General News
Courier Operators Shift Gear, Key into Commerce Delivery
Private Courier operators, were seemingly, taken by surprise when the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) and Konga.com, Nigeria’s largest online marketplace, announced a partnership for the use of NIPOST post offices as pick up locations for Konga orders.
The UNILAG collection centre is the first in a series of collaborations by the two parties to address logistics and delivery issues experienced by eCommerce operators in Nigeria.
This, Dr, Simon Emeje, senior postmaster general of the Federation and head of the Courier Regulatory Department (CRD), told Nigeria CommunicationsWeek, informed their decision to organize series of workshop and networking platforms for both parties to have a handshake, share ideas on e-commerce delivery through the indigenous courier firms.
Emeje said that although Africa’s logistics market opportunity is big and compelling with a potential of $300 annual return, CRD foresees a period most of the courier operators in Nigeria will leverage e-commerce delivery to better their worth.
According to him, the e-commerce logistics include warehousing, order processing and other services before actual delivery, but the unique challenges include infrastructure, talents, internet penetration, payments, and with peculiar to Nigeria, the need for improved regulations.
Speaking to Nigeria CommunicationsWeek in his office on the matter, Mr. Siyanbola Oladapo, president of the Association of Nigeria Courier Operators (ANCO) said that over the years, the industry players have been monitoring trends in both the capital market and e-commerce in Nigeria, and now view the latter as better option in the prevailing circumstances.
Although, Oladapo rule out complete exit of courier operators from the capital market, but he believes that e-commerce is favourably disposed to the members who are looking out for more innovative ways to restore the sub-sector’s lost glory.
There are close to 300 courier operators in Nigeria, majority of them are bent on delivering capital market dispatches like dividend- warrants, annual reports, among others.
However, the ANCO President said, “Of recent, we have been having a lot of seminars organized by ANCO and also the Courier Regulatory Department (CRD) of NIPOST, then, our members are beginning to see the business sense in e-commerce delivery”.
Asked how he received the news of the NIPOST/Konga.com partnership, he said, “Well, it is part of the challenge we still face in on environment where a player also regulates. In actually sense, what NIPOST ought to link Konga to private operators who are decentralized, structured and professionals too.
“It is unlike we are not ready to play major role in the e-commerce delivery, for instance, another e-commerce platform (name undisclosed), approached ANCO and we agreed on our members carrying out their deliveries. If NIPOST, a government agency could take up the large chuck of the market, how can government claim to have the heart to cater for the common interest of the private operators?
“On our part at ANCO, we have been extending our tentacles to other institutions in search of ways to prevent dearth of courier operators in Nigeria”.
E-commerce is one area to look for continued growth and real opportunity in Nigeria.
In 2014 Nigeria recorded over $2 million worth of online transactions per week and close to $1.3 billion monthly.
Nigeria’s e-commerce market is developing rapidly, with an estimated growth rate of 25 percent annually, which spurred CRD to orgnaise seminars in 2014, creating avenues for courier operators to meet e-ecommerce platforms.
Nigerians are notorious for their love of shopping too; for instance, the Euromonitor Nigeria in a 2011 report revealed that Nigerians spend $6.3 billion per year on clothing.
In a recent survey conducted by Philip Consulting 38% of Nigerians prefer to buy products through the internet.
Also, Middle class consumers are the biggest purchasers online.
Earlier this month, Bloomberg, New York based financial newswire service report shows that Nigeria has been ranked among 20 fastest growing economies in the World.
Confirming the report, Kaymu.com.ng, leading online shopping community, attributed the nation’s listing to the upshot of e-commerce.
In an accompanying chart by Bloomberg, Nigeria with an expected growth rate of 4.9% was ranked sixth behind China (7%), the Philippines (6.3%), Kenya (6%), India (5.5%) and Indonesia (5.4%).
Evangeline Wiles, managing director of Kaymu.com, said, “Nigeria’s e-commerce space is the fastest growing in Africa contributing a monthly spends of 1.3bn to the Nigerian retail sector. The role the retail sector plays in driving Nigeria’s economy cannot be overemphasized as a country’s purchasing power is a major driver of the economy”.
The Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc has announced the signing of a chain of contracts with major airlines for the provision of total handling solutions.
In a statement on Tuesday, the company announced the signing of contract renewals with Air France, KLM and Virgin Atlantic, as well as the African operator, RwandAir.
NAHCO also signed fresh contracts with United Nigeria – Regional, Bellagio and Malaikair.
According to the statement, the contracts with Air France and KLM are for three years and will run till 2028, respectively. The duration of the contract with Virgin Atlantic was also put at three years.
The duration for the RwandAir contract is for three years, effective 1 October 2025.
The statement read, “The new contract with United – Regional would be for a period of five years, effective from 1 August 2025. For Bellagio and Malaikair, the contracts are for three and five years, respectively.
