Business
Speed Limiter: Mixed Reactions Trail FRSC’s June 1 Deadline
The June 1, 2015
enforcement deadline given by the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) to fleet operators and commercial vehicle owners to install speed-limit devices and reflective tapes on buses have started generating reactions from motorists in Rivers State.
Across section of road transport operators who spoke with our correspondent in Port Harcourt Monday said it is a welcomed development to reduce road crashes but needed proactive enlightenment.
Some of the motorists said the FRSC should not stampede them with all sorts of payments as they are still battling with the renewal of their driver’s licences and the new number plates.
According to them, the enforcement should be for all road users, both private and commercial vehicle owners, so that there would be sanity on the roads, mostly the highways.
They also lamented that as motorists were trying to obey the directive, there is urgent need for government to fix the roads as they are in deplorable conditions, that even without the speed limit devices, they control the driver from over-speeding but however contribute greatly to road crashes.
The safety manager of Rivers Transport Company (RTC), Prince Ndamati in his reaction said the move by the Federal Road Safety Corps is a welcomed development and long over-due, because over-speeding had caused any road crashes and loss of lives and property.
Ndamati advised that FRSC should embark on aggressive enlightenment campaign on the need for motorists to comply with the directive as it was aimed at reducing the accident rate on the roads, adding that it is a good decision and his company would apply it and called on others to also comply.
An inter-city commercial driver, Austine Nwanjoku said he is not aware of such directive by FRSC, but with enlightenment and enforcement, he had no option than to comply because it is in a right direction.
Ms Blessing Obilor, a private car owner however expressed some reservation that the policy is rather coming too late, but commended the FRSC for the bold step and enjoined them to carry out aggressive enlightenment campaign before enforcement.
She however said drivers are still going through some difficulties with the new drivers licences and number plate issues, and noted that some would be confused even though it is for their safety.
A commercial bus driver, Ola Gbenga Wasiu also commended FRSC for introducing the installation of speed limit device and reflective tapes, but said that most drivers are not aware of such development, as they see it as a waste of resources, and appealed to the authorities that June 1, 2015 deadline for the enforcement is too close for all to comply.
It would be recalled that the Rivers State Command of the FRSC on February 27, 2015 organised a forum where it informed fleet owners and other motorists on the enforcement of the speed limit devices come June 1, this year.
Collins Barasimeye
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