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Independent Regulator will Lift Postal Industry -Emeje

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Dr. Simon Emeje, senior assistant, Postmaster-General of NIPOST and head of Courier Regulatory Department (CRD), is a strategic thinker, leadership specialist, entrepreneur and development strategist.
He is recognized internationally for his expertise in issues relating to Political Science and Public Policy as well as Courier and Logistics.
Emeje is widely travelled and in high demand in leadership, business, courier and logistics seminar and conferences and received several awards for his excellence and dedication to work.
In this interview with peter ugwu he spoke about the courier industry and sundry issues.

Trends in Courier Sector
It has been very interesting, The industry is very dynamic and faces changes in some aspects of courier operations.
Courier Regulatory Department has been apt in carrying out Nigeria Postal Service (NPS’) quests to expose industry operators to various areas they have not really tapped into. That is, the online-courier business. It is an area that is so large, but they have neglected it. That is why in our last workshop we deemed it wise to create awareness among them, which they accepted with two hands. It was like an eye open.
We have been telling who wants to know that courier is beyond picking up items from the capital market to deliver; most of them have concentrated on the bulk, capital market, quoted companies, annual general meeting reports or share holding documents; we have seen that is it quite more than that.

Link between e-Commerce and Logistics
It is a two-way thing for the industry operators. In other words, if they have the capacity to venture into that, they can go directly into it.
The license they obtained from us covers that too. They can open up platforms where people can go shopping and they in-turn deliver the items to them.
Actually, e-Commerce does not stop at ordering. If they want to partner with those who have the platform already they can do that; contemporary businesses thrive mainly on partnership. Therefore, they (courier operators) can take the aspect of delivery.
I call it a hybrid operation, wherein you are standing between technology and physical delivery; customers go online to place order, which are packed at a warehouse,
it is then the responsibility of another person to move the items from, either a warehouse or mall, to the recipient.

Regulation of Delivery In e-Commerce Sub-Sector
That is why we are here. Courier regulation covers the aspect of e-Commerce delivery. But our laws are so limited in that aspect.
We are optimistic that the Federal Government will expedite action on the current National Postal Commission Bill.
Be that as it may, in the technology era, courier remains a time sensitive service of delivering items from door to door in a secured nature.
Thus, the technological gamut can affect what happens in the net because, globally, there is an aspect of the post which has to do with technology in moving items from one destination to another. For instance, billing systems where payments are made online on items that are delivered, even as items are delivered online using particular software.
So, the industry is no longer dependent on just physical delivery. When people start communicating online, making purchases, somebody has to deliver it; the point where the operator picks the item is not usually the beginning, rather someone seated in the comfort of his room or office make the decision to move an item.
That decision is part of the delivery process. Remember, after the decision, the client would have gone ahead to make purchases, they are packaged before the delivery.
At the point courier company XYZ comes in to deliver, to a layman, that is the first point, but it is not.
In the same way, when people make orders online, in the e-commerce contest, from any part of the world, the decision to do that is the beginning.
The second step is where to find the item; they go ahead to surf the platforms, make purchases, then, how do they receive the item. The courier company comes. In other words, the whole process is the essence of courier.

How Domestic Courier Operators can Benefit
We licence courier companies for both domestic and international operations. We have three categories of licencing.
First, the purely domestic is for those that want to play within Nigeria. The other licence is basically for international players, where you have multinationals like DHL, UPS, FEDEX, etc.
The international licence also covers the operator to cover domestic market. We also have indigenous-international, which is allows indigenous companies to embark on international operations. They do not have the capacities like the multinationals.
So, if give a business to the domestic operator for delivery in Ghana, the only to carry to execute that is to synergise with the operator that has international licence. The business of the indigenous stops at the table of the international licencee, otherwise, he has to obtain permit for international transaction.

