By; Bayo Akamo, Ibadan.
Minister of Communications, Alhaji Adebayo Shittu Monday hinted that the Federal Government is ready to turn the Nigeria Postal Service (NIPOST) from a mere service company to a big business conglomerate.
The Minister dropped this hint at the Oyo NUJ press centre in Ibadan while featuring as the Guest of Honour at the roundtable programme organized by the League of Veteran Journalists Oyo State chapter.
Alhaji Shittu declared that as at present, plans are on top gear towards making NIPOST becoming a conglomerate, saying, FG through the Ministry of Communications would use NIPOST potentials to establish “NIPOST Bank and transact E-Banking, NIPOST Transport and provide internet facilities to its customers across the country.
“By the grace of God, NIPOST is going to be a 21st century NIPOST. We are looking at NIPOST to compete with other companies be it local or foreign, we want to acquire helicopter to make it easier. There are many locations, for example, Ikoyi post office is sitting on 10 acres of land, we are planning to build offices, shopping malls on IPP arrangement and there would be more money,” he said.
Commenting on the fine slammed on the MTN by Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC), Alhaji Shittu disclosed that the N50 billion fine paid by the MTN was not a concessionaire fee but part of the actual fine the company supposed to pay to the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC).
The Minister stressed that MTN had earlier admitted it failure to register no fewer than 5.2 million lines out of the 22 million lines on its network, and reportedly apologized and confessed to the offence as well as asking for sum review of the fine slammed on it by the regulatory body.
Speaking further, the Minister noted that the total fine is expected to be paid by MTN after the House of Representatives concludes its on-going investigation into the matter, insisting that the money paid to the NCC was not the actual fine MTN supposed to pay.
Emphasizing that FG will continue to sanction any of the service providers that failed to register all its subscribers, the Minister added that the failure of the companies to fully register their subscribers has made several criminal activities in the country like the kidnapping of Chief Olu Falae and other prominent Nigerians easy because those lines used to communicate with the families were not traceable to any individual thereby causing lot of damages to the country more than the actual fine.
The Minister also charged Nigerians to be patient with the President Muhammadu Buhari led administration as things would be better in no time, adding that “we must do the needful to make the country great”.
