General News
ANCO Moves to Save Courier Industry from Unhealthy Practices
Members of the Association of Nigeria Courier Operators (ANCO) recently, took to the Eleguishi Beach located in Lekki, Lagos, to ponder on issues concerning postal and courier industry in Nigeria, many of which are unhealthy to the sector.
At the a-day retreat covered exclusively by Nigeria CommunicationsWeek, some industry practitioners received thumb-down for negligence on the operational rules of engagement, while ANCO vowed to collaborate with the Federal Government through the Courier Regulatory Department (CRD) of NIPOST to ensure the industry is purged of inadequacies.
Declaring the retreat open, Mr. Siyanbola Oladapo, national president of the Association, said that ANCO executives in agreement with the members deemed it necessary to relax in a serene environment and thinker on how matters concerning the industry can be addressed.
He said they needed an environment devoid of Lagos metropolis “noises” and interferences to mediate on identifiable cases.
What are these cases? He identified some of issues that demand urgent attention to include non-adherence to pricing regulations, unhealthy marketing, independent regulator, and quackery.
On pricing, the Oladapo said, “We are not just the people advocating for strict adherence to minimum price in the industry. Even the registrars and the CRD have urged operators to maintain this stand. CRD came up with the benchmark which we advice every player in the industry to adhere to”.
Nodding in agreement, Ms Lara Okuneye, vice president of ANCO said, “In a relaxed environment, you will be able to discuss freely with your colleagues. One of such issues is pricing. Some people go out there because they do not know what they want; they are just anxious about getting contract. During the process, they end up cutting corners. We want to rebrand the industry. Let them know that this industry is driven my integrity and competence. If you know you are of a royal blood, you wouldn’t behave like a street urchin”.
She alluded to Oladapo’s position that necessitated the retreat, thus, “We came out here to put heads together and muster courage to confront certain issues bedeviling the industry. This is actually the peak of our operations, but people are tensed up. We want them to be relaxed. In other words, we do not want to lose anybody. In doing that, we get to know each other and there are salient points we want to discuss”.
In same light, Imasuen Olajumoke, managing director of Ran Parcel Services limited told Nigeria CommunicationsWeek that, “Presently, we are not enjoying any uniform rate, even though it is there. Courier Regulatory Department (CRD) gave out these rates. Professionally, every courier firm should adhere to the rates. In my company, if we are deliver a parcel for you from Lagos to Maiduguri within 48 hours, N3,500 is the minimum charge. So, the industry needs an enforcement of regulatory rates.
“For ANCO, we can do a lot for the industry by emphasizing that we need to work as a team. The need for us to expand has come”.
Angered by the unceasing unhealthy marketing, scheming and gimmicks coupled with backstabbing, Mr. Okey Ubah, secretary general of ANCO, said that, a situation companies goes at the back to re-negotiate contracts already awarded to another firm, especially without superior and competitive edge, implies that some players are out to ruin others businesses.
“A situation where you have a contract to deliver parcels and as you cannot cover everywhere, it will require you network with your colleagues; the person goes behind to slander you before the client in other to take the advantage.
“Instead, bring up superior argument on why you should be allowed to carry out the delivery, as against such practices of backbiting.
“Secondly, when you expose your industry to the pushes of economic constraints, and that comes mainly from greenhorns, they do not ask how to get the job or channels of delivery. At the end, they will be constrained on how to carry out the delivery.
“When a job that should cost about N10, because someone is desperate for the venture he goes to negotiate for N5. At the end, he might not be able to deliver, dumps it or goes back for re-negotiation. By that, you are running yourself and the industry down. That is aggressive marketing, unnecessary scheming and inordinate marketing that is bad. In the mean time, you may think that is smartness, but it backfires”.
Oladapo slammed operators who cheapen themselves and berated others who have refused to abide by the rules, especially by registering with NIPOST.
He said, “If you are a professional, you have to abide by the principle, ethics, and rules guiding the profession. Companies tend to underrate the operators due to the economic outlook of the nation. Why some of the operators cause it themselves by disregarding the federal government’s pricing guides. We are saying, although there is no upper limit, but there should be a lower limit. We are trying to enforce it that the industry, might grow.
