General News

You Can Minimize not Eradicate Illegal Courier Operators – Chikezie

Published

17 years ago

October 19, 2009

Kindly share this post

Charles Chikezie is the chief executive officer (CEO) of Parcel Force Nig Ltd. He has been a player in the courier industry since 1987 and has worked with notable courier companies including IAS/TNT. He has also worked with RedStar Express as assistant manager, data processing before joining Royal Mail as data processing manager. In 1997 Chikezie founded Parcel Force to give buyers of the Express business a reasonable option. He spoke to emeka okafor on industry wide issues.

How Courier Companies Can Scale the Recession
In the first place, I think the global economic crisis is a two-way facet issue because it gives the opportunities for people who know their onions in whatever sector of the industry they are playing to stand on their feet and forge ahead.
It is also a time for consumers to know who is who in the industry. It is a challenging period even for the expert; you will discover that the carpet has been pulled from under your feet because nobody expected the recession.
There are several steps a professional courier service operator would take to weather the storm. You must make sure that you watch your operational cost, it is very important. There are some expenses that are frivolities; you must try as much as possible to cut some expenses you can do without.
Another issue is that you must be innovative and dynamic. Are there some products you feel that can sell in this situation, even if it means cutting the prices of the products for consumers to find them attractive and affordable? This is another opportunity to stay afloat pending when things start looking up.
Another area is on employment, you have to make sure you employ, when it is absolutely necessary. You don’t just employ for fun. You only employ when you know the employee is going to add value to the business. In this kind of situation, you must make sure you have a very good relationship with your existing clients. A bird in hand is worth millions in the bush so you make sure you have a cordial relationship with existing clients, parley them from time to time, give them excellent service delivery and make them feel good. If there is any other way you can add to their business, go ahead and do it at no extra cost, then you will stay afloat.
You also make sure you have a good banking relationship with your bank because at the end of the day, you find out that most customers you run to at times are no longer coming up with payment for services rendered because their receivables will definitely drop this time around and this will affect their expenses. Even if the money will get to you, it might be after sometime, so you need your banker to bridge the gap to make your operations seamless for your customers not to understand that you are going through financial challenges. In as much as they know it is a global problem, sometimes they will refuse to understand, so make sure you maintain a good relationship with your banker.
Also if you have your way spend some money on advertisement and make sure you reach the target market not just advertising for the fun of it. The advert is also not for show offs, you are advertising for a particular purpose and that is to position yourself in the market to establish your brand.
Competition in the Industry
Competition is always healthy for every economy except you are operating a communist state or a socialist state but in a capitalist state, competition is the best. This brings about excellence in service delivery because there is competition. We have to welcome as many courier companies as are interested in joining us in this industry but one thing is that they must conform to the policies and ethics that guide the industry.

