Godfrey Nze, Managing Director/CEO, Ukail Courier Ltd. A courier company that started in UK with its branches in South Africa and Nigeria with its specialty in air freighting, logistics procurement, outsourcing, haulage, business facilitation etc.

Ukail which entered the Nigerian courier industry few years ago is now found worthy by the Chinese government as its representative to organise International Logistics and Transportation Fair taking place in China due to its competence in the industry.

In this interview with Saturday Vanguard Business, Nze enumerates the dividends awaiting Nigerian government, individuals, corporate organisation. Excerpts:

Since Ukail commenced business in Nigeria, how has it been operating?

*Godfrey Nze, MD/CEO, Ukail Courier Ltd

The company is about 3 years in now and since we started in Nigeria, we have been into the business of air freighting, courier and logistics. Initially we started in the UK and later opened a branch in South Africa before coming to Nigeria. In Nigeria, we opened branches in Owerri, Abuja and Lagos.

How is the company coping considering the economic environment?

I can tell you that we have not done badly judging from the economic climate of the whole nations reeling out from recession that started from Europe to the rest of the world.

But sincerely the business is going on well. We have clients added to our portfolio every week and the services we are offering people are appreciating it and that actually encourages them to patronise us the more.

With other courier companies on ground before Ukail, how is competitions in the industry?

We have a lot of courier companies in this country, but again it all depends on the type of services each is providing. Each courier tries to distinguish itself with its services.

In our own area, we’ve been trying to serve government, companies and individuals as well, and we make sure they get reward for their money and they are happy with our services.

The issue of a lot of courier companies in Nigeria is not a big deal if the economy is buoyant, it can take as many courier companies as possible, afterall in the UK we have a lot of them – about 2000 courier companies and they are all doing well. I believe it’s a matter of economy – if the economy is well managed everybody will be accommodated and we will also be fine with our service.

The Chinese (Shenzhen) international logistic and transportation fair and conference what would Nigeria stand to gain from the fair?

The fair is International logistics and transportation fair holding in China. And we have been appointed to be the official representative of the Chinese authority in Nigeria to conduct the fair, and what we are doing is getting companies to book stand from Nigeria and getting the government to participate fully.

Why we have decided to take that initiative is that the transport industry in Nigeria is the wheel that runs the economy. Now if we don’t get the transportation and logistic right the economy will continue to drag. Why we are starting with this is to contribute our quota to the development of this nation.

Too, with them participating they would be able to know the latest trend in the transportation industry and then tap into what other countries are doing. If they do, this simply will attract investments in this nation.

If you get your transportation right you would be able to tap from the technology of the countries that have gotten it right and every other system will flows with it.

For instance, when we had our telecom system right it’s really helping the economy. That is the same thing we want to do in the area of transportation, if the government goes in there and look at what others have and see how they can partner with us and bring in investment in that area of transportation. Like railways, water ways, marine, air transportation etc. This will improve our transport system tremendously and help our economy.

Before the government comes in what are the conditionalities of the fair?

From what we have done so far, we are expecting individuals, corporate organisations, government to come with us. And for every visitor is expected to pay $5,899, but for individuals or companies that want to exhibit their products in the fair, they are expected to pay $2,800 for the booth each.

Don’t forget that the total package $5, 899 is not part of the booth. And again it covers your transport, conference, accommodation for the period of the exhibition.

Transportation arrangement, what is the plan?

What we have done so far is a full package in which if they pay that, every other things will be taken care of by Ukail Courier Ltd. but we did not include the price of the booth so that if you want to exhibit you pay the amount for the booth and then you exhibit your product.

Here, we expect the Federal Government to have a stand in the forthcoming fair even though we are still talking with them on this because this will help them improve on the area of transportation system and acquire latest technology and then go into partnership with a lot of countries that are interested in coming into this country to invest in the area of transportation and logistics and of course this will create employment and help the economy to move on to the next level.

Challenges associated with the business?

We face challenges like any other new business here, judging from the setting here. The structures are not well developed as to handle some issues which we are trying to cope with that.

And again, in a situation where you do a job for some people and they promise to pay. We are still having challenges in those areas and the issue of generating the business because it is a situation where we don’t really understand all that much what courier, logistics, haulage and transportation is all about.

People tend to think that it’s all about you coming to pack their goods and that it is. No. There are a lot more to that. I believe with time every company and individuals, governmental organisations will understand what courier, transportation, logistics mean.