“It is another way to checkmate quackery: who are given to cutting corners. We have to make difference in the way the society perceives and treats us. We are interested in upholding the objectives, to promote the industry, ‘sanitize’ it and ensure that those who are not part of the reform are not been patronized by the innocent members of the public. There will be sanctions hence we are ready to work with the federal Government through the CRD to achieve the purpose”.
ANCO scribe also questioned the rationale behind some quoted companies that deliberately refuse to hold annual general meetings or print annual reports for their shareholders.
This attitude, he said, has led to hardship on the part of registrars and courier operators who are part of the value chain in the distribution and dispatch of the annual report.
Ubah said, “It shows the general decadence in the society. When you talk about registrars, it is not solely under their purview for annual reports to be printed for shareholders. It involves company secretaries, shareholders association, registrars, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE). Should any of them compromise it affects others in the chain. The job of the registrars is to ensure the reports are distributed involving the courier firms.
“They do not even have the right to decide the quantity of reports to be printed. Primarily, the shareholders ought to react when their annual reports are not printed; send queries to SEC when they do not print the actual number of annual reports. When companies engage in such shoddy acts, it affects the registrars resources; by implication the courier companies have to downsize, . as breadwinners lose their jobs, people must survive in one way or the others, therefore, crime becomes thrives in the society. It is not advisable for companies to continue to surchange the system through that dubious means. Every shareholder is entitled to an annual report, whether in attendance during the meeting or not.
“The essence of the report is for them to diagnose the company’s performances and determine if to continue investing or otherwise. Such action is illegal and malicious. It has to be taken care of, because it affects businesses and the economy”.
They were agreed that these issues could be things in the past should the Federal Government deliver on its promise to give the industry an independent regulator.
Also speaking to Nigeria CommunicationsWeek, Ranti Shobande, ANCO’s Financial Secretary, said, “We were happy when we heard that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved the moves for the Postal Commission Bill; we thought in a short while the nine (9) years lingering issue will be resolved.
“However, we have not heard from them again; besides, the office of the vice president is expected fine-tune the Bill. Look at a country like Ghana; there is no way you can compare postal sector in Nigeria to Ghana’s industry. Why the foot-dragging? I am beginning to believe vested interests are bent on killing the morale of the operators. But how long shall this continue?
Olajumoke agreed with Shobande’s postulation, adding that, “Countries that understand the positive impact of the postal & courier sector on the economy do not play politics with the sector. Even though they have embraced the internet and its courses, it has not deterred them from appreciating why the postal should be given a face-lift. They deliberately allowed the postal industry operations.
“Apart from the fact not everybody can operate the internet; these countries understand that people who work there should be protected. Outside Nigeria, postal industry receives a lot of attentions and assistance from the government. Until we appreciate that the best way to help this industry is to enact a law for the establishment of an independent body, then we might just be walking about a circle”.
Meanwhile, Mr. Toyin Adeojo, publicity secretary of the Association, said that, on the interim, the Federal Government should provide CRD with necessary tools to aid her operations; hence the industry must be sanitized before the country could reap from its numerous potentials.
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United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, Africa’s Global Bank, has reiterated its commitment towards building tangible economic bridges and strengthening diaspora-driven investment into Nigeria.
L-R: Group Managing Director/CEO, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, Oliver Alawuba, Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM, Hon. Abike Dabiri and Chief Executive Officer, UBA UK, Loknath Mishra, during a strategic engagement with the African diaspora at the UBA UK Office, London.
UBA’s Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Oliver Alawuba, stated this on Monday, while hosting key representatives from the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) led by its chairman/CEO, Hon. Abike Dabiri, at the bank’s UK office.
The strategic visit comes on the heels of UBA’s recently launched Diaspora Banking platform, which is designed to provide a seamless, integrated platform for Africans in the diaspora to bank, invest, and manage their financial obligations back home, thus connecting global Africans with investment and wealth opportunities.