Regulating Activities of Illegal Courier Operators
In every industry we have bad eggs or illegal operators. Go to the telecom industry or the oil and gas, even banking industry. You can only minimize their actions, you cannot eradicate them completely. These are somehow functions of the economy because the economy is not balanced, so many people are not favored, and they are not cared for. If the economy was balanced and everybody was comfortable, nobody would operate an illegal business. Some of the reasons for smuggling is when the country is not producing a product and when it is eventually produced in the country, it is at a higher price. The reason for some of these acts is because people’s pockets are empty so they look for the smartest means to get what they want. One of the ways to curtail such activities is by looking at the cost of registration. When the cost of registration is too high and you want to regulate the industry, you get many of them fake because the industry is for middle men. This industry for now is occupied by middle class. Forget about the giants because most of them are multinationals. The middle men are graduates and they are intelligent, they know what to do to add to what they have and are ready to fight with the last drop of their blood to make sure they get to the next level which is a high class level. People will give them jobs because they attract sympathy and they begin to establish so they will survive.
Another aspect is the area of proper monitoring. Our CRD is trying, they are doing well but Nigeria is a very large country. That is where ICT comes in but because of the epileptic power supply, it is difficult for them to do most of the things they can do online. There is some extent to which constant power supply and ICT could help the CRD to minimize the activities of illegal operators.
One more thing is the sincerity of the citizenry. In some situations we accommodate fraud to the extent we do not report such until it becomes a way of life. If the society could come out to identify the lapses in the system and there is protection for those who report such activities, the better our economy will become. Going by the power given to the CRD by the constitution of the parliament, I think they are trying because they can only work as human beings.
Effect of the Bank Shakeup on Courier
It is better we sanitize the system now than when the whole thing is allowed to crumble and Nigeria would look like Argentina. Like a child’s play, Argentina had a serious problem and the economy crumbled in a day, there was no bank, there was no money. The wicked ones in this country out of selfishness would want us to get to that point before we start doing something about it. They forget that you might have the money in your house and the whole thing collapses and becomes a paper. Just like the Zimbabwean dollar used for wall carpet, and it is no longer a legal tender.
The shake up is really affecting the courier companies because an average courier company’s customers – basically 70 or 80 percent of them pay after 60 days or 90 days after completion of job… How do you now bridge the gap? You need a facility from the bank. Based on your turn over the bank can give you the facility but now you need a collateral. Enlarging your fleet, expanding your logistics and others also become a problem. In all you find out that is going to be a problem for an average courier service company to function very well because you need a little bit of overdraft or facility to run your operations pending when your customer will pay. We want the government to come up with something that can give the whole thing a human face because players in the industry are middle people who do not have people to render financial assistance to them. When you do a blanket wipe out and they are affected at the end of the day, we go back to square one and what we have built over the years starts dying, so who are we building for? Talking of microfinance banks, they are for middle and small scale enterprises, the government should make sure there are policies to accommodate them while purging the big ones.
Company Registrars Owing Courier Companies
Company registrars are our customers. I said earlier that 70 percent of customers pay after 60 days or after 90 days as the case may be. I think it is not a registrar issue because registrars too have their customers and some of those customers do not pay until after 24 months or six months as the case may be and at the end of the day it is a multiplier effect or a ripple effect. When you go there to make a request about your money you will be told the money has not been released to pay you so it is an entire economic problem. As the government is doing this, they should look into the credit system and overhaul it. At the end of the day it might not be registrars’ problem so to speak, it is a problem emanating from the system. Registrars are customers of courier companies, so they owe, other customers owe and their customers in return owe them. What we are saying is that quoted companies customers’ should please pay them on time so they can also pay their service providers. These are the end people just like saying the end product because they are the result of everything you have been doing. If the end product is not there then production is not complete until it gets to the final consumer. If you are organizing an AGM, there is no AGM so to say until that annual report gets to the shareholder.
Economic Crisis and Volume of Business
Yes. There are so many factors that hold to that. One is that if Company AYZ produces something and we used to have 90 percent demand for that product but because of the effect on the purchasing power of the consumers, it now drops to 50. If you are using a courier company to deliver those goods, automatically the quantity it will handle is affected. Two is that the effect cut across all sectors of the economy so what you do is to cut costs. The company analyses the situation and weighs the option and does most of their delivery jobs in-house to save cost. Most of the companies instead of outsourcing, they do most of their operations in-house to have absolute control over what they are doing.
Mergers and Acquisitions
Mergers and acquisitions give a better branding position and outlook on the local and international scenes. I expect the regulatory department to begin to put together mergers and acquisitions policies because people can wake up one morning and say let us go to CRD we want to merge and you tell them goodbye go and implement it we have heard you. We have to implement a code of conduct because when problem arises out of that marriage definitely as a regulatory department, they will have to come in. Another issue is that the regulatory department also, should begin to encourage people and organizations because the type of institution they monitor determines their capabilities. If we have one or two local operators merging, I think it will be a good one.

Improving Skills in the Industry
Before now and even up till now, the regulatory department is doing that. Training is very important to every industry. CRD has been putting together trainings from time to time for courier operators but they can do better. For they to do that , they should find a way of collaborating with professional training organizations and human capacity building institutes who know what is obtainable in the industry to form part of the faculty members. There should be a department where it is their job to brainstorm and come up with topics that would turn the industry around. There is no problem at all if mergers and acquisitions come through the courier and logistics industry. This would help chief executives who do not understand what it means. Before the consolidation in the banking sector, most people did not understand the meaning of merger. It was after that that many people in the banking industry started going abroad for training on mergers and acquisitions. Nothing stops courier regulatory department from collaborating with either foreign or local companies who understand what mergers and acquisitions is and narrow it down to courier and logistics industry and begin to train people from there and the desire would come naturally.

Kindly share this post

General News

Anambra Govt Bans Graduation Ceremonies in Anambra Schools

Published

7 hours ago

July 25, 2026

Ebere Melum-Nwogbo

Kindly share this post

Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, governor, Anambra State, has approved an indefinite ban on graduation ceremonies in kindergarten, primary and secondary schools across the state as part of efforts to reduce the financial burden on parents.

Anambra Govt Bans Graduation Ceremonies in Anambra Schools

Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, governor, Anambra State,

The directive was confirmed by Dr. Law Mefor, commissioner for Information and Value Reformation, in a statement issued on Friday.

According to the commissioner, the government deemed it necessary to clarify the policy following public inquiries and concerns over the scope of the ban.

Mefor explained that the directive applies to all graduation-related ceremonies in both public and private schools across the state.

He said the ban covers events described as graduation, passing-out, crossover or any other ceremony organised to mark the completion of kindergarten, primary or secondary school levels.

The government said the decision was taken to discourage unnecessary financial obligations often imposed on parents through elaborate school celebrations.

