Read the passage below carefully and answer the question that follows:
The rapid expansion of informal micro-warehousing across West African peri-urban corridors has fundamentally restructured regional commerce by decentralizing inventory storage closer to consumer clusters. Traditionally, large-scale distributors relied on centralized logistics hubs situated near maritime ports, which frequently suffered from severe gridlock, prolonged customs delays, and exorbitant demurrage costs. By contrast, decentralized micro-hubs—often repurposed domestic structures managed via mobile-enabled software—allow small retailers to order goods in dynamic, real-time micro-batches rather than capital-intensive bulk quantities. Although critics frequently highlight the fragmented nature of these hubs, their susceptibility to localized security threats, and the absence of standardized climate-control systems for perishable goods, the underlying economic imperative driving this shift remains clear. Despite these operational vulnerabilities and infrastructure deficits, the overarching catalyst for the adoption of micro-warehousing is its capacity to mitigate working capital friction for small enterprises, thereby ensuring operational liquidity amidst broader macroeconomic instability.
Which of the following statements best expresses the essential central argument of the passage?
- Decentralized micro-warehousing is primarily adopted because it alleviates financial friction and safeguards liquidity for small enterprises.Answer
- BTraditional centralized logistics hubs near maritime ports have become obsolete due to persistent gridlock and excessive demurrage costs.
- CMicro-warehousing operations are severely limited by localized security threats, structural fragmentation, and inadequate cold-storage technology.
- DMobile-enabled software management has rendered traditional maritime ports and large-scale distribution companies completely unnecessary across West Africa.