EYE ON THE PRIZE
By diversifying into new markets and services, Unireach has weathered tough times and emerged successful.
BIOGRAPHY
A lawyer by profession, holding a DPS in criminal defense law, Marc Abi Chahine practiced law in Lebanon for seven years before moving to Nigeria in 2004 to explore business opportunities. In mid-2007, along with his brother, he entered into a JV with a renowned logistics company in Nigeria that mainly focused on projects-based business. In 2009, joined by their third brother, the two brothers established Unireach, a supply chain and logistics company, and soon after expanded into other successful businesses.
What are some of the services Unireach provides?
Indeed, we have been doing some procurement under our supply chain management services upon request but decided a few years ago to assign a dedicated team to assist our clients in their procurement needs to ensure they get the right product with the exact required specs at the best possible cost. As for the mining sector and in the same vein, we recently established a new corporation to locally purchase different types of minerals of Nigerian origin from identified and certified mining companies in order to export and supply our overseas clienteles. After many months of official accreditation and licensing period as well as due diligence process by our clients, we are proud that presently we are busy preparing our first major purchase order for a blue-chip German company.
What challenges do you face in the logistics business in Nigeria in general and while operating inside and around Lagos ports?
We have been struggling for a few years now with bad roads surrounding Lagos ports in particular and from lack of suitable infrastructure for trucks and tanks to operate within that busy area of Lagos. We have tried to cope along with importers and our partners in the same line of business, but it has not been easy since we cannot pre-plan timelines for deliveries or budget a landed cost of a project. Once the customs clearing process is correctly performed, consignments can be ready to get loaded out of ports in an average timeframe of a week; however, excessive delays experienced in getting trucks inside terminals to load containers and return empty ones back to ports remain our toughest challenge and frustration, budget wise.
How have you managed to thrive amidst such challenging circumstances?
Key players survived simply because they played their cards right. We definitely experienced our share of loss from the economic crises but were able to somehow weather it due to our team. Our decision to diversify and venture into new businesses and territories gave us an edge and helped us reach our present position.
What is your mid- to long-term strategy for success?
Like all other business owners and entrepreneurs, we invest, create job opportunities, engage individuals, and work hard to achieve set goals and reach a steady business growth. In return, our constant and major concerns are to have a steady and strong economy, a healthy social and work environment, security, and reliable government multi services. We have been lacking in some areas but try to make do the best we can. Our mid- to long-term business strategies and priorities are to ensure we succeed in our different ventures, with our usual focus on the supply chain management being our “niche" service and on the newly established and promising business of minerals trade.
EYE ON THE PRIZE
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Focus
A Pan-African Panacea?
The 2019 ratification of the African Continental Free Trade Area by 54 of 55 AU member states promises to boost continental agro-industry, help SMEs, diversify exports, and increase intra-African trade by over 60%. However, it needs Nigeria just as much as Nigeria needs it.
read articleFocus: Dangote Refinery
Dan-go-tell it on the mountain
Despite being Africa's largest oil producer, Nigeria's broken refinery infrastructure forces it to import 90% of all its refined petroleum products, which is why the Dangote Refinery, expected to come online in 2021, will revolutionize the barrels.
read articleInterview
Yewande Sadiku, Executive Secretary & CEO, Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC)
Virtually every sector in the Nigerian economy, especially banking, agriculture, and entertainment, show great potential for growth with the right kind of guidance and targeted investments.
read articleFocus: Micro-utilities
Goodbye Generators
Though notoriously faulty and comparatively pricey, Nigeria's legion of diesel generators at least offer customers an affordable way to access energy. Phasing these out with hybrid solar solutions and decentralized micro-utilities will go a long way toward rationalizing the country's chaotic system.
read article