CRD’s Preparedness in the e-Commerce Era
Yes, we have thought of situations where companies will engage in illegal international transaction because of the gains obtainable in e-commcer viz-a-viz international purchases. We frown at that kind of illegality. What we are doing currently is engage on surveillance.
We are at the airports, checking the manifests of consignments, both imports and exports. If we see any manifest in either NAHCO or SAHCOL sheds and discover that Company XYZ is not licenced for international courier business, we sanction such company.
However, in the last six months we have not experienced that; it was around January that we had about three cases. The truth remains that: documents will not lie.

e-Commerce-Delivery Handshake
Actually, that was one of the essences of our last training. That effort was to bring the two together. E-commerce business is roped into courier.
The ones we have licneced such as Jumia, Konga, etc., are really doing good. In the last six months, we have been rethinking on brining everybody together; let them see themselves as one, running the same business but in different dimensions.
We made the e-commerce operators to speak up, telling the rest of the operators how they are operating. From there, some of them started networking, exchanging ideas with those purely on e-commerce.

National Postal Commission Bill: The Journey So, Far
We are praying to God that government will understand and respond swiftly to the industry’s pleas. We have been talking about it in the last nine years.
So many things would have been made easier if a Commission were to be in place. It is a heart-cry from the industry.
So time ago, the draft Bill was presented to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) through the efforts of the Dr. Omobola Johnson, Minister of Communication Technology and her team.
A committee was set up to fine-tune it; they were supposed to the FEC before it could be sent to the National Assembly as an executive Bill; we are waiting for that to happen.
Before the expiration of the sixth Assembly, a Bill of this nature was sent to the House of Representatives. It went as far as public hearing. It was going towards the third reading before the Assembly dismissed. We were so optimistic then, that in a jiffy it will be passed.
If it were read the third time, probably, by now government would have instituted the Commission.
Presently, the FG in its wisdom has come up with this process; although, the seventh Assembly is already winding up.
To us in the industry, it has not been palatable. Postal Industry regulation is a global phenomenon. All over the world, the separation of postal from telecoms is a known thing.
Nigeria is a giant in Africa and the biggest economy in Africa too, but without a separate regulator for the postal sector which is critical in economic development of the nation.
During international conferences, you will be amazed that even small countries in Africa have postal commission. The postmaster general has been talking about it, even at international conferences he has defended the calls for an independent regulator for this all important industry.

Any Intervention from Universal Postal Union
Really, there UPU will not go to the point of sanctioning Nigeria if an independent regulator is not constituted. UPU has allowed discretional regulation, implying that every government is free to run its industry the way it deems fit.
However, UPU had advocated for every country to do that because it makes service efficient and effective, giving better opportunity for the government to have full control and the operators to enjoy the industry and recoup their investments.
It is a good thing that we heed to the recommendations of UPU. There was a time they came up with a policy on the courier which gave birth to Express Mail Service (EMS) around 1986. UPU said the essence was to stem the incursion of private firms into the jurisdiction of the conventional postal service. So, it was an avenue for the national carrier can run a courier service. Almost all UPU member nations have EMS.     


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EAIF Commits Additional US$30M to Support Indorama’s Expansion with Third Urea Plant in Nigeria

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The Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund (EAIF), a Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG) company, has committed a US$30 million senior debt facility to Indorama, a leading producer and exporter of fertiliser.

The investment enables the construction of a new plant, port terminal, handling stations, and storage facilities in Nigeria, providing a major boost for the country’s agricultural sector, which is a crucial driver of the country and region’s economic growth.

EAIF acted as a co-lender within a broader debt financing package arranged by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), mobilising US$1.25 billion from a syndicate of impact investors, development finance solutions, and commercial banks.

EAIF’s investment increases the Fund’s lending to the company to $111 million, reflecting a joint-ambition to accelerate Indorama’s growth strategy and Nigeria’s aspirations for diversification and industrialisation.

The new funding unlocks fresh capital to enable the construction of a dedicated port terminal and state-of-the-art urea fertiliser plant, anticipating an increase in its current capacity from 2.8 million metric tons to 4.2 million metric tons per annum.

