OK PAPER, M.O.T CLEARANCE, NIPOST LICENSE & REGULATING DELIVERY SERVICE OPERATIONS: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW.
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1. THE ORIGINAL OK PAPER, MOT CLEARANCE AND NIPOST LICENSE – Several years ago, during governor Fashola’s tenure, the Lagos State Government mandated every delivery operator, or anyone who wanted to own a dispatch motorcycle for any purpose, to, first, write a letter to the commissioner at the Ministry of Transportation in order to get clearance which was TOTALLY FREE. The main objective was to have the data of all the dispatch motorcycles/operators in Lagos, then take the clearance alongside the motorcycle to the VIO office to get the OK paper, and then use the OK paper to get plate number registration, as well as, auto-reg. So, the OK paper is meant to be a clearance you get after the VIO has inspected your motorcycle and ascertained that is is at least 200CC (Cubic Centimetres), and has a dispatch box firmly attached to it. This is the original process for MOT clearance, OK paper and registration. When Governor Ambode came in, he stopped most field activities of federal paramilitaries the FRSC, including the VIO, hence, dispatch motorcycle owners started getting their motorcycles registered without due process that provides the OK paper since there were no VIO officials on the roads for enforcement and inspection. Over time, the OK paper lost relevance and became a thing of the past.

When the VIO got back to the field in this present administration, a few of their area offices started requesting for the OK paper again, and this time, they use it as an opportunity to extort dispatch motorcycle owners by charging enormous amounts for it. Different amounts by different VIO area offices. The lack of uniformity in these divergent rates makes the intent to extort undeniably glaring.
Succinctly, the OK paper, has been, and still is, a legal paper, but the amount being charged for it, as well as the process nowadays, is completely illegal. The revenue generated from its issuance doesn’t go to the government again either. If it is, why do the rates vary by area office? The OK paper is meant to be issued at a minimal cost after a VIO Officer must have inspected the motorcycle at their office. It is not meant to be paid for without the physical inspection of the motorcycle, but, well, even though they now charge more, most dispatch motorcycle owners wouldn’t mind since the new illegal process is much easier and might not even require any physical inspection, but a picture of the motorcycle instead.
The NIPOST licence, on the other hand, was meant for full-fledged national and international courier companies (the likes of DHL, UPS, FEDEX, GIG, etc.) and not delivery service operators who only existed as a department in companies or businesses as of that time.

The MOT clearance was meant to be free, the OK paper was meant to be issued at a minimal cost, while the NIPOST Licence was meant to be for full-fledged national and international courier companies.
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2. REGULATING DELIVERY SERVICE OPERATIONS – Extortion is not Regulation! There’s a huge difference between regulation and extortion. Regulating any industry is very important and cannot be overemphasised. In all sincerity, the delivery service industry is in dire need of regulation. And that, as a matter of urgency. Whether it be by NIPOST or the MOT, any other government agency, or a recognized association, what really matters is the urgent need for regulation, else, the industry will become a joke.
In order for the proposed regulation by the government to be effective and be of great advantage to all stakeholders: the government, delivery service operators and customers, the terms and policies to back the regulation have to be distinctly defined and clear enough. The government has only said its okay to regulate, but hasn’t proposed or directed any agency on how to go about it. On the other hand, officials of these agencies have used regulating the industry as mask to extort delivery operators. The MOT clearance which used to be free, is now being charged for. What

is the payment for? What happens after the payment? How will the payment help to regulate? These are questions that remain unanswered.
NIPOST has finally come up with a payment plan for SMEs which encompasses local delivery service operators also, but all they’re saying is for everyone to pay! pay!! pay!!! And keep paying! Nothing else matters. Just pay!
What is the Payment for? What is the purpose of the license? What happens after getting the licence? Will the licence stop ‘council boys’ from harassing us? Or are we going to have a NIPOST license while still suffering the torture from ‘council boys’ like it has always done? If we agree to pay the huge sum NIPOST is requesting, will we not become their “cash cows” to be milked over and again whenever NIPOST deems fit?
Who and who is meant to pay?
What is the fate of companies and private businesses that have dispatch motorcycles for their office errands, but are not delivery service operators? Would they be mandated to pay too? If so, why? If not, what is the dichotomy between a delivery service company’s dispatch motorcycle from that of a non-delivery service company? Examples are companies like Slot Nigeria, law publishing firms like ALLFWLR, NWLR, dry cleaning establishments, and other private businesses that have dispatch motorcycles for the deliveries of their goods & products.

