FG Launches Automated Customs Payment System to Revolutionize Parcel Clearance in Nigeria

The Federal Government has unveiled the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) Automated Payment Solution, a digital platform designed to simplify customs payments for international parcels and enhance transparency in cross-border trade. The new system, launched in Abuja on Thursday, aims to eliminate long queues, hidden charges, and delays that have frustrated millions of Nigerians using postal services.

Speaking at the event, the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, represented by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Rafiu Adeladan, described the initiative as a model for modern public service delivery. Tijani said the collaboration between NIPOST and private-sector innovators — including Paystack, Sendbox, and Messenger — shows how technology and citizen-focused partnerships can transform government operations.

“This is more than a product launch; it’s a statement of intent,” Tijani said. “When government institutions work with innovators and put citizens at the center, public service becomes efficient, transparent, and trustworthy.” He emphasized that the initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s digital economy agenda, which promotes digital public infrastructure and fintech-driven efficiency.

Postmaster General of the Federation, Ms. Tola Odeyemi, called the launch a “new chapter” in NIPOST’s history, saying it merges legacy public service with modern fintech innovation. Through the platform, customers can now receive real-time notifications of customs assessments, make secure online payments via Paystack, track deliveries through Sendbox, and enjoy last-mile logistics handled by Messenger and NIPOST’s EMS. She added that the system ensures real-time revenue remittance to government coffers, boosting accountability and national income.

Private-sector partners lauded the collaboration as proof that government agencies can work with startup-level efficiency. Paystack CEO Shola Akinlade, Sendbox co-founder Olusegun Afolahan, and Messenger’s Essien Etuk praised NIPOST’s leadership for embracing innovation and driving reforms that improve trust and service delivery. With this launch, NIPOST continues its transformation under the government’s Renewed Hope Digital Economy Agenda, positioning itself as a key player in Nigeria’s digital trade ecosystem.

source: Punch