General News
Courier Industry Holds Key to Vision 20:2020-Bichi
Sule Bichi is the managing director, Red Star Express Plc, a licensee of Federal Express Corporation (FEDEX). He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) and a member of the Institute of Directors (IoD).
He had a stint with Aminu Ibrahim & Co. before moving to the Board of Internal Revenue in Kano.
Bichi later joined UAC Nigeria Plc as a Management Trainee in 1988 from where he was seconded to Unilever International Audit, and later moved to ICON Ltd (Merchant Bankers) as Treasury Officer before joining Comet Merchant Bank, where he rose to head of Foreign Operations in 1995.
He later worked as Operations Manager with UBA Kaduna South branch from where he joined Red Star Express in 1998 as the Assistant General Manager Finance.
He later became the Executive Director, Finance & Administration; Deputy Managing Director and a member of Finance & Budget Committee. He is also a Director, of the three subsidiaries of Red Star Express. He spoke to peter ugwu on ways to achieve industrial growth in Nigeria.
Building Enterprise like Red Star Express
It has been interesting. First of all, I want to clarify that Red Star is an indigenous company operating under the license of Federal Express Corporation (FEDEX); a US based company which is more than 40 years old.
Red Star is the one that recently celebrated 2 decades of doing business in Nigeria. Building enterprise like Red Star Express in Nigeria is a thing that we expect more of such.
Nigeria’s economy is still evolving and going by the size of the population and resources, it is a country that should have more companies establishing businesses that will help the economy grow.
No doubt, there are teething problems, but we had to rise above that by seizing opportunities that come up in any sector of the economy.
We must start with the development of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) moving to individuals coming together to build mega corporations.
As it is now, our companies are not so big. Very few are playing at the international arena.
So, we need companies that will grow and play in the global economy. That is the only way we can breakthrough and emerge as one of the 20 economies in the world.
Red Star Increase in Turnover In 20 years of Operation
Some people may want to tag it a magic for the company to have achieved that, but it was not a magic. Although considering the industry, it is a growth, because no other courier company in Nigeria has been able to achieve that.
But N5 billion is not that huge when we start placing Red Star against other big companies.
Yes, our philosophy is people-service-profit (PSP). We concentrate more on the people, because they are the ones who deliver the service to customers.
Thus, the turnover is good, but when you change the money to other currencies like the USD or GBP you will discover it is still meagre. So, we are still in the SMEs bloc.
But in Nigeria, you could say it is an achievement owing to the fact that the courier industry is still growing.
There were companies that started same time with us, but have either closed shop or are managing to survive.
We are moving on because we have competent and dedicated workers. They understand the dynamics of the industry and how to create value for the customers.
Consultative Selling Skills Training
Like I said earlier we place emphasis on people right from inception. We not only select competent people from different sectors of the economy, we try to expose them to best trainings.
The Consultative Selling Skills training is just one of the trainings we have for our sales professionals.
We have a functional faculty were we send our people for training. As part of our policies, every staff is expected to clock minimum of 16 hours every year on training.
Staff training is something we cannot do without; it provides platform to re-assess the staff and train them on the trends of practice.
It is part of building the brand. When people are trained and well taken care of it leads to co-operation and productivity.
In all aspects of our business, operations, finance, corporate governance, leadership, we receive training.
Security challenges and Courier Business
Insecurity is highly impacting on every business in the country. Of course you need to take care of your workers.
As a committed firm we have to do all within our powers to ensure our customers, in any part of the country, are safe.
The truth is that we spend more money presently on security; we take extra measures to ensure the workers are not endangered and working with security agents also.
We try as much as possible to observe pronouncements made by the government, because they have full responsibility to secure lives and property in the country.
They know more than we do. In all, we make sure that our people are not exposed to unnecessary dangers.
Innovation In Red Star With The Acquisition Of An Airside Facility
Having an airside facility is another way to facilitate smooth running of our business. We are licensee of FEDEX; a global leader in logistics business and present in more than 220 countries, shipments into Nigeria come through the international airport, so to make it easier and faster for clearing we acquired the airside.
