Business
Lagos NURTW Injects 100 New Buses Into BRT
L-R: Founder, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, (CIBN), Alhaji Oladimeji Otiti, Oba of Lagos, Obarilwan Akiolu, President, CIBN, Dr Sina Aina and Chairman, First City Monument Bank, Otunba Micheal Balogun, during the unveiling of a book titled “The Economy of Financial Inclusion In Nigeria” written by Dr Aina in Lagos.
The Chairman, Lagos State branch of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Alhaji Tajudeen Agbede said the union had injected nearly 100 new buses to Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) on Lagos roads, to ease passengers’ traffic.
Agbede told newsmen yesterday in Lagos that the NURTW buses were injected to phase out buses that were worn out from all BRT routes.
“We have pushed out almost 100 buses to reduce passengers’ traffic caused by less number of buses and those that are not in good condition and we are still expecting more.
“All the buses that are not in good condition are going to be phased out gradually.
“We cannot just remove every bus that is not in good condition out of the road.
“Removal of rickety buses at once will cause passengers’ traffic and reduce movement of people using the BRT buses.
“Rickety buses will be taken for repairs and put back to work to complement the number of buses available for passengers’ use.
“NURTW is committed to serve the people of Lagos State to their convenience,” Agbede said.
A passenger at Mile 12, Segun Muibi, said that most of the BRT buses were rickety and needed to be changed.
He commended the Lagos State Government for repairing the dilapidated BRT roads.
“All the vehicles brought in during the commencement of 1st BRT operations in Nigeria are still in use after they have gone through a lot of repairs.
“Most of the BRT buses are still plying the roads, because there were inadequate number of buses to replace the worn out buses,” Muibi said.
Another passenger, Mr Baderin Hakeem, said that the BRT buses should be increased to ensure that they were in line with their mandate of rapid movement of passengers.
Hakeem urged the management of BRT to handle the buses well so as to serve the people longer before they get spoilt.
“Some of the buses are still in operation since the time BRT was established by the Fashola regime.
“Most of the BRT buses in use now are in a very bad shape and need effective management by the operators, to make them last long in servicing the people.
He, however, commended the management of the organisation for injecting new busses to ease the stress of passengers using BRT routes across the state.
Solomon Akinola who patronises BRT buses, urged the management of BRT to maintain the tempo set by the immediate past administration in the state and phase out worn buses in its fleet.
Akinola stressed the need for BRT to increase the number of its buses so that people would not be waiting before moving to their various destinations.
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