Business
NPA’s Senior Staff Assure New MD Of Support
The Nigerian Ports Author
ity (NPA) Senior Staff Association of Communication, Transportation and Corporation (SSACTAC), has pledged the association’s support for the newly-appointed management.
The President of SSACTAC, Mr Benson Adegbeyeni, made the pledge in a statement made available to newsmen recently in Lagos.
He urged the new management of the NPA to review towage services.
Adegbeyeni said the union was ready to work with the new managing director and to help her succeed as the first female boss to lead the port agency.
The unionist pointed out that billions of naira of government’s revenue “are being diverted through this channel’’.
He noted that towage service is a core function of the NPA.
“That presently, it had been outsourced to a private company in the Lagos area, in Rivers Port and Port Harcourt Port areas, leaving NPA with only Warri and Calabar ports.
“In the history of NPA, this is the first time we are having a female as the boss. It is an act of God and we believe she can transform the agency,’’ Adegbeyeni said.
He advised the new NPA boss to be ready to submit herself for learning and to yield to advice from the right quarters.
The SSACTAC boss said that there was need for immediate recruitment of more staff into the agency as it is currently short-staffed.
“We have so many things wrong with the port including the port concession exercise that was carried.
“ The revenue of NPA is currently going into wrong hands through towage services that have been outsourced to a third party.
“Also, terminal operators’ activities are not properly monitored by NPA.
“The dilapidated infrastructure are not being replaced and the terminal operators are bringing in sub-standard infrastructure that cannot last for 10 years.
“Pilot cutters and tug boats were procured by NPA but they were given to a third party to run the towage services and at the same time, generating 3,600 dollars and paying peanuts of 920 dollars to NPA,’’ he said.
Adegbeyeni said that the union had in the last one year told the management of the NPA to increase the towage price charged by NPA but they refused.
“We have been on it for the past one year. They want to outsource it to some people.
“Again there is no succession plan in NPA. In two years time now, nearly 2,000 NPA workers would leave.
“Presently, we are short of staff.
“We are 14,000 workers but when the concession came, it was reduced to 4, 000 workers and now we are less than 4,000.
“Considering the rate of retirement, this year alone, about 130 workers are about to retire. There is no plan for those to take over and train them,’’ he said.
Adegbeyeni said that globally, towage service charges currently is 3,620 dollars, but looking at the Lagos area, NPA had outsourced towage services to a company called- Land Fall & Passa.
He alleged that the company was using NPA infrastructure and manpower, adding that it charged the standard rate as done all over the world and still paid a peanut of 920 dollars to NPA.
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