All these are lingering issues that need to be looked into and sorted, however, as it stands, no one seems to be ready to define or propose a regulatory process that will benefit all parties, instead any motorcycle seen on the road with a delivery box affixed should just go and pay for this, pay for that and continue paying. This isn’t what regulation is.
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3. THE CURRENT SITUATION – Due to the influx of ride-hailing companies like ORide, Gokada, MaxNG and others alike, there has been a spike in the number of delivery service operators in the state, causing an excessive saturation of delivery service operators. Literally, everywhere you turn to, you’d see a dispatch rider. This has made the Lagos State Government to look for ways to regulate the industry, but as it stands, it isn’t getting it right. The concerned agencies are rather using the opportunity to milk delivery service operators.
So right about now, no government agency has proposed a method or a way to regulate delivery service operations; they only keep requesting for payments, upon payments, upon payments, while the industry still remains unregulated and things keep getting worse.
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4. THE WAY FORWAD – ‘Council boys’ hang around on roadsides in disguise to extort delivery service operators, the MOT officials do the same, the VIO officials are not any different, NIPOST too has joined the bandwagon. The ‘payments’ never end!
Maybe the daily influx into the industry makes it seems like a gold mine, and so these groups think that there’s nothing wrong with them taking their quota. Obviously, the trend will continue and might even get worse soon, if urgent and necessary steps are not taken.
The more delivery service operators remain apathetic about these extortions, the more the extorters will keep coming back for more. But what can we do? It’s not like our voices are heard anyway, at least not at the moment, and that has to change.
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In order to be heard and bring an end to the endless extortion in the nearest future, we have to, first, have a say in the matter, and embark on a sort internal regulation first.
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How do we go about this?
i. Form A Recognized Association/Representation – To this very moment, despite several job sharing platforms on WhatsApp, delivery operators in Lagos do not have a government-recognized association that can mediate or solicit with the government on behalf of delivery service operators. Having a WhatsApp group and calling it an association isn’t enough, there is a need for GOVERNMENT RECOGNITION.
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ii.
Making The Association Strong – Before the government will recognized and have any respect for an association for delivery service operators, such an association has to be strong and well grounded. It should be able to employ the services of “big” lawyers who will solicit and advise on legal ways forward. Lawyers that can tackle any government agency, if and when there’s a need, sue any agency or individual who wants to continue extortion.
Internally Regulate Our Operations & Change The Face of Delivery Service – The association will also have to do a kind of internal regulation, change the face of delivery service in Nigeria, encourage or enforce operators to go about their business the right way, and incorporate standard practices, such that even the government will find it a force to reckon with. As unprofessional as the NURTW can be, the government has no choice but to recognise them. We need that recognition.
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iii.
CONCLUSION
Making payments for any government approved paper or license is not the issue. In fact, being a recognized entity is a major plus for any company. The issue is, this whole brouhaha has been, still is, and continues to be all about payments alone, which should not be the case. Delivery services need genuine regulation, not just an avenue for some government officials to keep extorting us. Interestingly, despite all

the daily challenges that we go through, customers still want to pay peanut, treat delivery operators as they choose, and compel us to operate on their own terms. O what a business!
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Well, after all said and done, some us will still enjoy the business. In fact, all of these fuss will not really mean much in the end. We will continue to survive regardless. So, I encourage you too, get tough and get going! Don’t get discouraged!
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Gboye’ Daniel
24/07/2020

I followed the trend on Twitter and to be honest it doesn't make sense. How can a country's government be the biggest enemies of it's on people? I don't get how and why they won't small businesses dead in this country. Nigerians have accepted the fact this country would never get better and hence they are looking for ways to make ends meet on their own but the government would not have any of it. I wonder why they want people (youths) to engage in crimes especially as they (govt) have sworn a pact with the devil to frustrate Nigerians and Nigerian businesses. That's how they destroyed the likes of gokada. Nawa o, no wonder Nigerians Excel abroad at least there government aren't the enemy of it's own people



I like your analysis of this, kindly edit with NIPOST circular and a link and then call on mods so it can grace the front page. You can also post on other platforms like Twitter etc

Government dont follow up its policies area boys and government agency collecting money from riders asking for illegal documents


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