Kidnapping, Gun-Running, Drug Trade: Workers seek logistics regulation

By Victor Ahiuma-Young & Henry Obetta

Workers in Nigeria’s courier and logistics sector have called for urgent regulation of the industry, warning that weak oversight is exposing the sector and the country to security and economic risks.

The workers, under the aegis of the Courier and Logistics Staff Association of Nigeria, CALSSAN, made the call at the union’s First Quadrennial Delegate Conference in Lagos.

The conference had as its theme, “Steering the Logistics Terrain in Nigeria – Importance and Necessity of Regulatory Framework for the Industry.”

Speaking at the event, CALSSAN President, Mr Festus Oluwatuyi, identified inadequate regulation as one of the major challenges confronting the industry.

He said, “Majorly, we want government to look into the regulation. In the courier and service industry in Nigeria, there is no regulation.”

Oluwatuyi also appealed to the government to improve road infrastructure, stressing that logistics operators depended heavily on the nation’s road network.

He said, “We pray the government improve on the infrastructure because the other name for our business is transport. We move on the road.”

The CALSSAN president further alleged that some employers were preventing workers from joining the union, insisting that the association remained committed to protecting workers’ rights.

He said, “We are serious and we are focused on ensuring that those employees have their fundamental human rights.”

Also speaking, Mr Osita Nweke, Country Head, Business Development, United Parcel Service, UPS, said the absence of effective regulation had left the industry vulnerable to abuse.

According to him, the sector had become an “all-commerce affair”, with unregistered operators providing courier and logistics services without adequate oversight.

He said such gaps could create security risks, alleging that some unregulated operators had been linked to kidnapping, gun-running and drug distribution.

Nweke said, “It has become an all-commerce affair where you have people who are not really registered providing services to the people. They are not regulated and that’s why it could be a security risk also for the country.

“That’s why you could have cases of disparate guys kidnapping kids. Some of them are into gun running. Some of them, like recently, we found out you have people who are even into drugs also distributing drugs within the metropolis because the regulatory agencies are weak in terms of enforcing regulation.”

He also stressed the importance of infrastructure to the growth of the sector, saying improved road networks would strengthen the supply chain and boost commerce.

Nweke said, “If the infrastructural architecture of the country is improved on, supply chain would thrive because supply chain is the heartbeat of commerce.”

He added that poor roads could severely disrupt the movement of goods and services.

“For a journey that could take less than eight hours, you see people spending two days on the road. It affects supply chain,” he said.

Representing Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Commissioner for Establishment and Training, Mr Afolabi Ayantayo, assured logistics operators of the state government’s support.

Ayantayo said providing the necessary infrastructure would enable operators to conduct their businesses peacefully, efficiently and effectively.

He said, “When you have infrastructure in place for people to do their businesses, especially people that are in logistics business… we make it possible for them to do business in peace, quickly and efficiently.

“The promise of Lagos State government to people in this very industry is that we are going to satisfy the logistics operators.”

The Lagos State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Mrs Agnes Sessi, who represented the NLC President, Mr Joe Ajaero, said the organisation of logistics workers was important to both employees and employers.

She said the union would not only strengthen workers but also contribute to stronger organisations within the sector.

Sessi called for enduring policies and infrastructure to support businesses in the courier and logistics industry.

“We need policies, enduring policies that will support the businesses in the courier and logistics sector. We need infrastructures,” she said.

Also speaking, IT Director, DHL, Kingsley David, who represented the Managing Director of DHL, Muyiwa Adesoju, urged stakeholders to work together to address challenges confronting the sector.

He said, “The recommendation will always be that all logistics companies come together and be able to harness their strengths because there’s always strength in unity.”

David also called on the government to create an enabling environment for logistics businesses, particularly through improved infrastructure.

He said, “When it rains, the roads are flooded. So in terms of infrastructure, that it is available and they are also able to support the kind of business that we do.”

Representing the Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Maigari Dingiyadi, the Registrar of Trade Unions, Mr Shaibu Rabiu, urged CALSSAN’s leadership to prioritise workers’ welfare and due process.

Rabiu also urged the new leadership to formulate programmes and policies that would have a direct impact on members.

The conference brought together labour leaders, logistics operators and other stakeholders, who called for stronger regulation, improved infrastructure and better protection for workers in Nigeria’s courier and logistics industry.

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