Business
Growing Customers’ Attacks Scare DISCOs’ Workers
Following the growing number of attack incidents on staff of electricity distribution companies across the nation by aggrieved power consumers, some staff of the companies now carry out their duties in fear.
The Tide gathered that the staff mostly affected are the field workers and those issuing bills to consumers.
A staff of Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHED) who disclosed this in an interview with The Tide at Afam in Oyigbo Local Government Area of Rivers State said, “each time we are going to the filed, we always pray for God to save us from the hands of aggrieved consumers”.
The staff who pleaded anonymity said the consumers view them as those responsible for the regular power outages in the area.
“The consumers think PHED field workers cut their light at will but they do not know that outages are caused by many factors most of which are beyond us”, he stated.
‘Even though the field workers and bill clerks are most prone to such possible attacks, even the company workers in the offices are also net free from such fears because there are incidents when aggrieved consumers mostly the youths violently attack company staff in offices”, said the PHED staff.
He narrated incidents when those who go out to the field to disconnect lines of debtors were accosted and beaten up and stressed need for them to be properly protected while they carry out their duties.
He particularly urged management of PHED to make available armed security agents to protect the staff especially when they are assigned duties to some violent prone areas.
It would be recalled that staff of the company in Afam were recently attacked and the company vehicle destroyed by irate youths in the area over power outages.
There was also a reported case of PHED field workers who were attacked at Eagle Island when they went for disconnection of debtors lines.
Another such case also happened at Olorunsogo, in Ibada Oyo State where multi-million electricity facity was burnt down by youths, a situation which resulted in four years black out in the area.
The case is not different in other areas in the country.
Power consumers are becoming inpatient and violent over increase level of a epileptic supply in the country. The DISCOs appear to be most exposed to the danger as their staff operate directly with the consumers.
Staff of the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) were also said to had abandoned their office last week, when angry youths in Felele area of Oyo State matched down to the company’s office in protest against regular outages.
But sometimes, the issue of inadequate gas supply by Power Generating companies as well as failure by Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) to carry out its duties also contribute to power outages, a situation that is obviously beyond the DISCOs, yet the staff of the distribution firms suffer the resultant attacks by angry consumers.
Chris Oluoh
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