NIPOST apprehends 33 illegal operators during clampdown in Lagos, set to visit more states
By Omolola Adeyanju
The courier and logistics regulatory department (CLRD) NIPOST has held its clampdown for the first quarter of the year in Lagos with thirty three unlicensed/ illegal courier and logistics operators apprehended during the exercise carried out in Ikeja LGA and Falomo, Lagos State on Thursday last week.
According to the General manager, Courier and Logistics and Regulatory Department (CLRD), NIPOST, Shonde G. Dotun, “the clampdown has been carried out in 11 States already which include Abia, Rivers, Edo, Ekiti, Ogun, Oyo, Lagos, Katsina, Ondo, Kwara and Delta states respectively and the regulatory department are in the process of visiting more states to ensure adherence to the statutory provisions.”
In an official statement, the organisation said: “The postal, express, Courier and logistics industry in Nigeria has been proliferated and infiltrated with so many unlicensed and illegal courier and logistic operators with reckless abandonment for ethical standard and professional conduct.
“There exist unethical sharp 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 pretense, no traceable office address nor registered brand name. As well as overloading and carriage of items above the stipulated 50 kg.”
The statement further stated that provision has been made for a flexible payment plan for those who cannot afford to pay for the operating license at a stretch.
He said that a special consideration has been given to the Independent/Soldiers Scheme now.
He added that over eight regional operating licenses have been granted, over two hundred national operating licenses approved and over ten international operating licenses have also been granted as well.
However, the GM advised, “Every interested private investor in the Courier and Logistics business should follow the due process by obtaining a grant of operating licenses from the federal government. (NIPOST).”
Meanwhile, one of the alleged culprits Monday Ajobiewe, speaking to Newsdirect explained that he got his motorcycle through a hire-purchase hence wasn’t aware of the cycle being unregistered.
He confessed to being helpless knowing that NIPOST officials are only doing their job as he cannot fight the government