The commissioner clarified that students completing Senior Secondary School (SS3) are exempt from the directive.

However, he stressed that graduation ceremonies for SS3 students are not compulsory and may only be held without imposing any financial burden on students or their parents.

According to him, schools choosing to organise such ceremonies must ensure that no levies, compulsory contributions or hidden charges are demanded from parents.

Mefor warned that the state government would not hesitate to sanction any school that violates the directive.

He said schools found organising prohibited graduation ceremonies or imposing illegal charges on parents risk severe penalties, including possible closure.

The commissioner urged school proprietors and administrators to comply fully with the directive in the interest of parents and the education sector.

The state government said the policy is part of broader efforts to make education more affordable and eliminate unnecessary expenses associated with school activities.

Many parents have previously complained about the increasing costs of graduation ceremonies, including compulsory levies for gowns, entertainment, souvenirs and other related expenses.

The government expressed optimism that the directive would ease the financial pressure on families while encouraging schools to focus more on academic excellence than ceremonial activities.

Kindly share this post

General News

Universities, Polytechnics Submit 169 Entries for NASENI Research Commercialisation Grants

Published

7 hours ago

July 25, 2026

Ugo Onwuaso

Kindly share this post

About 169 proposals from Nigerian institutions including universities, polytechnics, and research institutes spread across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones have entered for the NASENI Research Commercialization Grant Programme (NRCGP).

NASENI

The programme, an initiative of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), aimed at bridging the gap between research and industry, is designed to identify innovative research with strong commercial potential and support its transition from laboratories to the marketplace.

Speaking on the latest episode of the NASENI Window Podcast, recorded on yesterday at NASENI Studio, NASENI headquarters, Abuja, the Team Lead of the NRCGP and Deputy Director, Monitoring and Evaluation, Ms. Joy Elugbe, said the team received 169 proposals from eligible institutions across the country, including Universities, polytechnics and other research institutions.

Following the close of applications, and to ensure transparency and a rigorous selection process, NASENI engaged 21 professors with expertise across the Agency’s approved thematic areas to evaluate the originality and technical quality of the shortlisted proposals.

According to her, a rigorous preliminary screening reduced the number to 49 proposals after removing duplicate entries and submissions that failed to meet eligibility requirements while the Agency’s Innovation Hub assessed their commercial viability to determine their potential for market adoption.

“12 proposals, two from each geopolitical zone, have progressed to the due diligence stage before the final selection of six grant beneficiaries will be done. The objective is not simply to fund research but to invest in innovations that can successfully reach the market and deliver real impact,” Elugbe explained.

The NRCGP was conceived to address one of Nigeria’s longstanding innovation challenges which is the research breakthroughs that remain on the shelves due to inadequate funding.

She said the initiative, championed by the Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NASENI, Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu, targets promising research proposals with the capacity to generate economic value, create jobs and contribute to Nigeria’s industrial development.

“The idea behind the programme is to identify innovative and commercially viable research outputs that have remained on the shelves because of lack of funding, and provide the support needed to transform them into products that can impact the economy,” she said.

Explaining the concept of commercialization, Elugbe described it as the process of transforming an invention, research outcome or service into a profitable product that meets market needs. The NRCGP aligns with NASENI’s strategic focus on Collaboration, Creation and Commercialization (3Cs), stressing that innovation only achieves its full value when it reaches end-users.

She disclosed that following the launch of the application portal, the Proposal Evaluation Team went on nationwide sensitization campaigns across the six geopolitical zones to educate prospective applicants on the programme requirements and application process.

The sensitization exercise, complemented by radio awareness campaigns, significantly improved participation and the quality of submissions.

She further revealed that NASENI’s support would extend beyond grant disbursement, noting that successful innovators would be linked with the Agency’s Innovation Hub for continuous technical guidance, market advisory services and commercialization support to ensure their products achieve sustainable market success.

The NASENI Research Commercialization Grant Programme was inaugurated in March 2025 to promote innovation, technological advancement and the commercialization of research outcomes in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.

Kindly share this post

General News

NITRA Conference: Stakeholders Seek Policy Reforms, Grassroots Innovation to Bridge Nigeria’s Digital

Published

7 hours ago

July 25, 2026

Ugo Onwuaso

Kindly share this post

Stakeholders in Nigeria’s information and communications technology (ICT) sector have called for comprehensive policy reforms, stronger infrastructure investment and grassroots innovation to bridge the country’s digital divide and improve global competitiveness.

NITRA Conference

The stakeholders made the call on Thursday during the Nigeria Information Technology Reporters Association (NITRA) Innovative and Scientific Conference held at Citi Height Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.

The conference, themed “Bridging Nigeria’s Digital Divide With Scientific Innovation,” brought together government agencies, technology experts, regulators, telecom operators, private sector players, academics and policymakers to examine strategies for accelerating digital inclusion through science and innovation.

