Business
Petrol: DPR To Sanction Erring Filling Stations
The Department of Petro
leum Resources (DPR) has urged all filling stations to adjust their pump price per litre of fuel to N87 from N97 as directed by the Federal Government to avoid sanctions.
DPR Head of Operations, Lagos Zone, Mrs Chioma Njoku, told newsmen on Monday that the department had begun the monitoring of filling stations to enforce adherence to the directive.
She said “DPR will ensure that the new price regime stated by the government is complied with and any filling station found wanting will be sanctioned.
“We have commenced full operational check at most filing stations in Lagos to ensure that they adjust to N87 per litre.”
Meanwhile, a check at filling stations within Lagos metropolis as at 3p.m. on Monday showed that most of the operators are yet to comply with the directive.
Except for the NNPC Mega Station in Falomo, Ikoyi, all other stations visited sold petrol at N 97 per litre.
The managers of the filling stations said that they had old stocks and that it was difficult to adjust to N87 from N97.
Others agreed to adjust but said they could not do so because their engineers had yet to arrive from their head offices to effect the change.
Mrs Christy Okonebo, Station Manager, Total Filling Station, Costain, said that the station received 66,000 litres of petrol two days ago at N97 per litre.
“The reduction in price was announced yesterday (Jan. 18) night; we have paid for this product since four days ago.
“If we adjust the price to N87 from N97, who will pay for the difference?” she asked.
She said that the station would adjust when its engineers from the head office got to the station.
Okonebo said that if the management changed the pump price, it meant the station would lose N660, 000.
Mr Samson Ademola, a Supervisor at Conoil Filling Station in Ojuelegba, said that the station was still selling at N97 per litre, pending when it received new stock.
Alhaji Sanni Garba, Dealer, NNPC Filling Station, Oregun, lauded President Goodluck Jonathan for the new price, saying he meant well for the people.
In Ikorodu, many of the filling stations visited were selling at the old pump price of N97 per litre, while a few others promised to adjust their pump later.
Mr Felix Idowu, a motorist, who bought fuel at Conoil, Onipan, said he was not happy buying at N97 per litre but that there was nothing he could do to change the situation.
Mrs Augustine Jubril, a taxi driver at the Total Filling Station, Shomolu, expressed happiness with the review of the pump price.
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