Postal Service And Nation-building – celebration of the 21st anniversary of the Pan African Postal Union (PAPU) Day

Nigeria joined the rest 45 African Postal Administrations in Africa
in the celebration of the 21st anniversary of the Pan African Postal
Union (PAPU) Day last Thursday. The day has been set aside by the
Organisation of African Unity (OAU), to focus attention on the state
of postal service around Africa. The Nigerian Postal Administration
as a member was not left out of the celebration, as it used the
occasion to take stock of its achievements and examine how its
activities had impacted on the citizens of the federation. Its time also
for the administrations to examine how well they have
implemented some of the reform measures recommended by both the
Seoul Postal Strategies and Beijing Congress of 1999 all of which we
geared towards ensuring that Postal organisations play a more
positive role in the development of their countries within the
context of globalisation. The need for postal administrations to be more
assertive and play a
major role in nation building with emphasis on its universal
qualitative postal service led to what is known in most postal
circles today as the "Global Utility Reform Process," the aim of
this reform process is to transform postal service from a wholly
government owned enterprise with monopolistic and political control
in a commercial viable entity which can survive the competitive
markets of tomorrow. The restructuring of postal organisation have been a
major topic for
discussion both at national and international postal circles. Postal
authorities especially in developing countries have been forced to
wrestle with this topic as an important option for their survival. This is
due to the fact that they have to adapt to a communications
environment, which is being revolutionized. Not only are they facing
new challenges caused by deregulation and globalisation, but
competition from private courier companies and providers of
alternative means of communications which is becoming increasingly
fierce. In Nigeria, the government of President Olusegun Obasanjo has left
no one in doubt of its recognition of Postal Service as a key
institution, which has a significant role to play in promoting the
political, economic, cultural and educational development of the
country. In fact, since the administration was inaugurated nineteen months
ago, it has practically demonstrated its resolve to build a virile
and first class postal system for the benefit of the citizenry. The reason
for this is not far to seek. In the recent past, the Post
in Nigeria provided infrastructure which helped to reduce the
social, political, economic and cultural isolation of our peoples.
It also facilitated the establishment of small and medium scale
business in our villages and carried correspondences between
organisations and their customers within and across our national
borders. In those glorious days, customer expectations were largely met,
and
postal services remained indispensable in the lives of very many
Nigerians. This perhaps informs why the present government has done
so much to revitalize and reposition NIPOST. The first step in this
direction was an extensive management onboard. Despite some constraints,
the present NIPOST Management has been
able to record a number of significant achievements and has pursued
the objectives for which it was appointed. With the introduction of the
National Mail Route Network launched by
President Olusegun Obasanjo in June, 2000, NIPOST has attained over
80% achievement level in the 72 hours mail delivery service. In
fact, nine reputable and tested transport companies are involved in
the scheme. Other achievements include the liberalisation of operations of
postal service to increase Nigeria's Post density with the
introduction of Post shops, which will be launched early in the
year, as well as the reactivation of Mobile Post Office service
which is already operating in Lagos and Abuja, and the launching of
the Nigerian Postcode System to facilitate quick and easy processing
and delivery of mails within Nigeria. Besides the organisation has
succeeded in introducing some new
ideas, which will make it responsive to market and commercial
considerations with a view to improving its efficiency in the use of
limited resources. The implementation of these ideas has not only
restored public confidence to NIPOST services, but has also won
national and international commendations for the organisation. Recently,
the International Bureau of the Universal Postal Union
(UPU) commended its for its efforts to improve its quality of
services in recent times. Achievements noted by the UPU include: * Over
80% implementation of the recommendations of the 1997 and
1998 UPU quality of services missions. * The acquisition of 36 vehicles to
reinforce the National Mail
Circulation and Delivery Network. * The security measures at the Lagos
Airmail Sorting Centre/Exchange
Office. * The commitment of the Postmaster General to improving quality of
services. Going by the achievements of NIPOST Management in Year 200,
there is
no doubt that the Post as a vibrant industry is still relevant, and
has a major role to play in promoting our national ethos and image. And it
is very important to note that the leadership of NIPOST
shares this aspiration of putting Nigeria on the world map of Postal
Administrations that have fully strategies to play a leading role in
the new world communications order. However, for the Post in Nigeria to
play the crucial role for which
the present government has restructured it, for the Post to be
profitable and offer services commensurate with the expectations of
its customers, it requires a complete overhaul of some of its
infrastructures and the refurbishment of most of the existing Post
Offices and the completion of some abandoned Post Office projects
located in viable areas. It also requires the collective will, diligence,
transparency and
dedication of its workforce to share the aspiration and translate
the innovative ideas of the management into reality. As at the end of 1999
there are 4,048 postal establishments in the
country made up of, 230 head post office; 636 departmental post
offices; 33 branch post offices; two mobile post offices; and 3001
postal agencies. * Ato is the Head, Public Relations of NIPOST
This Day
Copyright 2001 Africa News Service.
Source: World Reporter (Trade Mark) – Middle East Intelligence Wire.AFRICA
NEWS SERVICE, 26th January 2001