NIPOST Automation System To Meet Global Trends

JAMB candidates during last Thursday’s Computer Based Test at the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Rivers State. Photo: Sogbeba Dokubo

The Acting Postmaster-
General, Nigerian Postal Service, Mr Enoch Ogun  says the agency aims to meet global standards by implementing the automation of postal services across the country.
Ogun said this in an interview with newsmen  in Abuja.
“Automation simply means computerised operation of postal services, which is all transactions that are carried out in the post are now done through the computer and customers can perform their transactions using their I-pads and laptops.
“The whole world has gone digital and postal operations are not an exception.
“The world has become a single village; you can send something immediately to another part of the world and the recipient should be able to immediately trace the movement of the goods or the parcel.
“Automated service entails using your lap top or the internet to send mails and you can trace them from the dispatch counter to the final destination.
“In Nigeria today, you can apply online for post office boxes; you can watch what is happening in and see how many mails have passed through such boxes.
“We can now keep a tab on mails or parcels movement; where there is delay, the person responsible for it can be detected easily.’’
Ogun said that the automated operations had already commenced in many of the offices in the cities and would soon get to the rural areas.
Speaking on the financial inclusion initiative using postcards, he said that NIPOST had contracts and understanding with some neighbouring countries including European countries.
“We have postcards that people can send out to family and friends; this is like the money order used in digital financial transaction.
“We have contracts with so many countries where we transfer money to including Europeans country and we have platforms where we use them.’’
He said that if the current effort to reposition the postal sector in Nigeria was sustained, NIPOST would be able to, not only provide financial inclusion to the citizenry but also, absorb a greater number of unemployed youths.
Speaking on the N50 stamp duty on every financial transaction above N1, 000, Ogun said that it was a statutory responsibility.
“The fact of the matter is that it is an instrument of law; it is to make your transaction legal,’’ Ogun said.
He called on all citizens to cooperate with government in order to achieve a holistic national development.