Monday, October 28, 2013

Nigerian courier service faces enormous challenges in operation-Stakeholders


The Postmaster General of the Federation, Mallam Ibrahim Mori Baba said that the Nigerian courier services are faced with enormous challenges especially in its operation in Nigeria due to the interference from government agencies and absence of appropriate legislation.
This position was made known  in a chat with DigitalSENSE Business News at the 3rd Nigerian Courier Summit in Lagos with the theme ‘emergent issues in Nigerian courier industry’, stressing that the aspect of regulation is the job of the Ministry of Communication Technology that is only assigned to NIPOST.
Baba explained that what is needed in the industry is an independent regulator like those of the telecom and banking sectors, while NIPOST will be saddled with the responsibility of processing and delivering mails in the country.
Speaking in the same vein, the Chairman of Silver Bird Television, Mr Ben Murray Bruce, who is the guest speaker said that NIPOST is not a viable organisation and not strong enough to deliver postal service even with the 2,000 location, 10,000 workforce and still depending on government for survival and advised that federal government should privatise NIPOST with 60 per cent going to the private sector.
Bruce lamented that other teething problems in the industry stem from two bodies, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria  (FAAN) and Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc. (NAHCO) charging differently in the same service, instituting multiple charges at every airport nationwide for the use of the airport by courier operators, while some state governments ban motor cycles that are needed in courier services from the roads.
The Managing Director Ebony Express, Mr Okey Uba informed DigitalSENSE Business News that courier services in Nigeria are in great distress because of the feature of the environment, lack of continuity of the scheme, infringement and unhealthy competition in the industry that makes the courier service to collapse as soon as they come up.
Earlier in the Keynote address, the Minister of Communication Technology,Mrs Omobola Johnson represented by the Director Post Telecom Nigeria, Engr. John Ayodele said that ministry is making effort to  fast track the approval of a National Addressing System as well as a Postal Reform Bill which will be of great benefits to the post, courier, security, national planning and other stakeholders.
Anthony Nwakaegho/GEE

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pix; Postmaster General of the Federation, Mallam Ibrahim Mori Baba

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