The bank launched the platform, with leading ecosystem partners representing a major step in redefining diaspora banking beyond remittances toward structured wealth creation and long-term investment.
During the strategic meeting with the NIDCOM officials at the UBA UK office on Monday, Alawuba underscored the diaspora’s critical role as a powerful economic force and a generation of builders shaping new narratives for the continent.
While emphasising UBA’s role as a trusted partner for Nigerians at home and abroad, he said, “With UBA, you have a financial partner that is with you, that understands what you are going through, and that can support you to make sure you realise your aspirations, both here and in the country.”
Alawuba further encouraged the diaspora to leverage the opportunities within Africa’s economic landscape, stating: “You are not limited here; you have opportunities on the continent, and we want you to make good use of them. That is where banking, and we at UBA, become the connecting point that you need to access the opportunities back home. Whether you like it or not, the returns are high in Africa, and we are here to help you navigate that space.”
He also took time to reiterate the Bank’s readiness to leverage its global network and innovative financial solutions to support diaspora engagement.
The Chairman/CEO, NiDCOM, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, who commended UBA for being a trusted financial partner over the years, especially with the recent launch of its diaspora platform, praised the resilience and success of Nigerians abroad while calling for a stronger focus on constructive narratives.
She said, “Many of you here are the real game-changers. “For years, it has been wonderful engaging Nigerians all over the world. When I started, it felt like we only heard the bad stories, not the good ones. What we have tried to do internationally is to tell and celebrate the good stories. We have Nigerians doing well all over the world, and they are in this room. We must continue to celebrate you.”
While remarking that the meeting demonstrates a significant step in aligning public and private sector efforts to deepen diaspora inclusion and accelerate Nigeria’s development agenda, she pledged closer collaboration in driving policies and initiatives that encourage Nigerians abroad to actively participate in the country’s economic growth.
The discussions further highlighted UBA’s unique position to facilitate cross-border payments, unlock high-yield investment opportunities, and connect diaspora enterprises to markets across the continent.
With a robust global footprint and an unrivalled African presence, UBA continues to serve as the critical link for those looking to engage with the continent’s growing economy.
United Bank for Africa is one of the largest employers in the financial sector on the African continent, with 25,000 employees group-wide and serving over 45 million customers globally. Operating in twenty African countries, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, France and the United Arab Emirates, UBA provides retail, commercial and institutional banking services, leading financial inclusion and implementing cutting-edge technology.
Federal government said that it is adopting technology and innovation to speed up eradication of tuberculosis and other infectious diseases.
It also said $54 million had been approved for the procurement of drugs, especially for treatment of tuberculosis and HIV, to prevent stock-outs of life-saving medicines.
Speaking at the 2026 Pre-World Tuberculosis Day briefing in Abuja, organised by Stop TB Partnership Nigeria, Dr. Charles Nzelu, director, Public Health at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, said the present government was making giant strides in addressing challenges in the health sector.
Nzelu said the ministry, under the leadership of Professor Muhammad Pate, had prioritised TB as a major pillar of the health agenda.
As part of the implementation of National Strategic Plan (2021-2026), Nzelu, said the ministry had adopted technology to help achieve the target of stopping tuberculosis from constituting a public health risk in the Nigeria.
He stated, “To bridge the gap, we are leading with innovation. Specifically, this year, the National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Programme (NTBLCP) is spearheading the national rollout of the Pluslife Mini Dock diagnostic platform.
“This near-point-of-care technology is a game-changer, allowing us to bring molecular-grade testing to the most remote communities, ensuring that no Nigerian is left behind due to geography.
“Nigeria is rolling out over a thousand of this diagnostic equipment. But technology is only as strong as the systems that support it.
“We are currently focused on strengthening our electronic reporting systems to ensure real-time data flow from the facility level to the national dashboard.”
Nzelu said transparency allowed the ministry to manage the supply chain effectively and prevent stock-outs of life-saving medicines.
