The Nigeria Postal Service (NIPOST) has assured its customers that it is still in business. This is despite the invasion of e-mail, e-banking and courier services.

The Post Master General of the federation, NIPOST, Ibrahim Bori-Baba, said this during an interview session with journalists at the induction ceremony of the Association of Nigeria Courier Operators (ANCO) members in Lagos recently.

Contrary to the general perception that NIPOST is no longer in the delivery business as a result of its inefficiency, Ibrahim described the agency as efficient and current with modern trends and technology to further enhance and serve its customers better.

According to him, the agency has 192 members in its universal postal union and the courier companies ride on these 192 member countries that are members of NIPOST. Hence, he argued that no private company can match the networking system of the old agency which has over 600, 000 outlets across the world and further described the industry as the most liberalised in the country.

"For every 6,000 inhabitants, there should be a post office and that is what NIPOST is working towards," he said.

"Apart from this, we have also introduced the use of ICT in the industry and training and re-training of staff as well as more mail vans for timely delivery."

Earlier, the ANCO president, Toyin Olufade, in his remarks, stated that the aim of the ceremony was to present to the Minister of Communications Technology, Omobola Johnson, who was represented by the Post Master General of the federation, issues as it affects courier services as well as the induction of 66 new members some of whom include Blue Marine Express Ltd, Aim Arrow Ltd, Cross Country Ltd, DVG Pearl Logistics Ltd, Fast Mail, Ruby Courier and Mutual Express amongst others.

Other issues discussed were the request for an independent regulator and a body that will be fair in terms of its policies and relationship with the industry.