Many logistical companies and digital platform operators across the country are flouting the law by facilitating courier services without complying with the country’s licensing regulations, the Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation has revealed. 

The Ministry disclosed this in a statement issued on Monday, 6 November 2023.

The Ministry has thus directed all such “companies [and] the couriers/drivers operating on their networks to register with the Postal and Courier Services Regulatory Commission (PCSRC) for an e-certificate and for an AfCFTA number by December 19 2023”.

It disclosed that after the stipulated date, “no new goods delivery and courier service provider can register with any digital platform or delivery service without a valid PCSRC e-certificate”.

It stressed that “existing operators must comply by January 24 2024. 

“Companies falling within the scope of this directive include: “Uber, Bolt, Yango, Glovo, Jiji, Tonaton, Maximaghana.com and all e-commerce and e-delivery platforms and companies.”

It reiterated that the “continued operations of these digital platforms and delivery and courier services without licensing and proper oversight” is in contravention of the Electronics Transaction Act 2008, Act 722 and the Postal & Courier Services Regulatory Commission Act of 2003, Act 649.

The Ministry also cautioned that “to curb the growing menace of e-commerce fraud and crimes committed by unlicensed, unregistered drivers, courier operators and delivery personnel, these businesses will no longer be permitted to continue using unregistered personnel to deliver goods as this contributes to fraud and customer abuse.”

Hence the launch of the AfCTFA hub to “streamline and simplify licensing as part of the enforcement effort to ensure smooth legal compliance and to combat fraud”.