The expansion leverages the company’s strategic location as a freight-competitive supplier serving the needs of significant urea markets in the southern Atlantic, including Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay, as well as West Africa, South Africa and the USA.

The facility bolsters Indorama’s capacity, extending its complex beyond the current two urea fertiliser plants, which is well poised to meet the entire demand of the Nigerian market.

The third urea plant aims to maximise output to meet the food demands of growing populations as disruptions precipitated by the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine crisis affect food security around the globe.

Global crop production is reliant on the international supply of fertiliser. The landmark project is expected to position Nigeria, Africa’s largest economy, as a leading producer of urea among the top 10 producers worldwide.

Contributing to the UN Sustainable Development Goals 8 and 9 on Decent Work and Economic Growth, and Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure, EAIF’s loan forms part of the Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG) objective for new infrastructure to drive action on climate and nature.

The construction of the port terminal and third plant is set to begin in 2024, with commercial operations expected to commence in 2026. During the construction phase, it is estimated that over 500 jobs will be generated, further contributing to economic development in Nigeria and beyond.

Commenting on the transaction, Olivia Carballo, Managing Director, Emerging Market, Fixed Income at Ninety One, the fund manager of the EAIF, said: “Our continued support for Indorama demonstrates EAIF’s commitment to harnessing the region’s significant economic prospects.

Africa’s potential for industrialisation is tremendous, and this landmark project is a testament to Nigeria’s enhanced ability to produce and export competitively priced, high-quality fertiliser to farmers in regional and international markets, which will remain a priority for years to come.”

Munish Jindal, CEO, Indorama, said: “Indorama will utilise state-of-the-art technology and adhere to stringent environmental standards to ensure optimal efficiency, product quality and sustainability.

We believe that the establishment of this fertiliser will position Nigeria as a key player in the global agricultural market. We are committed to maximising the potential of this project to benefit farmers, communities, and stakeholders across the value chain.

The involvement of esteemed lenders like the Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund will not only help Nigeria’s in becoming one of the largest exporter of the fertilisers in the region but will also address the issues of global food security. We extend our sincere appreciation to all our partners, lenders, and stakeholders for their unwavering support and dedication to our shared vision.”

Sérgio Pimenta, IFC Vice President for Africa, said: “Reliable access to high quality fertiliser is essential for food production and food security around the world. IFC’s investment in Indorama, along with African, Asian, European, and American partners, signals our joint commitment to support the agriculture sector, Nigeria’s economy, and the expansion of Indorama, an important supplier in the global food chain.”


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Lifi.net Achieves 500mbps Speed to Rank among Fastest Internet Providers in Nigeria

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Lifi.net, a fast-growing internet service provider, has attained internet speed that is many times faster than the documented average internet speed in Nigeria as at January 2024.

Lifi.net Image

Latest disclosure by LIfi.net shows that the company now delivers up to 500 megabits per seconds (mbps) internet speed in unlimited services provided to homes and offices. This is higher than the country’s average internet speed of 26.74mbps.

As internet subscriber base increases in Nigeria and hit 161.68 million in January, the quality of internet service provided by operators to their users still constitutes concerns as 2G network which has limited speed dominates the space by covering 57.78%.

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) revealed through its latest data that while 3G is responsible for 9.36% of internet users in the country, 4G covers 31.75% of internet access and 5G internet only serves 1.11% of internet users in the country.

This combination explains why Nigeria ranked 93rd on the global mobile internet speed test out of 144 countries tested by Ookla, a U.S-based internet speed analysis firm, in January, putting the country’s median internet speed at 26.74 megabits per second (mbps).

However, Lifi.net (NT/007/22), a licensee of NCC, is among few Internet service providers (ISPs) that deliver fastest internet speed in Nigeria with up 350mbps for homes and 2500mbps for offices while assisting new ISPs with speeds over 5000mbps at the data centre and delivering the capacity to their various hubs at no extra cost.

