FG targets 15% reduction in cost of courier services

The federal government has said it is anticipating a 15 per cent cut in the cost of courier services within Nigeria, the PostMaster General of the Nigerian Postal Service (NiPOST), Tola Odeyemi, has said.

Odeyemi, who disclosed this in Abuja during this year’s commemoration of World Postal Day, said the 15% reduction would materialise when the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between NIPOST and  Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) started to bear fruits.

“Recently, NIPOST and the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) formalised a partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at supporting Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

“With the implementation of this partnership, MSMEs can anticipate a 15% reduction in courier service costs, improved market access and enhanced last-mile delivery capabilities, contributing to job creation and economic development across Nigeria,” she said.

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The PMG said NIPOST has also consolidated its partnership with the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) for the implementation of transportation of biological samples within the country.

The project has entered its final stage for launching in Taraba and Abia states with all facilities in place, she added.

According to her, the initiative is part of the efforts to strengthen the referral of biological specimens in the country using the National Integrated Sample Referral Network (NiSRN) approach by leveraging the expertise of the NIPOST effective delivery network.

She also said the National Addressing System is being developed as a strategic infrastructure for national development in collaboration with the National Population Commission (NPoPC) and other partners.

She said: “This will help facilitate mail handling, identify precise locations, ensure consistency in address-related databases and enable efficient services in government agencies, financial institutions and businesses in a consistent manner.”

She added: “Part of the activities to mark this year’s celebration, is the unveiling of NIPOST Agency Banking Solution (POTMONI) aimed at bringing accessible, convenient and affordable financial services to Nigerians nationwide and from any location across the globe.

“POSTMONI: is an Electronic Money Order Solutions-Customised for NIPOST to connect for the greatness of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the advancement of the Nigerian Postal Service.

“To celebrate the day, NIPOST’s State Offices across the country will organise road shows among other activities to mark the day, the goals still remain the same: to publicize the role of the post and its activities, innovations, new vision as well as its role as a catalyst in the socio-economic development of the nation.”