Tag: NIPOST

…dismmisses false media reports 

The Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) has dismissed a report by online publication Peoples Gazette alleging that courier services in the country have been freely transporting hard drugs since President Bola Tinubu assumed office.

Describing the report as false and misleading, NIPOST’s director of corporate communications, Franklin Alao, clarified that the agency never confirmed or endorsed any such claim.

Alao reaffirmed NIPOST’s commitment to combating the illicit transportation of drugs through courier channels, noting that the agency has strengthened partnerships with key security organizations, including the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), and the Nigerian Customs Service.

He emphasised that NIPOST remains vigilant and actively collaborates with these agencies to ensure strict monitoring and enforcement across all courier operations.

“This is categorically false. At no point has NIPOST made such a statement or associated these activities with the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” Mr Alao said in a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday. 

He said, “While we respect the role of the media in promoting accountability, the dissemination of sensational and inaccurate information-particularly in matters of national security-risks eroding public trust and undermining the collaborative work being done to sanitize the courier and logistics sector.

“NIPOST strongly condemns the use of courier and logistics channels for the trafficking of narcotics or any other illegal activity. We reaffirm our zero-tolerance policy toward such abuse of postal infrastructure and our ongoing commitment to regulating the industry with transparency, integrity, and accountability.

“As the regulator of Nigeria’s courier industry, NIPOST is leading a coordinated effort to ensure compliance, surveillance, and enforcement across the sector.”

According to Alao, NIPOST is currently running stricter licensing and compliance audits to weed out illegal and unauthorised operators. 

Read Also: No coalition can stop Tinubu’s re-election in 2027 — Rep Oseni

“We are currently revalidating courier operator licenses, enforcing mandatory Know-Your-Customer (KYC) protocols, and conducting compliance audits across licensed operators.

“There is also enhanced collaboration with security agencies: NIPOST is working in close collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Customs Service, and relevant security institutions to investigate and deter illicit use of logistics channels,” Alao said. 

Alao further said NIPOST has continued to engage with transport and courier stakeholders, especially transport unions, private courier associations, and key logistics stakeholders to improve sector-wide awareness, surveillance, and reporting of suspicious consignments.

He noted that digital Infrastructures are also being deployed as part of national digital transformation to address challenges and clean up the ecosystem. 

“NIPOST is deploying a Digital Postcode and Parcel Identification System that will ensure full traceability from sender to recipient, enhance screening capabilities, and deter the anonymity often exploited in illicit parcel transport”, he said. 

Alao restated the commitment of NIPOST to providing efficient and quality services, noting that the agency” is fully committed to restoring the integrity of Nigeria’s courier and logistics industry.”

He said, “Any operator found to be involved in criminal activity will face immediate regulatory sanctions, including license suspension or revocation, and be reported to appropriate authorities for prosecution.

“We call on the public to use only licensed courier services and report suspicious activity to NIPOST or law enforcement agencies. We also urge the media and civil society to work with us in addressing these challenges constructively, with accuracy and shared responsibility.” 

The Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) has raised serious concerns over the rising use of unlicensed courier operators to transport dangerous weapons and illicit drugs across the country.

The agency also decried the growing infiltration of illegal logistics and courier companies in major cities, warning that their unchecked operations pose significant threats to national security and the economy.

Speaking at a stakeholders’ engagement in Akure, Ondo State, on Friday, the General Manager of NIPOST’s Courier and Logistics Regulations Department, Oludotun Sounde, disclosed that two illegal courier firms were recently sealed in the state, while motorcycles belonging to three others were confiscated during enforcement raids.

Sounde explained that many of these illegal operators run their services out of motor parks and unregistered private offices, luring customers with unusually cheap delivery prices.

“These unlicensed courier companies lack the infrastructure for safe and secure delivery. Worse still, they operate without any regulatory oversight or accountability, creating a major security loophole,” he said.

NIPOST has vowed to intensify its clampdown on illegal operators and called on members of the public to verify the legitimacy of courier services before patronising them.

“They’re putting customers at risk of loss, theft, or abuse of their parcels. Using an illegal courier service is like going to a quack doctor. It could also cost you dearly.

Read Also: NIPOST board chairman warns saboteurs, mail rats to desist from undermining agency

“One of the unlicensed operators was recently arrested for conveying firearms and hard drugs,” he said

Describing the development as a “national red flag” that should not be ignored, he said every parcel handed over to an unlicensed courier could be a potential threat to national peace.

To address the challenges, Sounde posited that every courier operator in the country must obtain operational licences from the Postmaster General to guide and streamline the operation of the logistics companies.

While reaffirming the NIPOST’s commitment to sanitising the logistics sector, he noted that the agency is prepared to support registered businesses with training and professional guidance.

He described the agency as a critical national infrastructure linking communities and facilitating secure communication, urging both existing and aspiring operators to register officially via NIPOST’s website or at any nearby post office.

Sounde, however, appealed to the public to be wary of cheap, untraceable services, stressing that a properly regulated delivery system is key to safeguarding the nation’s security and fostering economic progress. 

The Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) has announced a sweeping reform agenda aimed at transforming the agency into a modern, efficient, and digitally driven institution, with a key policy shift being the adoption of cashless transactions across all its offices.

Starting July 1, 2025, all post office counters in the 774 local government areas of the country will stop accepting cash payments for services.

Customers will instead be required to use approved electronic channels to complete their transactions.

Announcing the development on Monday, NIPOST’s Postmaster General and CEO, Tola Odeyemi, described the move as a major milestone in the agency’s modernisation efforts.

“This is a crucial step in our modernisation journey — one that ensures safer, faster, and more transparent service delivery,” she said.

In a statement signed by NIPOST’s Director of Corporate Communications, Franklin Alao, the agency said the reforms are in alignment with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and are designed to place NIPOST at the centre of Nigeria’s digital transformation.

“With these initiatives, NIPOST is positioning itself as a dynamic, technology-driven player — connecting Nigeria, delivering solutions, and improving lives,” the statement added.

Read Also: Board chair: stop undermining NIPOST

Alao said, “These initiatives mark a new strategic direction for NIPOST under the vision titled, ‘Change of Renewed Hope Berths at NIPOST Shores”.

“The reforms are designed to align the agency with global best practices, the needs of Nigeria’s evolving digital economy, and the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“At the heart of this transformation is NIPOST’s commitment to becoming a modern postal service — one that is driven by innovation, accountability, value, and service excellence.

“We are assuring Nigerians of a revitalised NIPOST that delivers superior service and embraces the future”.

NIPOST commended the Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, for his unwavering support and leadership.

“The organisation also commended the new Chairman of the NIPOST Board, Barr. Isaac Kekemeke for his passion and strategic foresight since his appointment, and the Postmaster General/CEO, NIPOST, Tola Odeyemi, for her relentless efforts in championing institutional reforms, improving staff welfare, and driving capacity development”, Alao said.

Also, assured that NIPOST would implement a performance-based reward and recognition system to encourage excellence, alongside strict disciplinary measures to uphold organisational integrity.

Nigeria Poster Services (NIPOST) has warned internal and external saboteur to desist from their activities or be prepared to “eat rat poison”.

The chairman spoke yesterday at the opening of a retreat/workshop for the Managing staff of NIPOST at Stratton Hotel, Asokoro, Abuja.

He said NIPOST fortunes nosedived as a result of the activities of mail rats and other saboteurs, and vowed that they would be given rat poison if they failed to desist from their activities.

Isaacs Kekemeke lamented that because of the activities of saboteurs and mail rats within the system, NIPOST has failed over the years to contribute to socio-economic development of Nigeria as expected by all and sundry.

Read Also: NIPOST board chairman warns saboteurs, mail rats to desist from undermining agency

Sounding the warning, Kekemeke lamented that reputation issues, inefficiency and other factors are responsible for the current situation in NIPOST, insisting that change for a better turnaround as envisaged by President Bola Tinubu must come to the organisation.

He regretted that NIPOST is currently in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) despite its huge potential and vast opportunities to contribute to a greater Nigeria.

Kekemeke said after his appointment by Mr. President, he undertook some checks/research on NIPOST and discovered that the organisation is facing huge challenges that have inhibited its growth and development over the years.

“In all, it became apparent that the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) is a challenged organisation. Many Nigerians, albeit agreeing on the huge potential of NIPOST as a national heritage and significant national infrastructure, expressed displeasure and disappointment with its performance. Most young men and women could not relate to or with NIPOST”, Kekemeke lamented.

He said the workshop was aimed at unveiling the vision of the board to the management and to jaw-jaw on meaningful ways to address challenges facing the organisation.

According to Kekemeke, urgent reforms would take place within NIPOST to enable it become globally competitive and stand alongside other players like Royal Mail, Swiss Mail and Deutche Postal Service among others.

The Postmaster General and CEO of NIPOST, Mrs. Tola Odeyemi, praised the appointment of Kekemeke by the President, saying the Chairman had the capacity, experience and leverage to change the narratives of NIPOST for the better.

Odeyemi said NIPOST has taken strategic steps to improve its diverse services to enable it contribute to national development and the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country.

She said NIPOST Express Mail Service (EMS) has increased by over 400 per cent, while NIPOST in conjunction with the Universal Postal Union (UPU) have commenced initiatives to regain volumes of services lost to e-commerce giants across the globe and in Africa.

Odeyemi outlined such services lost to designated operators like NIPOST as customs clearing, warehousing, and reverse logistics services, saying NIPOST is now on the verge of launching and delivering the services within the next couple of days.

Chairman of the Governing Board of the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST), Chief Isaac Kekemeke, has issued a stern warning to internal and external saboteurs undermining the agency, telling them to either desist from the act.

Speaking on Monday at a retreat for NIPOST management staff in Abuja, Kekemeke blamed the agency’s decline on what he described as the activities of “mail rats” and saboteurs, whose actions have stifled the organisation’s ability to contribute meaningfully to Nigeria’s socio-economic development.

