Courier operators in Nigeria are not happy with the encroachment on their professional jurisdiction by banks, e-commerce and multi-national corporations running parcels’ dispatch services, Nigeria CommunicationsWeek can report.
The operators have therefore called on the federal government to order financial institutions and other institutions engaged in dispatch operations to stop immediately.
But Dr. Simon Emeje, senior assistant postmaster-general (SAPMG) and head of the Courier Regulatory Department (CRD), told Nigeria CommunicationsWeek, that government was working assiduously to stem the tide.
Lara Okuneye, vice president, Association of Nigeria Courier Operators (ANCO) said that commercial banks and on-line retailers are most culpable in the act.
“The first thing is education. If individuals were educated that it’s unlawful to take your parcel to commercial motor garages to send to your natives, it would increase the volume of our operations. There are so many porous channels that courier jobs are been mismanaged. In other countries, like in China, you dare not buy something online and the same company will be the one to deliver to you, especially when they are not registered.
“But in Nigeria, the courier has been abused. Restaurants abroad partner courier companies to deliver food to the customers. In Nigeria, online retailers came up and they mounted boxes on bikes delivering items to the door-steps of customers without recourse. Banks are not left behind. Today, it is a booming phenomenon among multi-national companies”
She said that the passage of the National Postal Bill will address the matter.
“That is why we are clamouring for an Independent Commission for the industry. CRD cannot handle the overwhelming challenges, especially when they are ill-equipped. How many vehicles do they have for monitoring? And government may have shied away from strengthening the workforce hence they could not see the relevance of the department, and consequently the industry,” she added.
Commenting on the development, Emeje said that the CRD has reached out to some e e-commerce sites, adding that the CRD was not aware of any bank that engages in courier/dispatch operations.
“We feel the pulse of operators’ heartbeats and we are not relenting in ridding the sector of unwanted acts. We have approached some of the e-commerce retailers to come and register. And they are responding,” the CRD boss said.