FG launches automated customs payment system to ease foreign parcel clearance
L-R: The Co founder, Messenger Co-founder, Essien Etuk, the Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of Paystack, Shola Akinlade, Representative of the Communication Minister; Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Rafiu Adeladan, Postmaster General of the Federation, Ms Tola Odeyemi, and CEO/ Co-founder Sendbox, Olusegun Afolahan. Credit: Damilola Aina
The Federal Government on Thursday unveiled the Nigerian Postal Service Automated Payment Solution for inbound international delivery items.
The innovation is expected to eliminate long queues, improve transparency, and simplify customs payments for millions of users and businesses engaged in cross-border trade across Nigeria.
The launch, held in Abuja, marked a major milestone in NIPOST’s ongoing transformation drive under the supervision of the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, who described the initiative as “a living example of how a modern public service should operate, in partnership with innovators, technology, and citizens.”
Represented by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Rafiu Adeladan, the minister said the collaboration between NIPOST and its private-sector partners, Paystack, Sendbox, and Messenger, reflects what is possible when government agencies embrace digital innovation and citizen-focused service delivery.
“Today’s gathering is far more than a product launch. It is a statement of intent, an example of what a reformed public service can look like in Nigeria.
“This collaboration between NIPOST and its private-sector partners shows what happens when government institutions stop working in isolation and start working in partnership, with innovators, with technology, and with citizens at the centre of our thinking, a citizen-centred service.
“This is how a modern public service should operate: one that sees the private sector not as a rival but as a co-creator and collaborator for national progress,” Tijani said.
For decades, Nigerians have expressed frustration over delays, hidden charges, and long queues at post offices when clearing imported parcels.
Expressing their frustration on various social media platforms, Nigerians have flooded timelines with complaints about inefficiencies in postal delivery and cumbersome customs payment processes.
Tijani acknowledged these pain points, noting that such inefficiencies go beyond customer service; they are barriers to trade, to e-commerce, and to small businesses struggling to compete globally.
“When citizens lose time and money navigating inefficient systems, we all lose as a nation.
“This launch represents a tangible solution and aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s priorities for a digital economy powered by digital public infrastructure,” he added.
The minister praised the collaboration’s ecosystem, highlighting that Paystack will provide the secure payment gateway for customs duties; Sendbox will enable real-time parcel tracking; and Messenger will handle last-mile logistics to ensure fast delivery.
“Technology is not just about efficiency, it’s about dignity. When we make life simple for citizens, we restore their faith in government. That is the digital future we are building.
“Together, they have built a system that reduces friction, builds trust, and turns government into a platform for innovation,” he noted.
In her address, Postmaster General of the Federation, Ms Tola Odeyemi, described the platform as “a new chapter” in NIPOST’s history, one that fuses legacy public service with modern technology, fintech, and innovation.
“Today, we are enabling a seamless system for inbound international items. Customers can now receive real-time notifications once customs duties are assessed, make secure online payments, and have their parcels delivered directly to their homes or offices.” Odeyemi said in her welcome address.
She explained that the system integrates Paystack for payment processing, Sendbox for tracking, and Messenger and NIPOST’s EMS for reliable delivery, creating a transparent, end-to-end logistics ecosystem.
The Postmaster General, who oversees 1,300 offices nationwide, noted that while the current phase focuses on inbound shipments, NIPOST plans to extend the service to exports through its forthcoming TradePost Project, a move expected to boost Nigeria’s cross-border e-commerce participation.
She said, “This is not just convenience, it’s about trust, accountability, and efficiency. We are transforming not only our systems but also our mindset from being a service provider to becoming a solution provider.”
The NIPOST boss revealed that a key benefit of the new platform is real-time revenue remittance to the coffers of the government.
Unlike the previous monthly remittance system, the integration now allows the government to monitor and collect postal and customs revenue as transactions occur.
“For the government, this means transparency and efficiency. For customers, it means speed, convenience, and confidence,” Odeyemi added.
The transformation is part of NIPOST’s broader modernisation strategy aligned with the Federal Ministry of Communications’ Digital Economy Blueprint, which emphasises digital public infrastructure, fintech integration, and private-sector partnerships.
During a live demonstration session, NIPOST’s operations team showed how the automated process will cut parcel delivery time by as much as five days, thanks to early digital customs notifications and simplified payments.
Previously, customers had to visit post offices to learn their customs assessments before paying and collecting parcels. Now, they’ll receive instant electronic delivery notices and payment links via SMS, email, or WhatsApp, well before their items arrive.
Officials explained that NIPOST acts as a clearance agent, handling customs and logistics processes seamlessly while charging a minimal handling fee.
In his goodwill message, the Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of Paystack, Shola Akinlade, described the project as a “proud moment” that proves government agencies can move with startup-level speed and clarity when collaboration works.
“I confess, I initially thought this project would take two years because it was NIPOST.
“But the team surprised us. This has been one of the smoothest and most exciting projects we’ve done. It’s proof that things can truly work in Nigeria,” Akinlade said.
CEO/ Co-founder Sendbox, Olusegun Afolahan, echoed similar sentiments, applauding NIPOST’s clarity of vision and openness to innovation.
“As a Nigerian first, I never imagined this day would come. The NIPOST team has shown that the public sector can speak the language of technology. This partnership is only the beginning of what’s possible,” he said.
Messenger Co-founder, Essien Etuk, also commended the collaboration, saying it had brought much-needed “sanity to the last mile” of Nigeria’s logistics ecosystem.
“For the first time, we’re seeing progress that will mean happier customers, faster deliveries, and more revenue for both NIPOST and the broader digital economy,” he said.
NIPOST, established in 1987, has faced years of public criticism over inefficiency, bureaucracy, and delayed services. But under its current management, the agency has embarked on a series of reforms aimed at repositioning it as a key player in Nigeria’s digital economy.
The launch of the Automated Payment Solution follows the government’s broader Renewed Hope Digital Economy Agenda, which prioritises digital public infrastructure and private-sector partnerships to modernise public services, improve transparency, and enhance national competitiveness.
