Leadership (Abuja)
Betrand Nwankwo
21 January 2008
The security measures put in place by the Nigerian Postal Services (NIPOST) to check the activities of fraudsters have started yielding results, as it has intercepted 2,500 fake passports meant for shipment overseas. Similarly, NIPOST also intercepted 4,000 scam letters and parcels meant for shipment abroad between October and December last year.
Postmaster-general of federation (PMG), Mallam Ibrahim Mori Baba, disclosed this at the weekend while speaking on the occasion to mark this year's Pan African Postal Union (PAPU).
Explaining further, Mori Baba said the intercepted letters and parcels contained fake international currencies which include; 894,774 pounds sterling, 2,635, 095euros and $117, 058, 972 were meant for shipment to Britain, Germany, France, China, Japan, Russia, Canada, Brazil and the United States of America (USA).
He revealed that the 2500 fake international passports intercepted by NIPOST were equally meant for shipment to countries in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, USA, North and South America.
He said, "other items recovered by NIPOST include 105 digital cameras and 55 cam-coders and over 100 assorted high grade GSM handsets fraudulently sourced through the internet by some unscrupulous Nigerians".
The PMG said that the recovered items have been returned to their owners according to the international postal regulations, adding, "the intercepted fake currencies and international passports have been sent to the appropriate government agency for further examinations and necessary action".
According to the NIPOST boss, the items were intercepted through the assistance of local and international organisations like EFCC, NDLEA, Immigration, the Customs, the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) of Britain and the Postal Inspectorate Unit of USA postal service.
Speaking further, Mori Baba said PAPU day was meant to sensitise the public and government authorities of member states on the role of the post and that of PAPU in the development and improvement of the African postal services.
Taking a stock of NIPOST in 2007, he said the service has embarked on restructuring of the postal system in line with the federal government reform initiatives with the objectives of transforming the organisation to a world class institution with global best practice in service delivery.
"Part of the reform agenda was the hosting of the stakeholders forum in April 2007 followed by a series of training workshops intended at inculcating new attitudes and skill in the rank and file of NIPOST workforce.
He continued: "This year, management intends to intensify staff training and motivation through appropriate training in various fields in line with the reform programme to raise the level of quality and efficiency in our service delivery". Concluding, the PMG said any staff of NIPOST from level 12 and above that is not computer literate will not be promoted.
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