NIPOST to introduce banking services to rural areas — Shittu

The Nigerian Postal Services (NIPOST) will soon introduce banking services to rural areas of Nigeria, Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu, has said.

Shittu told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja, that the banking services would avail Nigerians in rural areas the opportunity to carry out banking transactions.

He said that the Ministry of Communication was making effort to re-position NIPOST to make it vibrant and to diversify its services.

He said that since the commencement of GSM operations in the country, NIPOST had witnessed drop in sales particularly for postage stamp and other services.

The minister told NAN that in its efforts to reposition NIPOST, the ministry had identified some major areas that could be included in the mandate of the service.

He listed some of them to include internet services in all NIPOST locations, introduction of rural banking, property development and e-commerce.

“ We are also looking at consolidating the capacity of NIPOST to engage in property development; you will recall that in most communities NIPOST usually has more land than needed.

“So we are seeking private-partnership arrangement with private sector developers to construct and rent out office blocks, malls and even high class residential houses to enable us generate revenue,’’ he said.

Shittu said the ministry was also looking at the possibility of using NIPOST to facilitate e-commerce.

He said that the ministry had finalised arrangement to appoint a new Post-Master General, who is expected to kick start the reforms in NIPOST.

“We have gone through the processes of interview test and new post-master General will soon emerge.

“Once he emerges, the reforms will take off, ‘’ the minister said.