Ogbonnaya Ikokwu,Umuahia
The enforcement team of the Courier and Logistics Regulations Department (CLRD) attached to the
Nigeria Postal Service (NIPOST) has clamped down on unlicensed/illegal Courier, Express, Delivery, Dispatch and Logistics Operators in Aba the commercial hub of Abia State.
The General manager CLRD Mr Shonde G.Dotun, in chat with our correspondent shortly after the exercise on Wednesday
said the nationwide exercise is inline with the stipulated in the statutory provisions of section 43(1,2 and 3) NIPOST ACT, CAP 127, LFN 2004 and Regulatory Operation Guidelines 2023.
He said the Enforcement Team consist of officials of the Courier and Logistics Regulatory Department (CLRD) NIPOST, armed mobile police officers and men of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) and the media.
Dotun, added that selected for clampdown include Abia State
Rivers State, Edo State,Ekiti State
Ogun State and Oyo State. Others are Lagos State, Katsina State
Ondo State, Kwara State Delta State and Federal Capital Territory
Abuja
The GM revealed that over Five Hundred (500) unlicensed and illegal Courier and Logistics Operators has been apprehended, clamped down and prosecuted since the exercise began this year.
He pointed out that clamp down became necessary because of insecurity and economic sabotage associated with illegal Courier and Logistics services in the country.
He said, “The enforcement/clampdown operation has come to stay because the postal, Express Courier and Logistics industry in Nigeria has been proliferated and infiltrated with so many unlicensed/illegal Courier and Logistics operators with reckless abandonment for ethical standards and professional conduct.
“There exist unethical sharp practices such as price undercutting, pilfering, broaching, damages, loss and dumping of customers items, poaching and subletting of operating licenses with mountain of public complaints about customers being duped or obtained money from them under false pretenses, no traceable office address nor registered brand name.
“There abound the issue of public safety and security threats, due to carriage of illicit drugs and prohibition items like small arms and ammunition, guns, gold, monies, obscene items etc.
“Overloading and carriage of items above the stipulated fifty (50) kilograms which has created and increase public distain towards this noble profession is worrisome.
“It is a menace to the postal industry and portray a negative imagine to the Nigeria society at large. It is against global best practices and international conventions.
“It is expedient for any interested private investors into the postal, Express, Courier and Logistics business to follow the due process and obtain a grant of operating Licenses from the Federal Goverment.
He advised all those interested in courier and Logistics business to register with NIPOST and obtain their operating licenses.
“They are four 4 different categories of operating Licenses, the State/special smes, the Regional, the National And the International license.
“Provision has been made for a flexible payment plan for those who cannot afford to pay for the operating license at a stretch. A special consideration has been given to the Independent/Soldier scheme now.
“As at September 2023, over Five Hundred State/Special SME’s operating license has been approved by the PMG/CEO nationwide” the GM revealed.