The Nigeria Postal Service (NIPOST) announced it will transition from its current manual licensing system to a digital platform in the second quarter of this year.
The transition to a digital platform aims to expedite the process for logistics companies operating in the country, according to the postal agency which says the move aligns with its broader efforts to integrate digital technologies into postal services and boost e-commerce across Nigeria.
Ms. Tola Odeyemi, Postmaster-General of NIPOST, announced this on Wednesday during a stakeholders’ forum focused on accelerating e-commerce through the integration of digital and physical infrastructure.
“Leveraging these assets to support logistics and delivery while integrating them with digital platforms offers a transformative opportunity to create a nationwide logistics network,” Dr. Tijani says. “This network will make e-commerce accessible across Nigeria’s 36 states, significantly boosting inclusion and accessibility in underserved regions.”
Minister: NIPOST’s network of over 1,000 post offices in Nigeria underutilised
According to Odeyemi, the new digital licensing regime will enable applicants to track their licence status and obtain digital certificates. “We are migrating from an analogue to a digital licensing process, that should be ready second quarter of this year, so that people are able to track and know the status of their licences, as well as get digital certificates as their licence,” Odeyemi says, adding that physical certificates will also be available for those who prefer them.
Speaking at the forum, Dr. Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, underscores the importance of e-commerce in the global economy and Nigeria’s potential to lead in this sector.
Dr. Tijani, who was represented by the Postmaster General, emphasises the need to address logistical and infrastructural challenges that hinder the seamless movement of goods and services, particularly in underserved and rural areas.
To that end, the Minister highlights the necessity of integrating NIPOST offices into digital platforms to improve the logistics network across the country.
According to the Minister, NIPOST, with its network of over 1,000 post offices nationwide, is currently being underutilised.
“Leveraging these assets to support logistics and delivery while integrating them with digital platforms offers a transformative opportunity to create a nationwide logistics network,” Dr. Tijani says. “This network will make e-commerce accessible across Nigeria’s 36 states, significantly boosting inclusion and accessibility in underserved regions.”
The Minister states that integrating NIPOST offices with digital platforms would provide a critical boost to the e-commerce ecosystem by lowering barriers to entry, enhancing logistics capabilities, and expanding market access for businesses—particularly small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
According to Odeyemi, the new digital licensing regime will enable applicants to track their licence status and obtain digital certificates. “We are migrating from an analogue to a digital licensing process, that should be ready second quarter of this year, so that people are able to track and know the status of their licences, as well as get digital certificates as their licence,” Odeyemi says, adding that physical certificates will also be available for those who prefer them.
Odeyemi also mentions that there were 20 million SMEs in Nigeria, which are both registered and unregistered.
The Minister also says that strengthening this foundation will ensure that Nigeria’s digital economy thrives not just locally, but also contributes to advancing intra-African trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)’s Digital Trade Protocols.
Addressing the infrastructure challenges faced by logistics companies in Nigeria, Lamide Akinola, General Manager of Glovo Nigeria, says the company has been leveraging technology in areas such as route optimisation and addressing systems.
She notes that the increasing adoption of e-payments and digital payment solutions is also helping to address payment-related challenges. “The infrastructure challenges are being addressed, even on the regulator side and our side as well, and I think we’re getting there, we’re seeing progress in addressing the challenges we’re facing,” Akinola says.
The forum also featured a presentation on the state of e-commerce in Africa by Mr. William Benthall, the Global Director of Government Relations at Glovo.
According to a Glovo study, access to finance is one of the major challenges for its partners across Africa. Other challenges include unclear regulations and restrictions on motorbike movement imposed by some governments.
The report also revealed that Glovo’s logistics service has generated one billion Euro for African businesses between 2020 and 2024, underscoring the growing economic impact of e-commerce in the region.
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