Nigeria Losses N20Bn to Illegal Courier Operators

Courier Regulatory Department of the Nigeria Postal Service (Nipost) has said that unlicensed operators drain the country’s purse to the tune of N20 billion per annum.

Dr. Simon Emeje, senior assistant postmaster general and head of CRD made the remark while briefing journalist in Lagos following the sealing up of Efosa Express Limited (an arm of EFEX Executive), located at 77/79 Muritala Mohammed Way, Jibowu, Yaba, Lagos for failure to legalize its courier operations.   

Emeje said that CRD’s sealing of the Company is expected to serve as deterrent to others operating without licence.

Speaking on the sideline of the clamp down, he said: “We went out because a force was driving us. That force is still driving us. We have bases for this action. First, let us understand the industry; we have quacks and unlicensed courier companies that are operating in Nigeria. And innocent Nigerians do not know what is happening.

“As a background to this action, we have a postal industry that is worth an average of N300 billion per annum. And out of the amount, we have quacks/unlicensed courier companies that if you put their work together, we are talking of a loss not less than N20 billion. You can see the worth of the industry and the lose we incur through the operations of illegal courier companies”. 

He added that such loss is sabotage to the nation’s developmental and transformation agenda.

“And out of this lose, I want us to know to know that there are job opportunities; it is not just the money.

“From our survey of operating courier companies, every company needs an average of 20 job vacancies. So, we have registered 286 courier companies; out of the number, we have active 150 operators. So, if we put an average of 20 jobs per company we will have nothing less than 3000 job opportunities.  So, each company that operates without a license does that to the detriment of the country in terms of loss of money and job opportunities,” Emeje added.

In that effect, exhibits comprising, goods, waybills, parcels or packages obtained showed that the company does business up to Ghana; “a Nigerian transport company, but does parcel services across international borders. They are not just into national operations; they are into international services in courier businesses,” the CRD boss said.

He added that the Department has a number of unauthorized operators on its list and would not relent in the efforts to ride the sector of quackery.