Business
Kero-Correct Programme: Providing Kerosene To Rural Households
Mrs Cecilia
Fynecounrty is a 60-year-old woman who depends solely on kerosene for her daily cooking.
She is grateful to the Federal Government for initiating the Kero-Correct programme that slashed the cost of kerosene from over N100 per litre to N50 per litre.
Fynecountry was all smiles when she bought 25 litres of kerosene at the NNPC Mega Station in Port Harcourt at N50 per litre, as she insisted that she had never bought the fuel at such a low price in the last five years.
“I am grateful to the Federal Government for this initiative; it has helped me and other mothers who depend solely on kerosene to cook for our families. At least, these 25 litres of kerosene I bought at a cheap rate will last for a long time.
“I commend the government and wish that it continues, as kerosene will directly get to several communities at a cheap rate,’’ she said.
Similarly, a 48-year-old trader and mother of five, Mrs Fortune Abang, also benefitted from the Kero-Correct programme.
“I have been buying kerosene for between N130 and N140 per litre for more than one year and it appears there will be no end to the high price.
“However, the Kero-Correct programme has really saved me and many families from the big burden of looking for kerosene and buying it at a high price.
“I thank the Federal Government for initiating the programme. Many families, especially people at the grassroots, can now afford to buy kerosene at a cheap price and use it for their daily cooking.
“Kerosene is the cheapest domestic fuel used by many families in Nigeria for their daily cooking.
“At times, when my children return from school, they advise me to desist from using firewood because their teachers told them that continuous falling of trees provokes deforestation.
“For me and other families that cannot afford the high cost of kerosene, we had to resort to using firewood for our daily cooking. But thank God, the price of kerosene has been reduced through the Kero-Correct programme,’’ she said.
The South-South Zonal Coordinator of the Kero-Correct programme, Mrs Edith Johnson, said: “The exercise is aimed at bringing kerosene at the regulated price to all nooks and crannies of the country in a three month-campaign.
“The main purpose of the campaign is to force down the price of kerosene and ensure its distribution to every household in the country at the rate of N50 per litre and 25 litres per individual,’’ she said.
Explaining the programme’s processes in the three-month campaign, Johnson said: “Under the campaign, the NNPC is to distribute 1,500 tankers of kerosene to 37 NNPC mega stations, 12 floating stations and 524 NNPC affiliate stations.
“The product will be distributed transparently to the right customers and some non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have been nominated to monitor the process,’’ she said.
Mr Anthony Egbuche, the team leader of the 25 NGOs which are collaborating with the NNPC on the Kero-Correct programme, said that the programme was basically aimed at getting the product to the final users in a hitch-free manner.
“The aim is to enable the ordinary people to buy kerosene at N50 per litre and we will monitor the programme strictly so as to ensure that the end users actually get the product,’’ he said.
Egbuche said that the NGOs would remain at the various centres to ensure that the masses actually benefitted from the programme.
However, a Port Harcourt-based historian, Mr Ajomiwe Ezuma, said that kerosene sales at a cheap rate to Nigerians would surely alleviate the sufferings of many persons and homes.
“You will recall that the search for kerosene had brought untold hardship to many families, particularly those who suffered explosions caused by fake or adulterated kerosene.
“The present exercise by government is a step in the right direction, and we hope that it will be continuous so as to make kerosene available to all households, especially those in rural communities,’’ he said.
Johnson said after the three months of the Kero-Correct programme, an impact assessment survey of the scheme would be carried out to determine the government’s next line of action.
Egbuche stressed that in three months’ time, many homes would have access to kerosene procured at the regulated price, adding that if the government decided to extend the programme, the price of kerosene would crash and Nigerians would be better off for it.
All the same, Johnson urged Nigerians to endeavour to buy kerosene from NNPC mega stations and affiliate stations.
“This campaign is borne out of the federal government’s desire to supply kerosene to the people who really need it, so as to reduce the level of hardship associated with efforts to procure the product in Nigeria,’’ she said.
Mbonye is of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
Mike Mbonye
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