Require clear SLAs for order lead time, pick-and-pack accuracy, inventory accuracy, and OTIF (on-time in-full). Ask for cycle count frequency, dispute resolution timelines, penalty clauses, and reporting cadence so you can measure warehouse performance against commercial commitments.

Assess proximity to Calabar port, major trunk roads, and last-mile partners; review typical transit times to primary markets; verify local carrier contracts and tendering flexibility; and confirm cross-dock, consolidation, and intermodal handling capabilities to optimize total transit cost.

Verify racking and bulk storage options, mezzanine capacity, WMS integration and API connectivity, temperature-controlled zones, kitting/assembly, packaging, returns processing, and customs brokerage support where import/export handling is required.

Key drivers include site rent, labor rates, handling fees, transport legs, storage density, and seasonality. Optimize by improving SKU slotting, increasing pallet density, consolidating inbound shipments, using shared services, and negotiating throughput-based pricing with SLAs tied to performance.