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The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami has approved new guidelines “Courier and Logistics Operations 2020” to enhance the operations of courier and logistics services in Nigeria.
Smaller operators, including those carrying out low scale, intral-city and inter-states operations, once unrecognized in the old guidelines, are properly captured in the new regulations.
The approval is in line with Section 62 of NIPOST Act, Cap N127, LFN 2004 to replace the former Regulations which has been in existence since 2001.
NIPOST is both a service provider and the regulatory authority for courier and logistics operations in Nigeria.
Unlike the old regulations which largely focused on the big players in the industry, the new guidelines identifies smaller operators within the Small Medium Enterprenuers (SMEs) capsule, particularly largely unknown upstarts. This effectively helps to address the “laxity that caused proliferation in the industry.”
Pantami, stated in the letter of approval that the new Regulations will no doubt enhance the regulatory powers of NIPOST in this subsector of the economy.
Six category of licensing
The new regulations creates six category of licensing ranging from International operators, Regional State, Municipal or Intra-city, and gives special consideration SMEs Licence.
According to the NIPOST, the categorization will enable the licensees to operate at their levels per time and scope. The postal agency said the new regulations will assist SMEs to grow and create youth empowerment that will translate into employment opportunities for Nigerians.
“The the new regulations that is a great improvement on the old one, is aimed to rejig the logistic and courier ecosystem of the economy and significantly improve efficiency, and make courier and logistic operation more effective, in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration policy on ease of doing business,” said NIPOST’s General Manager, Corporate Communications, Franklin Alao.
“The new guideline has made it possible for every operator irrespective of their category to be identified with specific address and location that is traceable to before and after engaging their service. This will eliminate the risk posed by dubious operators who may take advantage of poor control to operate illegally.
The categorization creates room for migration as a licensee has rights to migrate from a particular licence category to another, but must do so in compliance with Section 3(4) of these regulations as pertain to the desired licence category before expiry date of the subsisting licence.
“To maintain diligence, trustworthiness, the Regulations maintain among others things, that an operator will be required to display in their offices list of prohibited and restricted courier and logistic items, to guide their customers,” he added.
