₦4,000 ($1.89–$2.5) depending on the location. 

Although much slower than the air freight, CargoPlug also offers sea freight options to its consumers at a much cheaper rate—about $2 per kilogram for general cargo in a 20-foot container. “If you need to turn over inventory quickly, you’ll pay for air,” Fola-Ogunniya said. “It’s not just about cost. It’s about speed and predictability.”

Cargoplug is competing in a keenly contested space featuring  both international and local players like  players like Topship, Sendbox, DHL, and Courierplus. CargoPlug’s bet is that there is still undefended terrain between DHL’s speed-at-any-price and Topship’s freight-forwarding scale. Its risk-based pricing and APIs aim for merchants moving 5-500 kg a week—too big for regular couriers, too time-sensitive for ocean freight.

Personalisation, API Integration, and B2B push

While DHL and other legacy couriers remain the dominant global brands, CargoPlug is carving out a niche by offering a blend of enterprise-grade service and consumer-level personalization. For small businesses importing fashion, electronics, books, or machinery, CargoPlug is able to predict costs, deliver on time, and offer an API suite that plugs directly into e-commerce platforms.

With its APIs, online sellers across the UK and Europe can integrate CargoPlug into their logistics stack, allowing them to quote shipping costs and offer delivery tracking for Nigerian buyers directly on their site—just like Amazon does for American customers.

“We’re not just delivering packages,” Akpata said. “We’re delivering trust.”

The business was bootstrapped for nearly a decade before raising its first external funding—$100,000 from friends and family in 2021. In 2024, the team joined Techstars Washington DC and raised another $100,000 in pre-seed funding. Today, they remain profitable and cautious with burn. “We’re open to more investment,” Fola-Ogunniya said, “but we run a lean operation. Our numbers prove we can scale responsibly.”

CargoPlug claims a year-on-year revenue growth of at least 28% and over 1 million packages successfully delivered. And their service mix now supports both individuals and businesses, with B2B shipments—particularly bulk imports from Europe and China—forming a fast-growing vertical.

How CargoPlug is expanding

CargoPlug’s most recent move is the launch of its UK self-run hub, a strategic upgrade that gives the team tighter control over logistics timelines and customs workflows. By no longer relying on partner consolidators, the team has reduced delivery delays, optimized customs clearance, and improved customer satisfaction. “It means fewer surprises and faster turnaround,” Ama explained. “We’re no longer bundling our shipments with someone else’s delays.”

It’s also opened up a stronger margin profile. International shipments are CargoPlug’s most profitable segment, and the UK corridor—still their biggest by volume—now runs leaner and more efficiently under their control.

The UK expansion is just the first in a broader global push. The company has its sights set on North America and Asia next, starting with warehousing partnerships that can replicate its UK playbook. These regions are critical for long-tail African commerce—especially as B2B cross-border e-commerce is projected to hit $1.8 trillion globally by 2028. With more Africans buying from abroad  and more diaspora communities sending goods home, CargoPlug wants to be the logistics backbone that powers this flow.