Business
Council Restates Need For 4th Lagos Mainland Bridge
The Nigeria Port Consultative Council (NPCC) has renewed its call for the construction of fourth Mainland Bridge at Epe to handle the cargo traffic from Lekki deep seaport.
The Chairman of the council, Chief Kunle Folarin, made the call in an interview with The Tide source in Lagos, on Friday.
He attributed the problem at the Tin Can Island port to inadequate alternative corridors to handle traffic into the ports.
“When the Oshodi expressway was being constructed, they had the mind that the traffic that will be going towards the port, from Mile-2 exchange, will be only for the port.
“But then you cannot stop traffic that goes beyond the port and want to go on the Mainland or on the Island.
“When you add that, it’s a substantial traffic compare with what is going only for the port.
“It is a clear from that example that when you now build a port in Lekki, you must be thinking of how do you empty the traffic that it generate?
“Will it join the existing level of traffic or will there be dedicate traffic and that is why we canvas that at least there should be 11 lanes dual carriage ways.
“Leading from the propose port using the axis of Epe and creating a fourth mainland bridge that will not empty its traffic through Lagos metropolis.”
Folarin said that there was need to extend rail line connection towards the industrial area around Apapa ports, which could start from Liverpool in Lagos.
He said that the rail line would link the industrial areas and move cargoes out of Lagos to other destinations.
Cue in audio (Folarin) 2 “All the traffic from industrial zone outside even the port environment will also be linked to factories.
“That is a way of de-congesting the road and making sure also that the cargoes gets to the owner within the shortest possible time.
“There were many tanks within the ports receiving liquid and weight cargo.
“Weight cargo in petroleum goes to the petroleum wharf. Don’t forget that there was petroleum wharf in Apapa.
“So liquid can goes there and if must to take delivery, you go there and its pump to all the tank you see in Ijora area form the petroleum wharf.
“There was a pipeline connection before, we need to resuscitate them so that you don’t have tankers coming in to load from the key apron.”
On the issue of storage tanks, Folarin recalled that there were tanks for liquid cargo, in Apapa apron berth.
“There are a lot of hoses and hindrance that can accept ships with liquid cargo to be pump directly into tanks which are situated in the port and outside the port.
“We need to resuscitate that in other words, we must have storage facility and pipeline connections.”
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