Samuel Odeloye, the founder behind the popular Lagos transit chatbot Lara.ng, is now channeling eight years of rich transport data into building Motion Space, a cutting-edge logistics platform aimed at transforming Nigeria’s last-mile delivery landscape.
Lara.ng, launched in 2017, helped over 250,000 monthly users navigate Lagos’ complex public transport system by providing step-by-step transit directions. Although it never became a profitable venture, the platform amassed valuable hyperlocal data on commuter behavior, routes, and fare changes across Lagos. Odeloye and his team are now applying these insights to Motion Space, a full-stack logistics startup designed to slash delivery costs by at least 50% and improve operational efficiency for courier companies, delivery hubs, and small vendors.
Motion Space’s software automates delivery management by assigning tasks to riders based on location and familiarity, streamlining operations from order intake to final delivery. Early tests show a 50% reduction in delivery times and a 30% cut in costs. Beyond software, Motion Space is deploying smart lockers equipped with security features and sensors to reduce delivery failures and offer convenient package pick-up in densely populated areas where door-to-door delivery is often unreliable.
Operating on a dual business model, Motion Space offers its logistics software as a subscription service and leases its smart lockers as infrastructure to estates, malls, and fulfillment centers. This approach allows continuous revenue generation while maintaining control over hardware maintenance and upgrades.
Odeloye’s transition from Lara.ng to Motion Space reflects a deep understanding of Nigeria’s transport and logistics challenges, combining data-driven software with innovative physical infrastructure to tackle inefficiencies that even major players like Jumia and Konga face. With a focus on operational excellence and scalability, Motion Space aims to become the backbone of Nigeria’s last-mile delivery ecosystem.
Currently bootstrapped and backed by silent investors, Odeloye is prioritizing proving the business model before seeking institutional funding, positioning Motion Space for rapid growth and widespread adoption in the near future.
This bold initiative could finally crack the code on Nigeria’s logistics puzzle, leveraging years of transit data and local engineering expertise to make last-mile delivery faster, cheaper, and more reliable for millions of Nigerians.
