Courier operators scaling up operations in north east, Obabori

As things are returning to normalcy in the North East part of Nigeria, courier operators have started reopening their offices which were shut down about four years ago.

Nigeria CommunicationsWeek exclusively reported in 2012 that courier operators in North East part of the country fled the region in droves as insecurity occasioned by the activities of Boko Haram, the Islamic militants took toll on their business, staff and equipment.

Four years later, courier operators are re-opening their offices in the areas, Mr. Sola Obabori, group managing director of Red Star Express Plc, told Nigeria CommunicationsWeek.

He said, “Gradually, things are returning to normalcy in major part of the North East. Of course, at the height of the Boko Haram bombing, a lot of people closed shops, we didn’t close down rather scaled down operations. We see it as part of the hazards of our job; sometimes, people do riot but we have to continue on our efforts to serve the public.

“We are also very security cautious. It is also heartwarming that 21 of the Chibok girls have been released. It was so challenging that banks shut down for some days; offices shut down, yet we went there to deliver goods”.

Speaking on the issues bugging the sector, the Red Star GMD decried the economic loss to the Government, operators and customers at large due to non-passage of the Bill.

Obabori also appealed to the National Assembly to speed up the process for the passage of the National Postal Commission Bill pending at the chambers since 2004.

“We are losing a lot (as a country) for non-passage of the all important Bill. We do visit other countries and you would see a clear separation of roles between regulator and operator, enabling clear-cut policy direction as against the arrangement today where NIPOST is playing both rules”.

“In the telecoms sector there is a clear direction on how things should be done. Independence and control are part of critical areas that should be considered while passing the bill. I believe the industry will be given opportunity to make considerations to the Bill before passage. Ghana, Niger and other West African countries boast of a postal Commission,” he appealed to the Government.