NIPOST Excited By National Addressing System Policy Approval

The Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST ) has heaved a sigh of relief following the approval of a Policy on National Addressing System for the country by the Federal Executive Council.

Mallam Ibrahim Mori Baba, postmaster general of the Federation, and chief executive officer of NIPOST, shared the cheering news during the Bulkpost Annual Customers’ Forum/Lecture held in Lagos recently.

Presently, Nipost is reaching out to the Federal, State and local Government territories for the swift take off the implementation, Malam Baba told Nigeria CommunicationsWeek, adding that successful realization of the scheme relies mainly with the local government areas.

“It is a thing of joy to us, because this issue has been on the front burner for many years. It is a remarkable achievement following the doggedness of Mrs. Omobola Johnson, minister of Communication Technology, who saw the need to pursue the project vigorously. Now, we are looking forward to the corporation of the Federal Capital Territory, States and Local Governments.

Meanwhile, the successful implementation lies on the shoulders of the 774 local governments in Nigeria,” he said.

The PMG added that there was no doubt that the implementation of the policy will link every house hold, irrespective of location, to an identifiable address and will assist a great deal in reducing most the problems associated with delivering capital market mail, among other advantages.

 Apart from that, Malam Baba, said that, Nipost is repositioning to be competitive in the digitalized society by improving on its service delivery in spite of decline in mail volume. “It is about how we serve the needs of the e-commerce, how to compete in parcels and express markets, and how to make the post office relevant for tomorrow’s consumers.

“You will agree with me that despite the success which ICT has recorded in many countries of the world, the role which the Post will play and continue to play in economic and social progress especially in the African continent remains invaluable.

“This is because Africa is still underserved in all areas of ICT. In the past 10 years or so, we have witnessed explosive growth in mobile phone lines while the land lines or fixed lines have recorded almost nothing because all the investments in telecommunications from South Africa to Egypt and to Nigeria have stopped at mobile lines, with no serious consideration and investment in broadband and fixed lines,” he added.

He said that theme for the Forum: “Nipping in the Bud the Re-Emergence of Conversion of Dividend Warrants: The Role of the Banks,” demonstrated Nipost’s aspiration to eliminate most of the hideous activities which make the effective delivery of capital market mail very ineffective, if not impossible. He said the management’s concern stemmed from the realizations that gone are the days when some government agencies rely on monopoly to hide their inefficiencies and poor performances. 
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