Postal/courier sector in Nigeria has asked for own ministry citing multifaceted challenges facing the industry as well as some savings of over N300 billion for the nation’s economy, which is not protected by their current umbrella, Ministry of Communication Technology.
The operators said that successive governments have failed to establish national postal commission (NPC) and want to be merged with Ministry of Transport, pending the creation of the commission.
The respondents who spoke to NigeriaCommunicationsWeek, said, although Dr (Mrs) Omobola Johnson led Ministry of Communication Technology could not be totally held responsible for their plights, however, but that the t Ministry is beclouded with evolving issues in the telecommunications sector to cater for their wellbeing.
On this premise, Siyanbola Oladapo, president, Association of Nigeria Courier Operators (ANCO), said, “The Ministry where we are, honestly, they are paying so much attention to telecommunications. Recently, we attended a conference in Bayelsa State, where majority of the issues discussed that could become legislative matters, centred on telecoms. In a document that contained over 100 items, only two were related to postal sector.
“And one of the items is concerned with motorcycles; the nationwide restriction. The second item looks at the national addressing system; we know that NIPOST can handle that. We need to leave the Ministry; we been in the Ministry of Communication technology is a disservice to us. We prefer the Ministry of transport to Communication technology. That is why there is no growth as expected in the sector. The whole focus has been on communications, ICT, and we are neglected.
Nodding in agreement, Mr. Toyin Adeojo, general manager at Cross Country Courier said that the merger of post and telecommunication in Nigeria is not beneficial to the operators.
He said, “The way courier industry is structured in Nigeria is not favourable to us, the practitioners. This is a nation where courier industry is classified under information and Communication and now communication Technology. Even in the days of postal and telecoms (P&T), they gave telecoms more attention because there is money there.
“As we are classified under the Ministry, from Federal to the Local Councils, they accord more respect to the telecoms, but this industry is worth over N300 billion annually and can generate 600,000 jobs. How do we improve under the arrangement? The Federal Government has neglected the industry.
“We need a Ministry that can cater for us; it is like having three wives. You can never love them equally, but there are some polygamous homes that are peaceful than the other.
Mr. Okey Ubah, managing director and chief executive officer, Ebony Express Limited, said, “I think, the Ministry of Communication Technology hands are full. Today, the hype is on e-commerce, but the practice remains that most issues on post and courier still go on physical items. That is when we talk about logistics; movement of goods, parcels, etc.
“We only use internet and other technology to facilitate the records of these movements of goods and services. so, technology is not the main issue in postal and courier, the physical items are security, timely delivery, etc, therefore, the post and courier found itself in a different bed, where it ought not lie”.
He added that, “The post ought to be in Ministry of Transport. Post and courier has to do with the movement of goods; for everything you do, in medicine, law, communications, education, agriculture, etc, you need the internet. So, even if we are in the Transport Ministry we will not miss out on the trend. Ministry of Communication Technology is an umbrella to other industries”.