That will facilitate clearing and ensure security is apt. At the same time, it will aid the operations of some government agencies at the port like the customs.
Automation of Red Star Operations, Especially the Newly Acquired Facility
We utilize a lot of ICT components in line with the global practices. From our associate FEDEX we take queue on the use of ICT to facilitate commitments to our customers.
The customer needs to know the whereabouts of his shipment at every point in time. To ensure accountability and disseminating of information, we need to embrace ICT- the internet.
The devices are helpful from time of departure of the cargo from the other end to arrival here in Nigeria, the sorting hub and final delivery to the customer.
When we place these data on our tracking and tracing facility, our customers can just log onto the website, include the tracking number and have details about a particular shipment.
From our side, we use ICT for faster sorting of the shipment and informing our people on a particular shipment.
We have invested so much in hardware, software and networking. ICT is like a partner in progress; we cannot do our work efficiently without the deployment of ICT.
Handling Phishing of Mails Sometimes Associated with Cargo Tracking
It is our responsibility to safeguard the shipment and information associated with it. Similarly, the customer has the responsibility; when a person gives us parcels for shipment, we generate the tracking number and it is the customer’s responsibility to safeguard it.
Once you key in the tracking number via the internet the status of the shipment will be revealed to you.
In a situation where the customer gives out the number to another person, probably, to help him check, that may amount to compromising the security of that package. It is just like any bank account.
Diversifying Into Passenger Transportation
Our business is on delivering cargo and logistics services. Passenger transportation is not part of our logistics business.
Our big brother, FEDEX, in US has over 675 aircrafts, 99% of those aircrafts are for cargo. For now, our business is logistics and we will concentrate on that.
However, the peculiarity of the Nigerian environment may dictate something different, which I am not ruling out completely.
Courier Industry In Nigeria
The industry faces a lot of challenges starting with the running cost to infrastructure. For instance, the condition of roads in the country affects us immensely.
We distribute some of our items by road using heavy duty trucks, vans, lighter vans and motorcycles, the deplorable state of the roads are impacting on our fleet.
The costs of maintaining them, purchase of spare parts are increasing and the life spans are reducing. Secondly, the power supply; the courier companies operate 24hours every day.
So, when people are working you need power, especially since our work with ICT is interwoven, we cannot do without power.
Due to the country’s population for you to be an effective courier company you need to be present in every urban centre. In those areas, you must provide power.
You can imagine the size of back up that we deliver. In some places, the back ups are running more than the national grid. In that cost of buying generators and powering them is enormous.
Thirdly, the airports; not all airports operate at night. Thus, the state of the aviation industry impacts on our services.
For instance, when we have many aircrafts moving to various locations, especially in the morning and in the evening, we find it easier to put our items on them.
But where we do not have much aircrafts and some of the airports are not operating 24 hours it adds to our costs of doing business and not all airlines are flying to the destinations that we deliver goods and services.
The other aspects of transportation like the railway; although there is a recent development when the Federal Government restored the Lagos-Kano route, now that it has started, we pray that it continues reaching other areas.
As a logistics company that will assist us a lot. These minimize our capacities and put huge constraints on us and increase costs of doing business.
Using International Benchmarks to Assess Nigeria’s Courier Industry
There are reforms that are in the pipeline spearheaded by the Federal Authorities; especially the news I read in your paper on a Bill being given a nod, which is laudable.
The only thing we are advocating is that, whatever arrangement is made should be in line with the global best practices.
We want to play at the international arena as Nigeria wants to become one of the 20 strongest economies in year 2020. We should have laws that are compatible with that.
General News
Haleon Introduces New Corporate Identity in Nigeria

Haleon, a global consumer health company with a purpose to deliver better everyday health, is introducing its corporate identity across Nigeria in a phased transition. Trusted brands such as Panadol, Sensodyne, Macleans, Otrivin, Voltaren, Cac 1000 and Andrews Liver Salts remain unchanged in formulation, quality, and effectiveness.

