Business
‘Aviation Practice In Nigeria Meets International Standard’
The Director-General, Ni
gerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Mr Muhktar Usman, has said that aviation practice in Nigeria is in conformity with global standard.
Usman stated this during a presentation on the June 3, 2012, Dana Airline plane crash at the 3rd anniversary of the crash in Abuja, recently.
He said that aviation practice all over the world was the same, adding that it might differ only in size and complexity.
The NCAA boss added that Nigeria, as one of the contracting states of International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), derived guidance on all its aviation activities from the 1994 Chicago Convention.
He explained that the country was signatory to the convention which contained the International Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) and the ICAO documents where the guidance materials were published.
According to Usman, Nigeria has integrated its national regulations and practices, ensured timely implementation and enforcement in order to achieve safety and regularity of aircraft operations.
He said that NCAA was discharging its safety oversight obligations through the establishment and implementation of critical elements such as safety defence tools and associated procedures.
Usman said the question of why and how the Dana plane crash happened was the sole responsibility of the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) which investigates accidents and incidents within the Nigerian airspace.
According to him, the NCAA is statutorily required to review the safety recommendations issued by the AIB and determine their applicability and implementation.
“The NCAA is also mandatorily required to enforce and oversight the implementation of applicable safety recommendations by the operation,’’ he said.
The NCAA boss said that the agency had implemented most of the recommendations by the AIB on the report of the Dana crash.
He explained that the agency had heightened its surveillance activities on all operators through the use of audits, inspections, surveys, spot checks and en-route inspection.
According to him, Dana Air is currently undergoing International Air Transport Association (IATA), Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) certification in order to comply with the Abuja Safety Target Requirements by November 2015.
Meanwhile, Mr Emeka Ibeh, a family member of one of the crash victims, accused the regulatory agencies of incompetence for granting Dana Air the certification to fly six months after the crash.
Ibeh said that if NCAA was observing international standard of aviation practice as claimed, it would have ensured that all the victims were fully compensated before allowing Dana to resume operation.
He also accused the agency of not being fair to the victims for failing to sanction the official that certified the said flight worthy to fly on that particular day.
Ibeh said that his family was only interested in justice, adding that the only compensation his family desired was justice by bringing whoever contributed to the crash to pay for his or her negligence.
“That is why we are asking that who is the officer that certified that Dana is airworthy to come into Nigeria; who is the officer that certified that the plane could fly that day?
“We need to know these people and get them punished so that other people whose job it is to certify aircraft will do their jobs properly,’’ he said.
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