By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The Post Master General of the federation as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST), Mr Ismail Adebayo Adewusi, has blamed “internet technology” for the agency’s poor operational efficiency.
Mr Adewusi said NIPOST is not the only organisation affected by this, noting that internet technology has also altered the operational efficiency of the postal services across the world.
However, he emphasised that the agency was not deterred as efforts are being made to reform the company to make it a pride of Nigerians.
“We have started the process of reform which is culminating in the unbundling of NIPOST to now have a property company, a logistics and transport company and a bank.
“We have started this process and I believe that by the time I conclude my five-year tenure, we would have succeeded,” Mr Adewusi said he visited the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr Mudashiru Obasa, on Wednesday.
The NIPOST chief, a former Commissioner for Economic Planning in Lagos, explained that by virtue of its assignments, the agency was supposed to regulate logistics and courier companies, including the licensing of motorcycles used for such businesses.
He said his organisation needed the support of the House with legislation that would help ease the task before it especially as it relates to the registration of dispatch riders, issuance of identity cards and tracking locations.
Mr Adewusi sought the support and collaboration of the state parliament in the area of training arrangements for motorcyclists and the use of the address verification solution, an idea of NIPOST aimed at tackling insecurity and crime in the country.
In his remarks, Mr Obasa promised that the House would collaborate with NIPOST and any organisation that aims to assist the state with the ease of doing business.
“I want to assure you that Lagos is always ready to collaborate with any institution that is willing to work with us for the progress of the state.
“This House of Assembly is ready to work with you. The House is always ready to support with legislation and resolutions to enhance the ease of doing business in the state,” Mr Obasa told the team.
The Speaker expressed optimism that NIPOST will succeed especially with the recent amendment to law with the result being that the organisation now has the opportunity of a public/private partnership (PPP) arrangement.
“I commend the Senate, particularly the chairman, Committee on Communications, Mrs Oluremi Tinubu, for the good job done in amending the NIPOST law,” he said, urging the officials to take advantage of amendment to revolutionise the agency’s mode of operations.
Mr Obasa said he looks forward to a period people’s interest in NIPOST would be rekindled like it was in the past as Nigerians have devised various means of getting goods and services to their targets, including using commercial bus drivers.