“For over five years Lifi.net has been a leading network company, providing quality internet solutions at the speed of light and at affordable rates. We have highly technical and hard-working personnel and partners. We are very skilled at managing Cisco and Mikrotik Routers’ deployment, configurations, and integrations, fibre laying, and splicing,” says Abraham Oluwambe, Chief Operating Officer of Lifi.net.

He added that as operators attract more subscribers to their respective networks, they should equally place a premium on upgrading the quality of services to deliver broadband at the fastest internet speed possible.

“Our services are not only widespread but also affordable. We believe in making quality connectivity accessible to all. We understand the importance of budget-friendly solutions. Our cost-effective broadband plans ensure you get the best value for your investment without compromising on quality.

“While providing high-speed and reliable broadband connectivity, operators may choose the floor or the peak performance of its service. At Lifi.net, we always go for the latter,” he said.


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Our 2023 Ads Safety Report

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By Duncan Lennox, VP & GM of Ads Privacy and Safety

Billions of people around the world rely on Google products to provide relevant and trustworthy information, including ads. That’s why we have thousands of people working around the clock to safeguard the digital advertising ecosystem. Today, we are releasing our annual Ads Safety Report to share the progress we’ve made in enforcing our advertiser and publisher policies and to hold ourselves accountable in our work of maintaining a healthy ad-supported internet.

The key trend in 2023 was the impact of generative AI. This new technology introduced significant and exciting changes to the digital advertising industry, from performance optimization to image editing. Of course, generative AI also presents new challenges. We take these challenges seriously and will outline the work we are doing to address them head-on.

Just as importantly, generative AI presents a unique opportunity to improve our enforcement efforts significantly. Our teams are embracing this transformative technology, specifically Large Language Models (LLMs), so that we can better keep people safe online.

Gen AI Bolsters Enforcement 

Our safety teams have long used AI-driven machine learning systems to enforce our policies at scale. It’s how, for years, we’ve been able to detect and block billions of bad ads before a person ever sees them. But, while still highly sophisticated, these machine learning models have historically needed to be trained extensively – they often rely on hundreds of thousands, if not millions of examples of violative content.

LLMs, on the other hand, are able to rapidly review and interpret content at a high volume, while also capturing important nuances within that content. These advanced reasoning capabilities have already resulted in larger-scale and more precise enforcement decisions on some of our more complex policies. Take, for example, our policy against Unreliable Financial Claims which includes ads promoting get-rich-quick schemes. The bad actors behind these types of ads have grown more sophisticated. They  adjust their tactics and tailor ads around new financial services or products, such as investment advice or digital currencies, to scam users.

To be sure, traditional machine learning models are trained to detect these policy violations. Yet, the fast-paced and ever-changing nature of financial trends make it, at times, harder to differentiate between legitimate and fake services and quickly scale our automated enforcement systems to combat scams. LLMs are more capable of quickly recognizing new trends in financial services, identifying the patterns of bad actors who are abusing those trends and distinguishing a legitimate business from a get-rich-quick scam. This has helped our teams become even more nimble in confronting emerging threats of all kinds.

We’ve only just begun to leverage the power of LLMs for ads safety. Gemini, launched publicly last year, is Google’s most capable AI modeI. We’re excited to have started bringing its sophisticated reasoning capabilities into our ads safety and enforcement efforts.

Our Work to Prevent Fraud and Scams

In 2023, scams and fraud across all online platforms were on the rise. Bad actors are constantly evolving their tactics to manipulate digital advertising in order to scam people and legitimate businesses alike. To counter these ever-shifting threats, we quickly updated policies, deployed rapid-response enforcement teams and sharpened our detection techniques.

  • In November, we launched our Limited Ads Serving policy, which is designed to protect users by limiting the reach of advertisers with whom we are less familiar. Under this policy, we’ve implemented a “get-to-know-you” period for advertisers who don’t yet have an established track record of good behavior, during which impressions for their ads might be limited in certain circumstances–for example, when there is an unclear relationship between the advertiser and a brand they are referencing. Ultimately, Limited Ads Serving, which is still in its early stages, will help ensure well-intentioned advertisers are able to build up trust with users, while limiting the reach of bad actors and reducing the risk of scams and misleading ads.

