By: Gele Agbai…
I am experiencing immense joy today, stemming from a telephone call I received from a female representative of the global courier firm, DHL.
Aside from the pleasing quality of her voice, the purpose of her call was truly remarkable. She contacted me to extend an apology for the tardiness exhibited by the staff members of the company at the Umuahia Office.
On November 6, 2025, I dispatched a parcel intended for a Senior Special Assistant to Abia State Governor Alex Otti, OFR, via the Owerri Imo State office of the company.
Subsequent inquiries revealed that the parcel had arrived at the Umuahia Office of the courier company and was taken by a delivery staff member to the SSA’s office on Friday, November 7. This was a positive development. However, the complication arose when the staff member asserted that the SSA’s office was closed at 2:00 p.m.
While it is plausible that the SSA’s office was indeed closed, the DHL staff member failed to utilize the provided telephone number of the SSA. Consequently, the parcel was either returned to the office or, more likely, taken to his residence, where it remained until Thursday, November 13, precisely one week later, before being delivered to the SSA.
One might pardon the staff member for not delivering the parcel on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, which are non-working days in the South East region. However, what justifies the lack of delivery on Tuesday and Wednesday?
Upon receiving information that the parcel was yet to be delivered on Thursday, I promptly proceeded to the Owerri Office of DHL, which fortunately is within a reasonable distance from my workplace. I insisted on speaking with the Manager after the desk staff provided the explanation that the closure of the SSA’s office at 2:00 p.m. was the cause.
The Manager presented his own rationale, suggesting that “Most SSAs do not have offices.” He mentioned a particular SSA in Imo State with whom DHL has faced difficulties in delivering letters or parcels due to his itinerant nature.
Drawing from my understanding of Dr. Otti’s administration, I confidently refuted the claim that SSAs in Abia State do not possess offices.
Having endured this unsatisfactory treatment from the DHL staff members, I swiftly composed an article detailing the situation. Various newspapers and online platforms amplified my voice by publishing the article.
To my surprise and delight, DHL reached out to offer an apology and, simultaneously, extended an offer for a complimentary delivery of my next parcel to any location within Nigeria.
Is this not remarkable? In a nation where citizens often face mistreatment and governmental indifference to the threats posed by terrorists, bandits, and herders, is it not refreshing to witness a company operating in such a challenging environment apologizing for substandard service and undertaking an investigation into the matter?
Since Mr. Donald Trump classified Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern, warning the Tinubu administration to improve its conduct, we have been subjected to government officials blatantly denying Christian genocide and asserting that Muslims are also victims.
In my inquiry into the ownership structure of DHL, I discovered the reason behind their apology. It was established by three Caucasian individuals. The distinction between Caucasians and those with darker skin pigmentation is that the former tend to concede when their faults are exposed, whereas, particularly among Nigerians of African descent, there is a tendency to revel in allegations. Their community often rallies around them, engaging in acts of violence and intimidation, such as soaking animals in blood, assaulting voters who do not support their kin, and demolishing homes, as seen in Lagos.
The self-proclaimed Primate Ayodele hides behind religious platitudes to spew unfounded grievances against the Igbo community. If the Igbo are perceived as the impediment to Nigeria’s progress, perhaps it is time to consider liberating them from this constricting union.
