FG unveils automated customs payment system to ease foreign parcel clearance

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.