A panel session titled “The Place of Policy and Infrastructure in Nigeria’s Quest for Global Competitiveness through Scientific Innovation: Roles of Different Stakeholders in Grassroots Mobilisation” examined the policy, infrastructure and human capital requirements for driving Nigeria’s digital transformation.

Panelists identified multiple taxation, high right-of-way (RoW) charges, inconsistent state government policies, poor electricity supply, inadequate digital infrastructure and limited grassroots innovation support as major impediments to expanding broadband access and improving Nigeria’s competitiveness in the global digital economy.

One of the speakers noted that transporting internet bandwidth from Lagos to Canada is cheaper than extending connectivity to some parts of Nigeria because of infrastructure bottlenecks and multiple charges imposed by sub-national governments.

According to the panelist, although some state governments claim to have abolished right-of-way charges, operators are still subjected to numerous levies under different names.

“When we talk about right-of-way limitation, it affects the cost of providing services in some states.

“Some states say right of way is free, but when they grant free right of way, they introduce development charges, education levies and infrastructure fees, making the so-called free right of way meaningless,” the panelist said.

The speaker called for harmonised national policies that would eliminate multiple taxation and reduce the cost of deploying telecommunications infrastructure across the country.

Another panelist representing telecommunications operators stressed that government policies should encourage fair competition rather than favour dominant market players.

According to the representative, improved collaboration between regulators and industry operators is necessary to ensure that policies support innovation, cybersecurity and sustainable sector growth.

Speaking on innovation development, a representative of a private sector innovation fund said Nigeria must begin identifying and nurturing innovators from an early age.

The representative said the organisation supports young innovators through essay competitions, grants and educational programmes aimed at exposing students to science, technology and entrepreneurship.

“We believe innovation begins from childhood.

“By helping children in primary and secondary schools think creatively, they become better positioned to seize opportunities as they grow.

“Innovators exist everywhere, including rural communities. What many of them need is exposure and opportunity,” the speaker said.

On cybersecurity, another panelist advocated greater investment in developing indigenous cybersecurity professionals through structured internship and mentorship programmes.

The panelist also suggested that young people involved in cybercrime should, where appropriate, be rehabilitated and equipped with legitimate digital skills rather than relying solely on imprisonment.

“Part of what we are known for is developing local talent.

“We recruit interns from schools and train them in cybersecurity.

“We should find ways to harness the abilities of young cyber offenders instead of simply sending them to prison,” the speaker said.

A representative from the computer society sector emphasised that Nigeria’s digital transformation should begin with reforms in basic education.

According to the representative, pupils should be introduced to coding, robotics, artificial intelligence and innovation at the primary school level.

“If Nigeria wants to become globally competitive, we must start from primary school.

“Our schools should not merely prepare students for examinations; they should become innovation clubs where children learn robotics, coding and problem-solving,” the panelist said.

The speaker also referenced the recent launch of an artificial intelligence university portal in Lagos designed to create a talent pipeline from primary education through tertiary institutions.

Addressing regulation, a media analyst cautioned against excessive government control that could discourage technological innovation.

According to the analyst, regulatory frameworks should emerge through stakeholder engagement and strike a balance between consumer protection and innovation.

“Regulation must come with dialogue.

“If regulation becomes excessive, it will stifle innovation.

“As Nigeria develops policies on artificial intelligence, there is a need to strike the right balance,” the analyst said.

On infrastructure protection, another panelist called for stronger public awareness campaigns to discourage vandalism of telecommunications infrastructure.

The speaker said community ownership and public education are essential to safeguarding digital infrastructure.

“When telecommunications infrastructure is vandalised, everyone suffers, including regulators, operators and consumers.

“People need to understand that protecting infrastructure benefits the entire society,” the panelist said.

Participants also highlighted the affordability of digital services as a major challenge to digital inclusion.

One speaker urged the Federal Government to consider subsidy mechanisms that could reduce the cost of internet-enabled devices.

“Telecommunications companies are businesses, not charity organisations.

“If government introduces subsidy policies similar to what has been done in other sectors, device prices can become more affordable,” the speaker said.

Another panelist stressed that reliable electricity remains fundamental to Nigeria’s digital competitiveness.

“The child who enjoys uninterrupted electricity and internet access cannot be compared with one who has gone months without power.

“For Nigeria to compete globally, every child should have reliable electricity, internet access and opportunities to acquire digital skills,” the speaker added.

Earlier, NITRA Chairman, Mr Chike Onwuegbuchi, said the conference was organised to provide a platform for stakeholders to examine policy options capable of strengthening scientific innovation and promoting grassroots technological development.

He noted that the Federal Government had demonstrated increasing commitment to building an innovation-driven economy through various strategic initiatives.

Founded in 2013, NITRA is the umbrella body of journalists covering Nigeria’s information and communications technology sector.

Kindly share this post