BPE to unbundle NIPOST

The Minister of Communications, Barr Adebayo Shittu, has said the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) will soon unbundle the Nigerian Postal Services (NIPOST) to make it more efficient and effective.

Shittu stated this when the Director General of BPE, Mr. Alex Okoh, paid him a visit in his office in Abuja, a statement from the ministry said yesterday.

The minister said the vogue of GSM had rendered posting of letters almost out of date.

This has lead to redundancy of manpower at NIPOST, turned its equipment and vehicles idle, which have forced government to find an alternative to making NIPOST efficient and effective, according to the minister.

Shittu said NIPOST Bank, such as the one operational in China, should be established in Nigeria so that the staff and vehicles would be maximally utilised.

He also said NIPOST facilities should be made good use of by establishing malls for rental, to generate fund for the Federal Government.

The disclosed minister that the unbundling of NIPOST would throw up the Properties and Development Companies, NIPOST Services and Logistic, to carry goods and services, e-government in rural areas for collection of international passports, and e-government companies to assist private companies to generate revenue.

The Director General of BPE, Mr. Alex Okoh, proposed for a joint approach that would set up a policy to drive the reform.

He also wants a project recovery team constituted “because NIPOST is overdue for reform and commercialisation.’’