He lamented that years of inefficiency, poor reputation, and internal sabotage have left NIPOST in a dire state, saying the organisation is currently in the “Intensive Care Unit (ICU)” despite its immense potential.

Kekemeke noted that following his appointment by President Bola Tinubu, he conducted a personal assessment of NIPOST and uncovered deep-rooted issues that have hindered its progress. 

He emphasised the need for urgent reforms to align the agency with the administration’s vision for a revitalised public service.

“In all, it became apparent that the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) is a challenged organisation. Many Nigerians, albeit agreeing on the huge potentials of NIPOST as a national heritage and significant national infrastructure, expressed displeasure and disappointment with its performance. Most young men and women could not relate to or with NIPOST”, Kekemeke lamented. 

He said the workshop was aimed at unveiling the vision of the board to the management and to jaw-jaw on meaningful ways to address challenges facing the organisation. According to Kekemeke, urgent reforms would take place within NIPOST to enable it become globally competitive and stand alongside others players like Royal Mail, Swiss Mail and Deutche Postal Service among others.

Read Also: ‘Why NIPOST is clamping down on illegal logistics services in Enugu’

The Postmaster General and CEO of NIPOST, Mrs Tola Odeyemi praised the appointment of Kekemeke by the President, saying the Chairman had the capacity, experience and leverage to change the narratives of NIPOST for the better. 

Odeyemi said NIPOST has taken strategic steps to improve its diverse services to enable it contribute to national development and the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country. 

She said NIPOST Express Mail Service (EMS) has increased by over 400 percent, while NIPOST in conjunction with the Universal Postal Union (UPU) have commenced initiatives to regain volumes of services lost to e-commerce giants across the globe and in Africa. 

Odeyemi outlined such services lost to designated operators like NIPOST as customs clearing, warehousing, and reverse logistics services, saying NIPOST is now on the verge of launching and delivering the services within the next couple of days.

The Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) has commenced operations to enforce its regulatory mandates by purging the courier and logistics sub-sector in Enugu State of unlicensed operators.

The Courier and Logistics Regulatory Department (CLRD) team of NIPOST, which began the enforcement operations.on Thursday, sealed offices of unlicensed operators and confiscating some motorbikes belonging to illegal and unlicensed operators.

Some of the affected operators had been issued with demand notices since 2023, with them not showing any interest to comply with the provisions of the law.

The General Manager, CLRD, Gideon Shonde, who spoke to newsmen during the exercise in Enugu, said that the exercise was necessary to sanitize the sector especially as the Postal, Express, Courier and Logistics industry in Nigeria had been proliferated and infiltrated with so many unlicensed and illegal Courier and Logistics Operators, posing serious threats to Nigerians.

While disclosing that he and his team had visited Enugu before now with compliance level still very low, he lamented that there had been unethical 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 obtaining money from them under false pretenses, no traceable office address nor registered brand name.

Shonde pointed out the issue of public safety and security threats, due to carriage of illicit drugs and prohibited items like small arms and ammunition, guns, gold, monies, obscene items, among other illicit items.

He however said any interested private investors into the Postal, Express, Courier and Logistics business should follow the due process and obtain a grant of operating Licenses from the Federal Government.

He advised that they should obtain a grant of Operating License from NIPOST postmaster general as stipulated by the extant laws or risk facing the full wrath of the law, and prosecution.

Read Also: Fed Govt leveraging NIPOST’s infrastructure for e-commerce

Shonde said: “We’re here for enlightenment, advocacy and to sensitise the people of Enugu State about the need to comply with the NIPOST Act Section 43 Cap 127 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria as regards anybody who wants to partner with NIPOST or invest in this regulated space of Postal Express Courier and Logistics business. The law stipulates that he should obtain a grant of license from the postmaster general of the federation. Failure to do do, we will be left with no other option than enforce the extant laws.

“This is the second time we’re embarking on enforcement. Unfortunately, the compliance level in Enugu is still low in spite of our enlightenment programmes with various stakeholders in the state. But we’ll continue to engage with the stakeholders and as well step up enforcement to enable more people get the operational license.

“We’ve actually done a kind of market survey where we discovered that the compliance level is very low

“We have lots of illegal operators, lots of people who hide under the cover of courier to perpetrate all of kinds of evil, unethical practices and unprofessional conducts. It’s not really safe and secure to have that in the regulated space. The industry is becoming an insecure environment.

We have thousands of complaints on our offices indicating that Nigerian people are being shortchanged. You place an order via e-commerce, and you get your items pilfered, broached, damaged or a total loss of the item. There are lots of public outcry to our office as regards illegal operators, which warranted this sanitisation exercise. A professional and licensed operator will never engage in that because he knows that he stands to lose his license and government protection. But some who’s not licensed and traceable is a quack.

“This is important because it is a global best practice. Anywhere you go around the world, you must be issued with operational license before you begin operations”.