FG unveils NIPOST’s debit card, banking platform, courier vehicles

The Federal Government has inaugurated the Nigerian Postal Service(NIPOST) debit card, the agency’s banking platform, and 27 courier service vehicles.

The inauguration was performed by the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Pantami, in Abuja, on Thursday.

According to the minister, the debit card and  banking platform will deepen financial inclusion and boost Nigeria’s digital economy, while the 27 courier service vehicles will make NIPOST and its partner, Speedaf Express, to compete favourably in the industry.

He added that a digitised economy would improve the ease of doing business and transparency, as well as fight corruption.

“NIPOST electronic debit card is the first of its kind in the country because it works online and offline, and it is the first time NIPOST comes with a solution like this because It is a multipurpose card for financial transaction, conditional cash transfer, payment of bills and many more.

“The second product which is the NIPOST banking platform will allow the customers of NIPOST to conduct financial transactions. It is another innovative solution that will make our banking systems much easier and this is also in alignment with our proposal to come up with NIPOST microfinance bank.

“We are in the process of digital transformation, and transformation will not be possible without digitalisation.  What we are doing today is to ensure that NIPOST is digitalised so that they will deliver on their mandate by law,” Pantami sais.

The minister further explained that the essence of the new financial solutions is to provide financial services to those in the unbanked regions which remained lower than its target of 80 per cent as set by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Speaking, the Postmaster-General of the Federation, Dr Ismail Adewusi, said the launching marks another milestone in NIPOST’s efforts to reposition the post in Nigeria, in line with the current digital transformation initiatives of the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy.

“The launching of the 27 new trucks today for the conveyance of logistics and e-commerce products by the minister is aimed at strengthening that vision and once again reinforcing the hopes of Nigerians in the capacity of the nation’s postal service to live up to its responsibilities amidst the emerging threats of the digital era.

“I wish to remind us all of the need to ensure maximum utilisation of the services and the values that the new NIPOST electronic card has brought to our doorsteps and I recommend it for both private and business. I equally recommend that we all take advantage of the unique offerings by our e-Commerce and logistics venture for local and globe needs,” Adewusi noted.