The Nigeria Postal Service (NIPOST) has set a February 2024 deadline for all illegal courier and logistic businesses in the country to register and comply with the service’s regulations or face clamp down.

The General Manager of the Courier and Logistics Regulatory Department of the NIPOST, Dotun Shonde made this known at a stakeholders meeting with Courier and Logistics Service private providers in Enugu State to sensitize them on the need to get registered for proper regulation.

Shonde said: “It is what is contained in the NIPOST Act Cap 127 laws of the federation 2004 as amended.

“It is a regulation that has been in force for the past 3 decades. It is to ensure that private operators comply with the NIPOST Act by doing what is needful or legal. If you want to come into the postal space to operate as a private operator, you need to procure a grant of license from the Post Master General of the Federation then you will be licenced to operate.

“But for some reasons, and some period, some people have refused to comply. They have been operating without that grant of license, they have been operating illegally and that is economic sabotage as it poses a security risk.

“You don’t know who they are, you don’t know how to trace them. If you check around you’ll see some operating even without a brand name.

“Some are operating without a number plate, some without traceable address and these are the people who carry out nefarious activities. We’ve had cases of people operating under pretence, they obtain monies from people and tell you they would deliver both the money and the delivery you don’t get. So they are causing a negative image to the industry and pose a serious security threat to other investors.

“So, the Post Master General of the federation has said enough is enough”, he said.

Shonde disclosed that NIPOST started the enforcement and clamp down as well as public education enlightenment sensitization in 2021.

The chairman of the Association of Courier and Logistics Operators in Enugu, Adaora Okoye said that the sensitization and engagement session was on how to conform with the rules and regulations of NIPOST so their members do not fall victim to circumstances.

She said: “Yes many of us are not licensed. It’s not like we did not know that NIPOST was the body responsible for issuing licenses but at that time, NIPOST seemed to be a dominant participant. So everybody went on to obtain a permit from the Enugu state Ministry of Transport, (MoT) which actively clamped down on operators who didn’t have their permits and ignored NIPOST

“But now we are ready to comply with NIPOST directives. We are starting immediately to ensure that every member at least starts with the initial N20,000 payment and start documentation before the February deadline.”

She however thanked the NIPOST for giving them a favorable payment plan to enable them to meet up the February deadline. (The Nation)

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