Following the formal demerger from GSK, Haleon was launched on July 18, 2022, as an independent company 100% focused on consumer health. Haleon is the new home for brands like Sensodyne, Panadol, Centrum and others, trusted by millions worldwide for their proven effectiveness in improving everyday health.
From relieving tooth sensitivity or pain to providing essential vitamins and nutrients, our products are designed to fulfil Haleon’s purpose: to deliver better everyday health with humanity.
This revised corporate identity is a branding change only and does not affect the safety, quality, or efficacy of the products. Haleon is sharing this update as part of its commitment to transparency and consumer confidence, helping consumers continue to choose the brands they know and trust.
Haleon’s collaboration with Fidson Healthcare forms part of this approach, reinforcing the value of local production in supporting trusted everyday health brands in Nigeria.
Panadol Extra 100s and Panadol Pain & Fever 100s are currently being produced and supplied to the market under the Haleon identity. Sensodyne Rapid Action will bear the Haleon corporate identity from mid-June, followed by Andrews Liver Salts later this year.
In due course, additional brands—including Otrivin, Voltaren, Cac 1000, Macleans, and the wider Sensodyne portfolio—will also transition to the Haleon identity.
Haleon remains committed to ensuring consumers can continue to access the same high-quality brands at pharmacies, supermarkets and other retail outlets across Nigeria.
“As Haleon introduces its identity in Nigeria, we want consumers to feel informed and reassured. The trusted products they rely on remain the same in quality, formulation and effectiveness.
“At the same time, our local production approach in partnership with Fidson Healthcare supports reliable access to high-quality everyday health products in Nigeria,” said Himanshu Raj, Haleon General Manager for Sub-Saharan Africa.
General News
Kaspersky Warns of “Grey” Scam Websites Exploiting User Trust

Recent research by Kaspersky has shown that the so-called “grey” websites repeatedly target all world regions, and this may be driving both financial loss and large-scale data harvesting.

Grey websites are deceptive online platforms that fall outside traditional phishing definitions but still manipulate users into voluntarily handing over money and personal data. Kaspersky’s new report provides detailed insights into the threats posed by the grey websites on global and regional levels.
Unlike classic phishing attacks, which aim to steal credentials outright, grey websites rely on persuasion, misleading interfaces, and hidden terms to exploit users. They often impersonate legitimate services such as e-commerce platforms, financial tools, AI services, or subscription-based content, making them significantly harder to detect.
Kaspersky analysis shows that the majority of suspicious resources globally fall into several recurring categories:
- Fake browser extensions and “security tools” that actually harvest browsing data and track user activity.
- Fraudulent financial platforms including crypto exchanges, trading tools, and investment schemes promising unrealistic returns.
- Intermediary services (e.g., legal or real estate), charging for low-value or nonexistent services while harvesting sensitive personal data.
- Subscription traps offering low-cost trials that convert into costly recurring payments hidden in fine print.
- Fake online shops that either deliver counterfeit goods or nothing at all.
Example of a grey website.
A notable trend is the emergence of tools disguised as AI services or image-processing platforms, reflecting attackers’ ability to adapt to current digital trends and target younger audiences.
There are proven security solutions that help users to detect grey websites across different types of devices – those running on Windows, Linux, Android and iOS. The detection model is based on many factors, including domain name and age, IP reputation, stability of the infrastructure used, DNS configurations, HTTP security headers, digital identity and popularity of the web resource and other criteria.
Regional specifics
Regional variations in grey websites demonstrate how threat actors localise scams based on user behaviour and trending technologies.
In Europe, the threat landscape is dominated by links to suspicious browser extensions and fake “privacy-enhancing” tools.
These resources often present themselves as security solutions, promising safer browsing or anonymous search capabilities. In reality, they function as browser hijackers – intercepting traffic, collecting cookies, tracking user behaviour, and injecting advertisements.
