Pigee, a US-based logistics-tech company, has agreed to acquire a controlling 55% stake in Nigerian logistics startup ShipAfrica, giving it a foothold in Africa and access to local infrastructure it would otherwise have to build from scratch. The acquisition will occur in three stages over the next 18 months and will be funded through a combination of cash and equity, according to Pigee CEO Leroy Lawrence. Neither company disclosed the deal value.
Lawrence said the terms of each tranche could change as Pigee raises additional capital. The deal gives Pigee its first significant foothold in West Africa, pairing its logistics software and international shipping infrastructure with ShipAfrica’s local operations, carrier relationships and logistics network. ShipAfrica will retain its name, management, and team of over 10 employees.
Founder and chief executive officer Walter Isoko will remain with the business, as will senior managers who hold shares in the company. Isoko is currently ShipAfrica’s single largest shareholder, while Pigee will become the controlling shareholder once all three stages are completed, according to him.
The consolidation tries to tackle a challenge in African commerce: moving goods across fragmented logistics networks remains costly and difficult, particularly for businesses trying to sell beyond their home markets. In 2025, the World Bank said bureaucratic delays and hidden costs inflate regional trade costs by up to 25% in Africa, highlighting the friction businesses face when moving goods across borders.
Why Pigee is making its way into Africa The acquisition is part of Pigee’s broader ambition to build logistics infrastructure that connects merchants to customers outside of their home markets. Founded in 2022, the Delaware-incorporated company has spent four years operating its software business, with a distributed team spanning the United States, the United Kingdom, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia, according to Lawrence. Lawrence, who previously worked in