  • A critical part of protecting people from online harm hinges on our ability to respond to new abuse trends quickly. Toward the end of 2023 and into 2024, we faced a targeted campaign of ads featuring the likeness of public figures to scam users, often through the use of deepfakes. When we detected this threat, we created a dedicated team to respond immediately. We pinpointed patterns in the bad actors’ behavior, trained our automated enforcement models to detect similar ads and began removing them at scale. We also updated our misrepresentation policy to better enable us to rapidly suspend the accounts of bad actors.

Overall, we blocked or removed 206.5 million advertisements for violating our misrepresentation policy, which includes many scam tactics and 273.4 million advertisements for violating our financial services policy. We also blocked or removed over 1 billion advertisements for violating our policy against abusing the ad network, which includes promoting malware.

The fight against scam ads is an ongoing effort, as we see bad actors operating with more sophistication, at a greater scale, using new tactics such as deepfakes to deceive people. We’ll continue to dedicate extensive resources, making significant investments in detection technology and partnering with organizations like the Global Anti-Scam Alliance and Stop Scams UK to facilitate information sharing and protect consumers worldwide.

Investing in Election Integrity

Political ads are an important part of democratic elections. Candidates and parties use ads to raise awareness, share information and engage potential voters. In a year with several major elections around the world, we want to make sure voters continue to trust the election ads they may see on our platforms. That’s why we have long-standing identity verification and transparency requirements for election advertisers, as well as restrictions on how these advertisers can target their election ads. All election ads must also include a “paid for by” disclosure and are compiled in our publicly available transparency report. In 2023, we verified more than 5,000 new election advertisers and removed more than 7.3M election ads that came from advertisers who did not complete verification.

Last year, we were the first tech company to launch a new disclosure requirement for election ads containing synthetic content. As more advertisers leverage the power and opportunity of AI, we want to make sure we continue to provide people with the greater transparency and the information they need to make informed decisions.

Additionally, we’ve continued to enforce our policies against ads that promote demonstrably false election claims that could undermine trust or participation in democratic processes.

Overall 2023 Numbers

Our goal is to catch bad ads and suspend fraudulent accounts before they make it onto our platforms or remove them immediately once detected. AI is improving our enforcement on all these fronts. In 2023, we blocked or removed over 5.5 billion ads, slightly up from the prior year, and 12.7 million advertiser accounts, nearly double from the previous year. Similarly, we work to protect advertisers and people by removing our ads from publisher pages and sites that violate our policies, such as sexually explicit content or dangerous products. In 2023, we blocked or restricted ads from serving on more than 2.1 billion publisher pages, up slightly from 2022. We are also getting better at tackling pervasive or egregious violations. We took broader site-level enforcement action on more than 395,000 publisher sites, up markedly from 2022.

To put the impact of AI on this work into perspective: last year more than 90% of our publisher page level enforcement started with the use of machine learning models, including our latest LLMs. Of course, any advertiser or publisher can still appeal an enforcement action if they think we got it wrong. Our teams will review it and, in the cases where we find errors, use it to improve our systems.

Staying Nimble and Looking Ahead

When it comes to ads safety, a lot can change over the course of a year: the introduction of new technology such as generative AI to novel abuse trends and global conflicts. And the digital advertising space has to be nimble and ready to react. That’s why we are continuously developing new policies, strengthening our enforcement systems, deepening cross-industry collaboration and offering more control to people, publishers and advertisers.

In 2023, for example, we launched the Ads Transparency Center, a searchable hub of all ads from verified advertisers, which helps people quickly and easily learn more about the ads they see on Search, YouTube and Display. We also updated our suitability controls to make it simpler and quicker for advertisers to exclude topics that they wish to avoid across YouTube and Display inventory. Overall, we made 31 updates to our Ads and Publisher policies.

Though we don’t yet know what the rest of 2024 has in store for us, we are confident that our investments in policy, detection and enforcement will prepare us for any challenges ahead.


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