The task of making the Nigerian Postal Services profitable is one that must be accomplished.
This was the charge on Thursday to the staff of the organization by its Postmaster General, Dr. Ismail Adebayo Adewusi.
Adewusi, who led other top management staff of the NIPOST on facility tour of the organization in Lagos, said President Muhammadu Buhari has mandated the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy to raise it to global standards in delivering quality services to its customers.
Facilities inspected on the first day of the tour, which would run for two days, include the International Mail Processing Centre; NAHCO Centre at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja; Post Office, Oshodi; General Post Office, Marina; Philately Department, NIPOST Lafiaji; and NIPOST courier services regulatory centre, Lagos Island.
In company with the NIPOST CEO was the Chief Operating Officer, Nwakanma Loreto.
Adewusi said it would amount to self-delusion to pretend there are no challenges facing the organization, adding that it was only in facing those challenges that they would be surmounted.
He said he was in Lagos to get first hand information on the state of the infrastructure and operations of the company with a view to delivering on the mandate he has to breath life into the organisation.
Adewusi said: “President Muhammadu Buhari and the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Pantami, have expressed their readiness to support us in order to attain the status of a world class service delivery company.
‘This is because NIPOST has great roles to play in the realisation of a digital economy.
“We want to be able to operate at the same wave length with any other internationally recognised service company.”
Saying operations in Lagos is very key to the overall success of the courier and logistics company, the Postmaster General said: “If we get it right here, it means we will get it right everywhere.”
He challenged workers to be conscious of the competitive market where NIPOST operates, adding that it is the quality of services rendered that would earn the organisation a place in the competitive world.
Adewusi said: “What we have done here today is to bring you a message of hope. But we also challenge you to put in your best as I can assure you that these are the surest ways to your welfare as well.”
Taiye Ajayi, General Manager EMS/Parcel, explained to the Postmaster General some of the challenges, adding however that the organisation is blessed with dedicated staff who are ready to give their best when encouraged.
Biodun Ogundele, General Manager, International Mail Processing Centre, listed some of the roles the department plays in helping the country to foil criminal activities through courier channels.
Ogundele explained how through the operations of the department his men had detected suspicious parcels and senders arrested.
Funmilayo Ogunlana, General Manager, Philately Department, presented to Adewusi a ceremonial stamp to mark the visit.
This was after conducting the team around the department where centuries old postage stamps were on display.
Others who joined the Postmaster General on the tour were the Deputy General Manager Bulk Post, Rasheed Owolabi; Yahya Rufai, General Manager Courier Regulations, and Zoaka Habu, General Manager e-commerce and logistics and General Manager, Corporate Communications.
