Business
Customs Agents Seeks Regulation Of Shipping Charges
Worried by the apparent neglect of the Nigeria Shippers’
Council (NSC) the National President of the Association of Nigeria Licensed
Customs Agents (ANCLA), Alhaji Olayiwola Shittu, called for the crating of a
department under the Ministry of Transport to regulate shipping charges in the
nation’s maritime sector instead of delegating the power to NSC.
Shittu made the call recently at a one-day clinic on
arbitrary shipping charges in the port organised by the Nigeria Shippers
Council in conjunction with Akabogu and Associates.
According to him, “highly placed persons at the federal
ministry of transport were colluding with some industry operators to scuttle
the actualisation of a commercial regulator for the maritime industry.
He stated that NSC has done well to raise importers’
confidence at the gateways, adding that the council qualified as a commercial
regulator but some powerful forces at the ministry of transport were rendering
the NSC irrelevant in the discharge of its duties as the substantive commercial
regulator despite arbitrary shipping charges Nigerians were being made to pay
in the process of importing and shipping goods.
The NSC at the one-day clinic had revealed that it had
finished benchmarking of all charges in the maritime sector and compiled all in
a report but lacked the political will to implement the report because it
lacked the power of a commercial regulator.
Representative of the Executive Secretary NSC Barrister
Hassan Bello, however explained that the clinic would address all contentious
issues in the maritime sector development in the country.
He said the council needed the support and prayers of
stakeholders for it to receive the desired attention as economic regular.
Barrister Emeka Akabogu, while presenting his paper, stated
that the shipping charges at the gateways were not acceptable as they were not
in line with charges at neighboring port and in other countries.
He lamented the role of the Federal Government which , he
said has not done enough to assist the importers and exporters.
A cursory look at terminal/shipping charge for a 20ft import
reveals that most of the terminal operators in the nation maritime sector
charge between N45,500 to N65,000 for Terminal Handling Charges (THC) while
import delivery charge varies between N2,250 to N40,000 with Lillypond
Container Terminal charging the highest at N40,000 for import delivery charges.
APM terminal charges N9,750 for scanning of charges while it
collected N2,500 for logistics for scanning charge. At the various customs
examination desk across the terminal, APM terminal charges N11,667 which is the
highest form any terminal operator in the national seaports.
Earlier the chairman of the clinic, Otunba Kunle Folarin, a
maritime expert tasked maritime stakeholders to look into such questions as
what really constitutes the numerous charges slammed on importers and shippers
of goods to Nigeria, like Terminal Handling Charges (THC), containers
demurrage, who should be charging and how much is the international charge? Why
pay Value Added Tax on CIF when it is also charged on Custom Duty?
MoniePoint Inc. a digital financial firm in Nigeria, has said it is empowering community pharmacists across the country with innovative payment solutions to improve access to drugs.
The financial firm said it had also provided loans for pharmacists under the aegis of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) to drive healthcare delivery in the country.
MoniePoint in a release titled, “Inside Nigeria’s community pharmacies: How Moniepoint drives healthcare access with payments and funding”, has reaffirmed its commitment to providing digital payment solutions to improve health outcomes in Nigeria.
The release examined how community pharmacies play a crucial role as vital access points for medical care in Nigeria, especially in areas with limited hospital or clinic access.
According to the release, the ACPN National Chairman, Ambrose Igwekwam, highlighted the critical role played by community pharmacies in Nigeria’s healthcare system over the years.
Igwekwam, however, expressed concerns over the challenges confronting the nation’s pharmaceutical industry which he said was hindering access to affordable medicines.
The pharmacist listed poor infrastructural systems, power, transportation, regulatory bottlenecks, importation dependency, and limited research opportunities as major challenges facing the pharmaceutical sector.
He also stressed the need for robust collaborative efforts with institutions like Moniepoint to strengthen the sector.
“As Nigeria continues to grow, improving local pharma manufacturing to meet the demands of this growth presents a key opportunity for us all.
“There is also the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement, which is expected to boost our industry, especially when we start producing our drugs locally, which will provide the much needed foreign exchange from exports.
“We are also seeing advancements in digital health and technology which would hopefully deepen the practice of e-prescription in Nigeria”, the ACPN boss said.
Corlins Walter
In order to enhance customer service and streamline operations, the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN) has called on stakeholders in the insurance industry to embrace Artificial Intelligence (AI).
The President of the institute, Yetunde Ilori, made this call at the 2024 Office Representatives Committee (ORC) Workshop, organised by the institute, with the theme “AI and the Future of the Insurance Industry”, in Lagos.
Ilori at the event, emphasised the importance of AI adoption, noting that it was not a threat to jobs but rather a tool to improve efficiency across the insurance sector.
“It is not about AI taking over our jobs, but about us using AI to simplify processes and give maximum satisfaction to all the customers we serve whether as underwriters, brokers, loss adjusters, or in educating our members”, she said.
The workshop, which brought players in the insurance sector together, aimed to address how AI could be leveraged to transform business processes and improve customer interactions.
The Chairman of the ORC, Monica Nwachukwu, underscored the role of AI in modernising the industry, adding, “AI can automate customer and claims processes, allowing insurers to provide faster and more efficient services to their customers”.
She explained how AI could help extract data from legacy systems, enhancing decision-making processes.
“By integrating AI with APIs, insurers can feed valuable data into AI solutions to improve operations and customer service”, she added.
In his address, the Managing Partner of A4S and Training Heights, Orlando Odejide, stressed the need for companies to align their strategies with future technologies like AI, especially as they prepare for 2025.
“Any organisation that wants to grow into the future must have its strategic plan in place. If your strategy for 2025 is not ready, it should be done by October”, he advised.
He encouraged participants to think critically about how AI could be integrated into their business models to ensure they remain competitive.
“The idea is for you to use this workshop as a platform to think about your organization and how AI can help streamline your processes and improve growth”, Odejide noted.
In order to gain global respect and recognition, the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) has reaffirmed its determination to pursue its goal in ensuring that Nigeria’s space capabilities are recognised on the world stage.
The agency also reaffirmed its commitment to positioning Nigeria as a key player in the global space economy.
In a statement by the Director of Media and Corporate Communications, Dr. Felix Ale, NASRDA revealed that the Director-General of the agency, Matthew Adepoju, emphasised this during recent engagements at the 79th United Nations General Assembly and the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) and Global Alliance Business Association international conference in Michigan, United States.
The statement noted that Adepoju outlined a forward-thinking agenda, stressing the importance of Nigeria’s space programme as a leader in research, exploration, and technological innovation.
“Our goal is to ensure that Nigeria’s space capabilities are recognised on the world stage.
“We must foster collaborations with global space agencies to enhance our satellite capabilities and technological infrastructure”, he stated.
The NASRDA boss said the agency is focusing on enhancing satellite capabilities, expanding international collaborations, and leveraging space science for national development.
He said NASRDA will have no stone unturned in pursuit of excellence, ensuring the agency secures the necessary resources and recognition to propel it forward.
“The relationships we build today will pave the way for tomorrow’s advancements in space science.
“Innovation and progress thrive in an environment built on collaboration and inclusivity”, he stated.
He emphasised that with the support of the government, international partners, and a dedicated team, NASRDA is poised to make significant strides in the evolving global space landscape.
“We are on the brink of a new era for Nigeria’s space agency. Together, we will ensure our nation stands out in the global space economy”, he said.
Corlins Walter