Business
Shopping Mall: Lekki Residents Insist On Alternative Routes
The 1.5 million residents of
the 10 estates around Jakande Roundabout in Lekki, Lagos State, said RMB West Port, owners of Circle Mall, must provide them alternative routes before it opened its mall on December 17.
The residents from the 10 estates from the area, with each of them having no less than 150 residential buildings, said that this would enhance effective traffic control.
They told newsmen in Lagos that the management of the outfit should have consulted widely before citing the mall around Jakande Roundabout.
They said that this was because the traffic on the Lekki –Epe Expressway had always been chaotic before now and opening of the mall would attract more human and vehicular traffic to the area.
Mr John Thomas, a resident of Femi Okunnu Estate near the Jakande Roundabout, said that there were more than 10 estates in the area with each estate having not less than 150 buildings.
“ These estates include — Femi Okunnu Phases 1 to 4, Victory Park, Friends’ Colony, Milverton, Egerton , Cardogan, Pinnock Arcadia Groove and Northern Foreshore , all with one access road.
“The only access road to all these estates is Hon. Yaya Dosunmu Way and more than 400, 000 cars ply the road on daily basis,’’ he said.
Thomas lamented that two filling stations located on both sides of the link- road to the expressway always caused gridlock whenever there was fuel scarcity.
Another resident, Mr Idowu Johnson who resides at Friends’ Colony, said the main entrance and exit to the mall serves as the same one that leads to their estate.
“We are all aware that wherever the mall had been located, they used to attract many customers and this had always resulted in congestion.
“We are not against their operation because we will also patronise them, but they should also understand our plights and come up with alternative routes so that we will not suffer.
“This is the only route for the no-fewer-than 1.5 million residents and we are all mobile, how do you think their operation will not affect our daily routine?
“We are appealing to the government and the management of the mall to look for alternative routes so as to ease traffic for residents of the area and intending customers,’’ he said.
Also, Mrs Modupola Ajagbe, a resident of Egerton Estate, told newsmen that when the residents’ association heard that the mall would be built there, they wrote to its management , but there was no response from it.
Ajagbe said that the association had to write the state government on the issue, but we received the reply from state government after the construction of the mall had started.
“Officials from the Ministries of Transport, and Physical Planning and Urban Development held a meeting with the stakeholders in the estate and representatives of the mall to resolve the matter.
“Another meeting will hold on December 8; but our concern is that if the mall opens for operations as scheduled on December17, the mall’s management may not meet our condition.
“We are appealing to the state government to compel the management to halt the official opening of the mall until all our demands are met,” she said.
Our correspondent who visited the site observed that construction work was on going there but all efforts to get the management of the Circle Mall to react proved abortive.
One of the mall’s officials said he was not authorised to speak to the press.
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