The FCT branch of NIPOST delivered 1,067,994 mails in the first half of 2012 compared to 3,575,823 mails it delivered in the corresponding period of 2011, showing a decrease of 2,507,829.
The Area Postmaster, Alhaji Aliyu Mahmoud, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja that number of local mails posted in the period under review as 696,774 as against the 2,026,549 were recorded in 2011.
He said that about 371,220 foreign mails were also delivered in 2012 compared to 1,549,274 delivered in 2011.
He said NIPOST recorded a decline in physical mails and attributed this to the growing rate of use of ICT in the country.
He said that the rise in the level of technological advancement had reduced the number of personal mails.
He said: “Private mails have reduced drastically because people now make use of their phones to send text messages.
“Parcels, business letters and business proposals are on the increase but the personal letters have dropped.’’
Mahmoud also told NAN that NIPOST usually experienced its highest patronage in December every year as more businesses were made and transacted this period.
He advised secondary school pupils to imbibe the habit of writing letters, adding that it would improve their writing skills.
According to him, it will also go a long way in reducing the high number of students that failed English language examination in WAEC examinations.
“Since the advent of mobile phones, the rate of English language failure in schools has increased because children now write in slangs and shorthand while using their phones.’’
Mahmoud said NIPOST management had begun plans to make post offices a one-stop shop where customers could get more services.
He said that plans had reached advanced stage to make things easy for customers by providing e-based services like track and trace system for parcels and registered mail items.
He said other e-based services included the e-commerce, e-license and e-wallet, adding that the post offices were being upgraded to meet international standards. (NAN)