In her remarks, Dr. Queen Ogbuji-Ladipo, board chair, Stop TB Partnership Nigeria, said the country had witnessed remarkable milestones in the fight against tuberculosis.
They included the mobilisation and engagement of high-level TB champions at the national, state, and local levels; strengthened collaboration with government and private-sector actors; increased advocacy for domestic financing; and expanded public awareness of TB prevention and care, Ogbuji-Ladipo said.
She, however, said there were challenges in funding to be addressed with the changing global health financing landscape and dwindling donor support.
According to her, “This reality makes domestic resource mobilization for TB more important than ever before. Sustainable financing from government budgets, private sector contributions, and innovative financing mechanisms will be critical to sustaining TB programs.”
In its presentation, Dr. Temitope Adetiba, TB Programme Lead – Institute of Human Virology (IHVN and Global Fund Project, said under the Global Fund Grant Cycle 7 for TB and HIV response, Nigeria had recorded over 300,000 TB case detection across the country.
In addition, IHVN said more than 3,000 drug-resistant TB cases were identified and linked to care, while over 2.3 million pregnant women were screened for TB and HIV across 2024 and 2025.
It also said Nigeria was increasingly taking TB and HIV services to the people within communities, households, and the private sector.
Dr. Mayowa Joel, executive secretary of Stop TB Partnership Nigeria, said the theme, “Yes We Can End TB”, was action oriented.
Joel said the theme challenged all stakeholders to move beyond discussions and commitments toward practical action.
He said, “This means ensuring that TB diagnostic services, treatment, and care reach everyone who needs them, especially through Primary Health Care, where most people first access health services.”
Dr. Mya Ngom, representative of Country Director of World Health Organisation (WHO), said Nigeria had made tremendous progress in responding to the epidemic.
According to Ngom, “In 2024, Nigeria reported 405,324 TB cases having increased from 106,533 cases in 2018, while 335,003 TB cases were reported in the three quarters of 2025.”
He said, “Expectantly, eighty percent (80 percent) of the estimated 510,000 incident TB cases will be detected and notified when the entire 2025 TB notification report is received. While this progress is encouraging, the fight against TB is far from over.
“The number of undetected TB cases averaging 175,000 cases constitutes a pool of reservoir that fuels on-going transmission of TB in the community as one undetected infectious TB case can infest between 12-15 persons per year.
“The emergence of Multi-Drug-Resistant TB (MDR-TB) and the high number of HIV further complicates the burden of TB in the country.”
Luno, an Africa-founded global exchange, has launched a structured Crypto Prediction Market, ushering in a new chapter for Nigeria’s cryptocurrency market.
This platform enables users to forecast short-term price fluctuations of key cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin , Ethereum , Solana, Dogecoin, Ripple, and earn USDC payments when when their predictions are accurate.
Powered by Limitless, the platform rewards right forecasts with USDC, a fully supported stablecoin.
This launch reflects shifting investment trends in Africa’s largest cryptocurrency market. Previously focused on long-term holding or spot trading, retail traders are now looking for tools that allow them to act on market information in a structured, short-term framework.
“We are seeing a clear shift in how Nigerians want to engage with crypto assets,” said Ayotunde Alabi, CEO of Luno Nigeria.
“Many already follow price movements closely and form strong market views; we want to lead with education as well as provide a safe and secure platform to help them apply that knowledge. This feature is designed to be a natural extension for those who enjoy forecasting.”
To mitigate risks, the platform integrates educational resources, dedicated prediction wallets, mandatory risk acknowledgements, and mechanisms preventing users from taking both sides of a market.
Unlike conventional derivatives or open-ended speculation, binary prediction markets are strictly outcome-based. Participants wager on whether an asset will close above or below a specific price target.
While this opens opportunities, it also carries high risk, as incorrect predictions result in total loss of the committed capital.
The launch could influence broader trends in African fintech. By introducing regulated, outcome-based products, exchanges can cater to a more informed investor base while promoting financial literacy.
For Nigeria, this could mark a turning point moving the market from passive participation to data-driven trading, providing a framework for responsible engagement in increasingly complex digital asset markets.
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