The popularity of these threats reflects a high level of user concern around privacy and security, which attackers actively exploit. Additionally, these regions show a steady presence of phishing intermediaries and crypto-related scams, indicating a blend of technical and financially motivated attacks.
Across African markets, financial scams are the most prominent category of suspicious resources. Fraudulent trading platforms, fake brokers, and investment schemes frequently mimic legitimate financial services, often accompanied by fabricated licenses or endorsements.
These platforms typically prevent users from withdrawing funds, instead introducing additional “fees” or taxes to prolong the scam. The concentration of these threats highlights how attackers leverage growing interest in online investing while exploiting gaps in regulatory enforcement and financial literacy.
In the Middle East and North Africa region, suspicious resources frequently mimic communication (Internet telephony) tools, financial platforms, or betting services. Additionally, Ponzi-style investment schemes and crypto scams are widespread, often presented through polished interfaces that mimic legitimate platforms.
Web browser-based threats also play a significant role, with malicious extensions targeting user data and browsing activity. The regional threat profile reflects a convergence of financial fraud and technical compromise, where users risk both data exposure and monetary loss.
“Suspicious websites don’t look harmful at first glance. But they exploit trust, urgency, and familiarity, and a single click on what looks like a harmless AI image tool, a “secure” browser extension, or a heavily discounted online shop could be all it takes to lose money or expose sensitive data.
Instead of direct credential theft, attackers turn to behavioural manipulation – whether that’s subscribing, investing, or installing software,” comments Anna Larkina, Web Content and Privacy Analysis Expert at Kaspersky.
General News
MSMEs Paucity of Funds Receives Boost as Senate Backs Bill Seeking to Unlock Cash for them

Businesses across Nigeria, particularly micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), may soon be able to convert unpaid invoices and credit sales into immediate cash without relying on conventional bank loans following the passage of the Factoring, Assignments and Receivables Financing Bill for second reading in the Senate.

The bill, which seeks to establish a legal framework for factoring and receivables financing, is expected to improve access to credit, boost liquidity for businesses and enhance domestic and international trade.
It also seeks to provide legal certainty for the assignment of receivables through factoring, promote transparency, modernise assignment laws and facilitate greater access to credit for businesses across the country.
Leading debate on the bill which was sent from the House of Representatives for concurrence, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele said on Tuesday that the proposed legislation would create an enabling environment for debt factoring to thrive in Nigeria while defining the rights and obligations of creditors, factors and debtors involved in such transactions.
He explained that the bill provides for factoring contracts between sellers and factors and clarifies the legal relationship among parties in receivables financing arrangements.
According to Bamidele, the legislation has already passed all legislative stages in the House of Representatives and has complied with the Senate’s procedural requirements under Order 78(3) of the Senate Standing Orders.
He told lawmakers that the Senate Ad Hoc Committee on Compliance, chaired by Abdul Ningi, had scrutinised and cleared the bill for concurrence.
“The committee confirmed that all procedural requirements for consideration and concurrence by the Senate have been fully met,” he said.
Seconding the bill, Adetokunbo Abiru said the legislation would provide businesses with an alternative source of financing by enabling them to turn credit sales into cash and improve their working capital.
Abiru noted that factoring has become increasingly popular across Africa over the last decade, largely through initiatives supported by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank).
He disclosed that the African factoring market is currently valued at over $50 billion, but Nigeria’s participation remains below one per cent.
According to him, countries such as Egypt and Morocco have benefited significantly from the financing model, adding that Nigeria risks missing out on the growing market without a clear regulatory framework.
“I think that passing this major legislation will help support our micro, small and medium enterprises in terms of converting most of their credit sales into cash without going through the normal borrowing arrangement,” Abiru said.
In his remarks, Ningi also assured lawmakers that the compliance committee had reviewed the bill and found no legal impediments to its passage.
Following a voice vote, the Senate approved the bill for second reading and subsequently referred it to the Committee of the Whole for clause-by-clause consideration.
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