Business
New Electricity Tariff ’ll Benefit Customers-PHED
The Port Harcourt Electric
ity Distribution Company (PHED) says the new tariff regime approved by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission(NERC) to commence 1st of February would be of immense benefit to customers.
The Manager, Corporate Communications of the firm, Mr. Jonah Iboma, who made the statement on Monday in Port Harcourt, explained that the new tariff would address issues usually raised by customers on fixed charges, high electricity bills and meter provision.
Iboma explained further that the removal by the regulatory body of fixed charges hitherto paid by various categories of customers, means that electricity users are now at liberty to determine their actual consumption.
According to him’’ under the new regime, the fixed charge component of the tariff has been rebalanced to reflect the wishes of stakeholders in the industry.
‘’Under the new tariff approved by NERC, single phase residential customers would now pay N24.91 per unit with no fixed charge, as against N15.09 per unit plus the N700 fixed charge. Rural customers (those who consume less than 50Kw/h every month) also known as R1, have their tariff unchanged at N4.00. In addition, commercial customers classified as C1, C2 and C3, would now pay an all-inclusive charge of N35.88, N43.72 and N44.30; while industrial customers classified as D1, D2 and D3 pay an all-inclusive charge of 36.19, 44.01 and 44.59 per unit’’, he said.
Iboma noted that NERC’s decision on the new tariff is based on a 10-year tariff plan submitted by electricity distribution companies in the country after due consultations with stakeholders that was carried out between July and September 2015.
He informed that some of the stakeholders that made contributions to the new tariff were residential, commercial and industrial customers, civil society groups and non-governmental organizations.
“Between July and September 2015, we went round the four states of our licensed area of coverage, consulting and discussing the tariff, after which a report was submitted to NERC based on the positions and findings from the stakeholders”.
He further stated that many variables were also considered by NERC in arriving at the new tariff and they included foreign exchange rate, gas prices, rate of inflation and generation capacity, in addition to increase in the generation and transmission charges.
The company spokesman explained further that the new tariffs and the resulting revenue will help to progress the necessary infrastructural improvement from generation to transmission and the local distribution networks like PHED, stressing that the ultimate goal is to provide the electricity infrastructure to power Nigeria’s future.
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