Urban Freight Consolidation Strategies and Their Applicability to Nigerian Cities: A Case Study of Kano Metropolis

Urban freight consolidation, involving the coordination of multiple freight deliveries through shared infrastructure or joint logistics arrangements, is increasingly adopted in global cities to reduce congestion, emissions, and logistics costs. This study examines the applicability of urban freight consolidation strategies to Kano Metropolis, one of Northern Nigeria's largest commercial cities in the North West geopolitical zone. A professional mixed design combining semi-structured interviews, freight trip surveys, and comparative analysis of consolidation models from sub-Saharan African cities was employed. Data were gathered from 50 freight operators, 20 retailers in the Kurmi Market district, and Kano State urban transport officials. The study assesses current freight movement patterns, vehicle load utilisation rates, willingness to participate in consolidation arrangements, and the infrastructure requirements for a pilot urban consolidation centre. Findings reveal that average vehicle load utilisation for urban deliveries in Kano is below 55 percent, indicating significant potential for consolidation efficiency gains. Most retailers are open to shared delivery arrangements, provided reliability and cost savings are demonstrated. The study proposes a pilot Urban Consolidation Centre adjacent to the Kano Central Market district, supported by a coordinating logistics platform accessible to freight operators via mobile application. Key implementation barriers identified include trust deficits among competing operators and the lack of incentive mechanisms. These findings provide a practical implementation framework for urban freight sustainability in North West Nigeria. Keywords: urban freight consolidation, Kano, city logistics, last-mile delivery, freight management.