“Bellagio Air, Nigeria’s rising star in aviation, is redefining air travel with a blend of luxury, efficiency, and reliability. Headquartered in the vibrant city of Ikeja, Lagos, Bellagio Air is committed to providing world-class service across key domestic and regional routes.”
The Group Executive Director, Commercial and Business Development, NAHCO Plc, Saheed Lasisi, who expressed his delight with the new contracts, said NAHCO is already ready to exceed customers’ expectations.
According to Lasisi, NAHCO’s more than 46 years of unblemished excellent service delivery puts it heads and shoulders above any other service provider in the industry.
“This is what we have been doing for almost half of a century. We will continue to delight our customers and make our stakeholders happy by exceeding expectations in all aspects of our service offerings. We are always willing and ready to do more,” Lasisi added.
The Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, NAHCO Plc, Olumuyiwa Olumekun, added that with the new fleet of equipment the company is deploying, service delivery will only be better.
Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has unveiled a forward-looking strategy that places satellite-enabled mobile connectivity at the heart of the country’s drive to bridge its long-standing coverage gaps.
The draft Spectrum Roadmap for the Communications Sector for 2025 to 2030 lays out how satellite technologies could help deliver reliable voice and data services to millions of Nigerians who live beyond the reach of conventional mobile networks.
The direction is outlined in the Commission’s draft Spectrum Roadmap for the Communications Sector covering the period.
The proposed approach highlights non-terrestrial networks as a complement to existing mobile infrastructure, especially in areas where terrain, insecurity, or high costs limit the deployment of base stations.
The NCC said D2D satellite technology, which allows standard mobile phones to connect directly to satellites, is gaining traction globally as a means of delivering voice and data services without reliance on ground towers.
According to the regulator, the technology could help close persistent coverage gaps in rural, riverine, and border communities that remain outside the reach of conventional networks.
It also noted that satellite-backed connectivity could improve network reliability by providing alternative links during fibre cuts, power failures, or other disruptions affecting terrestrial systems.
The Commission added that wider adoption of D2D services could support emergency communications, public safety operations, Internet of Things applications, and services such as smart agriculture in underserved regions.
It also pointed to potential investment opportunities through partnerships between mobile network operators and satellite companies, including more efficient use of shared spectrum resources.
Beyond D2D services, the roadmap places emphasis on Low-Earth Orbit satellites to expand broadband access to remote parts of the country.
It also proposes better utilisation of Geostationary Orbit satellites and the exploration of high-altitude platforms, such as stratospheric balloons, to support mobile backhaul and rural connectivity.
The policy signals come shortly after Airtel Africa announced an agreement with SpaceX to introduce Starlink-powered direct-to-cell services in Nigeria.
The NCC’s roadmap is expected to shape future spectrum allocation, licensing decisions, and technology adoption across the telecommunications sector.
General News
House of Reps Releases Certified Copies of Tax Reform Acts amid Gazette Discrepancy Claims
House of Representatives has released certified true copies of the four tax reform Acts signed into law by President Bola Tinubu, addressing public concerns over alleged discrepancies between legislative versions and circulated gazetted documents.
Tax Reform Acts
House spokesperson, Akin Rotimi, disclosed this in a statement, noting that Speaker Tajudeen Abbas directed the immediate publication of the Acts—including endorsement and presidential assent pages—for public verification, in collaboration with Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
The move followed allegations raised by Rep. Abdulsamad Dasuki on the House floor, highlighting inconsistencies between Bills passed by the National Assembly and executive gazetted versions, which he warned could erode legislative integrity and public trust.
Abbas constituted a seven-member ad hoc committee chaired by Rep. Aliyu Betara, with members including Idris Wase, Sada Soli, Adedeji Faleke, Igariwey Iduma, Fred Agbedi and Babajimi Benson, to investigate the alleged alterations, unauthorised circulation and preventive measures.
The committee’s mandate includes probing circumstances around the discrepancies, while Abbas ordered internal verification and public release of certified copies to dispel doubts and safeguard legislative records. Legal experts, tax professionals and civil society had demanded clarification and implementation suspension amid heated debates triggered by Dasuki’s intervention.
The released laws comprise the Nigeria Tax Act, 2025; Nigeria Tax Administration Act, 2025; National Revenue Service Establishment Act, 2025; and Joint Revenue Board Establishment Act, 2025, described as foundational to modernising Nigeria’s tax system.
These reforms aim to enhance compliance, curb inefficiencies, eliminate overlaps and bolster fiscal coordination across federal, state and local tiers, following extensive stakeholder consultations, committee reviews and plenary debates under Abbas’s leadership.
Rotimi reassured Nigerians: “The National Assembly is an institution built on records, procedure, and institutional memory. Every Bill, every amendment, and every Act follows a traceable constitutional and parliamentary pathway.”
He emphasised that only National Assembly-certified versions hold authority, urging the public, institutions and stakeholders to disregard all other circulating documents as unofficial.
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