NIPOST Moves to Go Cashless by July 2025, But Nigerians Say Theft by Staff Remains the Bigger Problem

Nigeria Postal Service (NIPOST) has announced that it would stop accepting cash payments in all its national post offices from July 1, 2025, in a decision which, according to him, is part of a radical modernization effort aimed at restoring confidence, improving transparency and aligning on global best practices.

“All national post offices will cease to accept species. Customers will transform using approved electronic payment channels,” the post office and CEO Odeyemi said at a press conference on Tuesday. “This decision improves security, transparency and aligns for world best practices.”

Odeyemi has described the transition as an important step in the efforts of Niosts to rebuild years of ineffectiveness and distrust of the public.

“We are not only a brand change. We rebuild, “she said, adding that the agency was strengthening its engagement canals to ensure that Nigerians have a voice in its transformation.

She also revealed that a new reward and recognition system was introduced to encourage performance between staff, as well as strict disciplinary measures to deal with the conduct that undermines institutional integrity.

The other rot: a flight culture

Although the payment policy without species is welcomed by some Nigerians in order to limit creeping corruption and sneaky transactions involving species in post offices, many citizens say that the basic rot of the institution is deeper, in particular in the cheeky flight of the plans by the personnel of Nipost.

On social media platforms, the Nigerians have expressed doubt that the abolition of money alone would improve the quality of the services to the Nipost. Many customers say that the flight of staff remains the great scourge damaging the reputation of the institution and stifling its growth.

“I received articles from the States to pick it up at the post office and realize that they had stolen in there, kept the pack inside the box and had recorded it,” said Francis, a user named Francis on X last month.

For years, the Nigerians have shared similar stories on receiving empty boxes, random packages and missing objects, even when the packages were tightly sealed. In most cases, the victims say that there is little or no responsibility or repair of the nipost.

“Hi @Tola_ODEYEMI I want to bring in your opinion the problem of the flight which happens under the organization that you are directing, “posted a Nigerian last week.” My articles sent from the United Kingdom to Nigeria were falsified, stolen items, left to be eaten by rodents. I don’t only understand.

The stories have become so frequent that many Nigerians now avoid the agency when sending or receiving important packages, by choosing rather to frequent private messaging services despite higher accusations.

The transition to operations without species, which can help reduce small corruption and the diversion of payments, does not do much to solve the most prejudicial problem of the flight, according to criticism. While Oodeyemi has emphasized discipline and performance, it did not give direct assurance that the question of stolen goods is actively investigated or punished.

Nipost, which operates under the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and the Digital Economy, has struggled to maintain relevance in the rapidly growing digital and logistics of Nigeria. Most of the market share in the delivery of parcels has been lost to agile private mail operators, who not only offer more quickly but also offer better monitoring systems and security guarantees.

In 2023, the Minister of Communications Bosun Tijani called on the Nigerians to suggest means to reposition the agency. Some of the most popular suggestions included the transformation of nipost into an infrastructure of the spine, such as Inter-Bank Nigeria System Settlem (NIBSS), for the logistics industry, supporting mail companies authorized to supply trade and electronic commerce deliveries. Others have suggested that Nipost is deeply integrated into online purchase platforms to improve the delivery experience and credibility.

But these ideas, say the observers, can only materialize if the deficit of trust is discussed.

Available of the set stamp – to now

Odeyemi also clarified the position of Nipost in his long battle with the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) on the tasks. She confirmed that nipost is not authorized to collect stamps, ending a legal and bureaucratic impasse that has caused confusion for years.

“Our role is to provide postage stamps, the legal instruments used to authenticate documents and indicate payment.

Clarification is sworn in a dispute that has already seen the two agencies claim the same source of income. This had led to overlapping mandates and bad institutional blood. Although the FIR finally retained the role, the previous insistence of Niosts on the collection of stamp tasks was considered by some as a desperate attempt to remain financially viable in the face of the decline in relevance.

Public skepticism remains high

Despite the optimistic tone and the reform promises of the postmaster, the Nigerians are not convinced that the institution can resume its credibility without approaching the flights that have become synonymous with its brand.

With less than three months to the complete deployment of the system without cash, stakeholders say that the agency must face deeper cultural and operational failures that have removed customers if he hopes to play a significant role in the Nigeria logistical and electronic commercial space.