AFRICA

NIPOST Clamps Down On Illegal Courier Operators In Kaduna

The Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST), has clamped down on unlicensed courier operators in Kaduna state.
Many offices of the illegal operators were sealed off on Thursday by an Enforcement team led by Mr. Shonde Dotun, NIPOST General Manage
Courier and Logistics Regulatory Department (CLRD).
Speaking in an interview, Dotun said the activities of unlicensed courier, express delivery, dispatch and logistics
operators are compounding the security challenges facing the country.

He said some of them are used by criminal elements to deliver guns and drugs thereby undermining the security and safety of citizens.
“We are here in Kaduna to sanitised the postal market which includes private postal operators- those engaged in express services delivery, dispatch services and logistics services,” he said.
According to him, “Research has revealed that we have quite a number of people operating in that space without obtaining license from the Post Master General of the Federation as stipulated by NIPOST Act.

He said, “there is regulatory guidelines in place, but there are a lot of private operators without operating license.
“So we are here to sanitised the market to check the activities of criminals and create a conducive environment for those who are licensed to thrive.
“Unlicensed operators posed a big threat to safety and security in the country.

“We have discovered that most of the unlicensed operators are the ones who engage in illicit activities.
“Some of them engaged in obtaining money under false pretences. Some don’t have offices, some of them dupe people.
“Some of them are used for carrying small arms and drugs. We have seen some of them carrying dollars. They use them to transmit illicit drugs.
“We caught some of them with cocaine inside bread. We also caught others carrying heroine in the statue of Mary …
“Most of them do not understand the ethical value of this profession.

“Our enforcement is going to be extended to motor parks and garages who engage in this illegality.
“It will be extended to capital market operators, stock houses and airports
“We work hand in hand with the police to ensure that those arrested are prosecuted.”

He said last year, 500 illegal operators were arrested and prosecuted, adding that so far over 100 people have been arrested in the ongoing clamp down which started in Kano.
He called on members of the public to stop patronising unlicensed courier, express delivery, dispatch and logistics
operators.

By John Shiklam in Kaduna