By Wole Mosadomi (NIGER)
To an average Nigerian, NIPOST is only saddled with the responsibility of postal services and nothing more.

The main service to Nigerians is just buying of stamps to post letters  within and for external services. Before the advent of the mobile telephone services, many Nigerians have virtually lost hope in this main service because of lateness in the delivery of mails and loss of mails while on transaction to some cases.

In modern days, the introduction of the Global System of Mobile Communications (GSM) has virtually taken over the services rendered  by NIPOST which was mainly dissemination of information through letter writing.

However, an investigation carried out shows that besides postal services, NIPOST also carries out some other essential services which are generating more revenue for the agency and which have contributed to the survival of NIPOST till now.

Our correspondent reliably gathered in Minna that rather than discourage or completely take over the services of NIPOST, the introduction of the GSM has served as a “wake-up call” to the management to look more inwardly for survival and this has worked.

Some of the services intensified on by the agency include Post Cash services, Cargo services, Expedited Mail services (EMS) and the use of Speed Post among others.

In an interview, the Area Manager of Niger Territorial headquarters of NIPOST,  Alh. Garba Argungu told our correspondent that the introduction of the GSM has not taken over the responsibilities of NIPOST but rather pushed the agency to act more positively.

“We have introduced Post Cash services whereby a customer can send money from a point to another especially where commercial banks are not in existence. All you need to do is to have a code sent to the receiver who instantly collects the amount sent through the post office in his domain immediately,” the Area Postal Manager explained.

He also explained  the introduction of the cargo services which he said is operating under Universal Postal Union where excess luggages are received and dispatched by NIPOST to the respective owners safely.

According to him, “during the Hajj operations, many Nigerians who have excess luggages patronize us to receive their goods and they are delivered to them at their door steps without any problems of loss.”

He said that unknown to most Nigerians who also patronize the courier services, NIPOST regulate the services of these courier services and  in difficult situations, these private services in turn patronize the agency to deliver most of the hinterland messages through the EMS i.e. Expedited Mail Service or Speed Post adding that these services generate a lot of revenue for NIPOST, even more than ever before.

“We are still in market and still performing. As mobile phones have their own advantages, NIPOST services are more advantageous because what our mails can carry and deliver, the GSM cannot,” Alhaji Argungu said.

On the safety of money and other goods sent from one spot to the other, the Area Manager said, “It is wrong to include cash in a posted letter or even registered letters. They all have their rules and regulations and if these rules are adhered to, there can’t be loss of cash and goods while in transaction as being done now.”

Despite the low patronage through letter writing, customers still maintain their Mail Boxes to receive their letters adding that, “though they enjoy the service, many customers however find it difficult to pay for the rented Boxes and we have to go the extra miles of locking the Boxes to force the owners to pay as a last resort.”

The private Boxes go for N5,200; commercial Boxes go for N6,300 while Private Mail Bags (PMB) go for only N17,600 per Annum.

However, investigation carried out clearly shows that the sales from stamps in all categories have dropped considerably due to the low patronage from letter writing.

It was also gathered that the salaries of the workers are paid as at when due as no category of worker is owed till now.

When our correspondent visited the Territorial headquarters along the old Airport road Minna, the staff were seen in their various offices discharging their official responsibilities.

In all, though the “socio services” which is mainly the sales of stamps have dropped, the “business mail” has improved considerably because most business men now place order for their goods through Internet but most of the deliveries are through NIPOST (Pick up Service) which are carried out with ease and cheaply too.”

NITEL experience taught us a lesson —NIPOST

BY VINCENT UJUMADU (ANAMBRA)

THE Nigerian Postal Service, NIPOST, may have learnt a big lesson from what happened to the Nigerian Telecommunications Ltd, NITEL, which had virtually gone under due to unprepared privatization. Though NIPOST almost had problems shortly after the emergence of many courier companies in the country, its management quickly rose to the occasion and the result is a healthy establishment in all its branches across the nation.

The only problem however is that one aspect of its services, the postage of letters, is virtually dead in the rural areas. In the Anambra Territory of NIPOST, workers say they have nothing to complain about as they get their promotions as and when due and attend training workshops on a regular basis.

Also, revenue has been on the rise in the two main branches in Awka and Onitsha. For instance, the Expedited Mail Service, EMS, of the company generates about N1 million monthly in both branches. The manager in charge of public relations in the Anambra Territory, Mrs. Ifeyinwa Nwofor said NIPOST is still the provider of licenses for all courier companies which is a major source of its revenue.

She said: “All the courier companies renew their licenses annually, otherwise their operating license would be withdrawn. Also, we have NIPOST courier regulation and if any operator fails to operate according to the provisions of the law, the company risks being closed down.

She however said that one of the problems facing the establishment is quick delivery of mails because many letter writers do not use correct addresses. Besides, she stated, many cities in Nigeria do not have registered addresses because some families and individuals merely use their names for streets and it is often difficult to deliver letters in such places.

At the time Saturday Vanguard visited NIPOST offices, everywhere was busy and mails were being sorted out and dispatched. There was also very noticeable happiness among the workers in the establishment.