Courier Operators Sue for Special Protection against Illegalities

Courier firms have urged the Federal Government through the Federal Road Safety Commission to designate special number plates for the operators as measures to curb illegalities perpetuated in the industry.

Speaking during a press conference in view of the 5th Annual Lecture of Bowill Errand holding in Lagos on October 29, Ranti Shobande, managing director and chief executive officer, Marflex Logistics Services Limited and Secretary of the Planning Committee, said that such gesture will augur well for the industry mesmerized by the ever presence of unregistered and unprofessional practitioners.

Siyanbola A. Oladapo, managing director and chief executive officer, Bowill Errands Limited this year’s event will be glamorous as Bowill partners with the Ministry of Communication Tech. (Nipost) & Lagos State (Ministry of Transportation) in hosting the all important event.

“The yearly organized public lecture of BOWILL ERRANDS has become a great catalyst and reference point in courier industry in Nigeria, the lecture has brought a lot of goodwill and contributed to the growth of Courier/ Logistics sector of the economy.

“This year’s edition is organized in Partnership with Federal Ministry of Communication Technology (NIPOST) and Lagos State Government (Ministry of Transportation),” Oladapo said.

He added that this year’s lecture is attracting international participation as courier and logistics Operators from West African region such as Benin Republic and Ghana have indicated their interest through letter to be in attendance.

“The lecture which the participants have described as fortune changing has always been FREE to ALL. Apart from the free admission, tea break and lecture materials / souvenirs are other free items to all participants,” he added.

The theme of this year’s lecture is “Harnessing Business Opportunities / Innovations in Movement of Goods and Materials in West African Countries”.

However Shobande that with a special number plates, the industry will heave a sigh of relief hence it’s more or less left like sheep without a shepherd following the unavailability of a full-fledge Regulator.   

Non-professionals have capitalized on the inability of the Government to legislate for an effectual Postal Regulatory Authority to cater for the well-being of the sector, to engage in all kinds of unhealthy practices, whereby the industry losses N20 billion annually.

“The essence of the special number plate is to curb illegality, because firms like Law firms, banks, e-commerce and others will understand that courier business has procedures. We urge the Federal Government to designate such special number plates as interim measures while a Postal Commission comes onboard to re-organise and coordinate the industry in our country,” he added.       

Expected guest speakers are Mr. Isaac Annan Riverson, executive secretary, Ghana Postal & Courier Service Regulatory Commission, Mr. Kayode Opeifa, Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, among others.

The annual lecture which has the endorsement of Postmaster General of the Federation and the Association of Nigeria Courier Operators (ANCO) the umbrella body of all courier companies in Nigeria always attract an average of 600 participants and brings together over 200 Chairmen /CEOs/ Executives of courier/ logistics companies and allied business, federal and state ministries, departments and Agencies associated with the sub-sector such as; NAFDAC, NDLEA, FAAN, NACHO, ALGON, SSS, SON, SEC, CRD, NIPOST, CUSTOMS and general public.