By Kingsley Abavo, Benin
The Nigeria Postal Service (NIPOST) on Tuesday, 25 October, 2022 clamped down on illegal Courier and logistics operators in Benin-City, the Edo State Capital.
The exercise was carried out by the combined enforcement Team of the Courier and Logistics Regulatory Department (CLRD) of NIPOST; headed by Shonde Gideon Oludotun; and security operatives from the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), and the Edo State Police Command.
The Team clamped down on identified illegal operators of Courier and Logistics services, who were not licensed in the State.
The exercise was sacrosanct and by extant laws, NIPOST is mandated to Regulate, License and Monitor all activities of Courier and Logistics Operators nationwide, State Postal Manager (SPM), Edo State, Moyosola Bamisile who represented the GM (CLRD), Oludotun; told journalists in an interview.
According to him, the task of maintaining security, sanity and ethical standard in the Postal, Express, Courier and Logistics industry is not negotiable.
Hence, it is undisputable that the industry needs to be purged of unscrupulous elements, he emphasized adding; that any private operator must follow the due process of obtaining a valid operating license from NIPOST before venturing into this essential service and postal industry.
Bamisile told the arrested illegal operators why they were clamped down and the need to start the process of obtaining a grant of operating license or be prosecuted.
They however, admitted their fault and promised to start up their registration process immediately.
Speaking with journalists, President of the Edo State Motorbike Delivery and Logistics Association,
Famous Agbonze, expressed support for the Clampdown Operation.
It was a welcome development, as the Association is willing and ready to work with the full backing of NIPOST: the regulatory body, Agbonze said.
Adding; that the Association is also ready to collaborate with CLRD (NIPOST) in the effort to sanitize the industry and ensure that professional practice is sustained in Edo State.
In the exercise which the Team described as successful, a number of illegal Courier and Logistics outlets were sealed in accordance with the extant laws and regulatory guidelines.
As sizeable number of illegal dispatch riders were apprehended, and their delivery motorbikes impounded as exhibits.