Post-Transfer: NIPOST signs bilateral agreement with US, China, others

The Nigeria Postal Service (NIPOST) said it has entered into bilateral agreement with United States (U.S), China, South Africa, India, Cameroun, Togo, Uganda, Tanzania and a host of West African countries over NIPOST’s newly introduced worldwide international money order product called Post-Transfer. But the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has kicked against this.   Speaking at the […]

The Nigeria Postal Service (NIPOST) said it has entered into bilateral agreement with United States (U.S), China, South Africa, India, Cameroun, Togo, Uganda, Tanzania and a host of West African countries over NIPOST’s newly introduced worldwide international money order product called Post-Transfer.
But the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has kicked against this.  
Speaking at the 2015 World Post Day, in Abuja, the Acting Comptroller of NIPOST, Mr. Enoch Ade Ogun, said the newly introduced product would enable Nigerians in Diaspora to remit money home easily and faster.
 “As part of our response to the needs of the customer and in continuation of our role in financial inclusion, we have introduced the worldwide international money order produce called Post-Transfer”, Mr Ogun said.
 He added that the agency had entered into bilateral agreement with postal administrations of Cameroun, United States, India, Kenya, Zimbabwe Togo and Uganda.
He said: “We also have signed agreement with the United Arab Emirate (UAE), to extend our reach to the Middle East, China and India so that Nigerians in these countries can send money to their loved ones and also receive through the post.”
But reacting, the Comptroller General of the NCS, Col. Hammed Ibrahim Ali (rtd), who was represented by the Deputy Controller Mrs. Lean Oyama, said there is need for new framework on such agreement as huge amount of revenue can be lost through that product.
He said: “That emerging ICT trend that both organizations have need to be synergized better. The online merchandising because it is a big challenge, because while the Nigeria Customs Service is involved in checking goods that come into the country through the sea and airports, all other valuable items also come by post and revenue can be lost if not well regulated.”