Business
FG Decides On Private Jetties Stevedoring Operations Soon
The Federal Ministry
of Transport will soon come up with clear-cut modalities for stevedoring operations in private jetties.
President, National Association of Stevedoring Companies (NASC), Mr Bolaji Sunmola, stated this in an interview with The Tide source in Lagos.
NASC had complained that jetty operators did not accommodate their members to operate at the jetties approved for them.
The stevedores said it was their statutory right to be at the jetties and discharge cargo as contained in the Ports Act of 1999.
“NPA (Nigerian Ports Authority) is doing its best on this. It is the Federal Ministry of Transport that will resolve that.
“We have written both to the NPA and the Federal Ministry of Transport and actions are being taken and things are being worked out,’’ Sunmola said.
He said the association was sensitising all new comers in the stevedoring industry and members whose registration were due to ensure that they either register or renew their registration.
“This is one of our cardinal points to ensure that all members of the National Association of Stevedoring Companies are law abiding and is important that they are up-to-date,’’ the stevedore said.
He disclosed that more than 100 stevedoring companies were presently registered with the association.
The stevedore further said that the association ensured that onboard security men and tally clerks were properly engaged and remunerated.
According to him, standards are also being set for all categories of workers in the dock industry.
Sunmola, however, said the association was trying to keep within the tenets of engagement of the dockworkers.
On attempt by NPA to do away with tally clerks and onboard security men, the stevedore said meetings had been held with the management of NPA on this.
“The NPA wrote us asking us to present our papers. We held a meeting with them; we have written them and they had set up a committee.
“At the meeting, it was collectively agreed that a committee should be put in place to work out the modalities to move forward from where we are.
“We are waiting for the committee they set up to start functioning so that we now know the way forward,’’ he explained.
On wages, Sunmola explained that dockworkers’ wages were time-related, adding that the disparity was according to the bookings each worker is able to earn in a month.
The stevedore said the issue of casualisation had been subjected to a lot of interpretations, “but the whole intention is to do away with casuals so that we would have no casualisation again’’.
Chairman, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, Rivers/Bayelsa States branch, Mrs Ekama E. Akpan (left) chatting with Chief Nabil Saleh (right) during press briefing on 30th Annual General meeting at the council, Port Harcourt, recently. Photo: Egberi A. Sampson
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