By Prince Osuagwu

THE Federal Government has stated that it will enforce the ban on Aramex International Limited, following alleged  indictment on unethical practices and manoeuvring of Nigerian courier companies.

Following the ban, the Jordan based courier company and integral part of Global Distribution Alliance (GDA) has been restricted from undertaking courier business either directly or indirectly through any courier company registered with the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST).

Announcing the ban to newsmen in Lagos, Dr. Simon Emeje, assistant postmaster general of the Federation and head of Courier Regulatory Department of NIPOST, said that NIPOST will enforce the ban in accordance with the Postal Act Cap. 127 Law of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, to sanitise and ensure a level playing field in the courier industry in Nigeria.

He said: “We are empowered by the Act to regulate the activities of courier companies, amongst other responsibilities. So, we thereby notify all courier operators in Nigeria and the public that Aramex International LLC Ltd has been banned from undertaking courier business either directly or indirectly through any courier company registered with NIPOST”

Dr. Emeje noted that prelude to the ban, Aramex had entered franchise agreement with different registered courier companies in Nigeria at different times.

For him, the ban became imperative as a result of incessant reports of unethical practices including breaches of agreement, non-payment of cost of clearance and delivery of shipments, transacting courier business with other courier companies without recourse to contractual agreement despite the fact that the franchise agreement is exclusive and non-transferable, among other issues.

“Aramex has been placed under surveillance and courier companies are required to report to the Courier Regulatory Department if they notice any courier business undertaken by Aramex,”.

Meanwhile, managing director, ABX World courier company and country representatives of Aramex International Limited, Captain John Okpaku, when contacted, admitted that Aramex was actually doing underground businesses without its knowledge as the authorised representatives.

He also revealed that his own company, ABX world, lost close to $600 million as a result of the under hand practices Aramex involved in while still having a running exclusive agreement with him.

He said ABX World had entered into franchise with Aramex International as a member of Global Distribution Alliance (GDA) but over time, realised that Aramex did not keep to its part of the agreement.

The breaches according to him, led his ABX World to severe its relationship with Aramex before the ban hammer fell.

Capt. Okpaku however added that ABX World’s exit from Aramex group does not affect its membership of GDA.

According to him, “we must protect our people. We must protect Nigeria’s sovereignty. Nobody should come here to tell us how to operate. Aramex at a time was bragging that nobody can restrict them from bringing parcels to Nigeria.

“ABX, though as the representatives of Aramex International in Nigeria, we are not going to remain a party to people that do not recognize or respect laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“On the course of doing business with Aramex we lost nothing less than $6,000 million and pay $8,000 annual dues to GDA. So, as representatives of Aramex International in Nigeria we are reaffirming CRD, NIPOST and Federal Government’s position on the matter,” he said.

Dr. Emeje, the CRD Boss, consequently warned courier companies licensed by NIPOST to desist henceforth from entering into business agreement or courier transactions with Aramex, or risk losing their operating licenses.