Business
Agency, Firm Partner On Holding Bay
The Partner Government
Agencies and Stakeholders Forum (PGASEF) is partnering with Creek and See Truck Park to build a holding bay for 1,000 trucks to ease traffic between Mile 2 and Tin-Can/Apapa Ports access roads.
The Customs Area Comptroller (CAC), Kirikiri Lighter Terminal, Comptroller Benjamin Aber, made the disclosure in Lagos, recently when members of PGASF being championed by him led journalists to the uncompleted site for the truck bay.
Aber said that PGASF had been able to identify two locations as parking bay to decongest all the corridors leading to the ports on temporary and permanent basis for all trucks operating within the port environment.
Our correspondent reports that the permanent truck holding bay would be established along Mile 2 axis but currently awaiting ministerial intervention and directives.
“If we take 1,000 trucks off the port access roads, it will ease the road for the users as well as the truck drivers.
“There are rest rooms for both the truck drivers and tanker drivers,’’ Aber said.
He said with the temporary truck holding bay, there would be free entrance for people working around the Kirikiri Lighter Terminal area to have free access into their offices.
Aber said that a number of times, many people working around the Kirikiri area had been trekking several miles and parked their cars far away from their offices as a result of indiscriminate parking by the truck drivers.
“The main objective of the PGASF is to deliberate on security issues and challenges bothering on the implications of the traffic gridlock.
“The gridlock are around the access roads to Apapa port, Tin-Can Island port, Petroleum Tank Farms and Kirikiri Lighter Terminal.
“Our aim is to also proffer practicable solutions to resolve the challenges affecting the above mentioned areas permanently and attainment of free access roads along Mile 2 to Apapa corridors, ‘’ Aber said.
He stressed the need for the PGASF to achieve necessary synergy for coordinating timely information-sharing in a manner that would assist both the security agencies and stakeholders to tackle issues affecting them.
The Customs boss and members of the PGASF had been having constant weekly meeting since February in ensuring that they come up with conducive working environment for all port users and assist the government in generating more revenue.
Aber said that the benefits of decongesting the ports’ access roads were enormous, adding that it would increase economic activities within the corridors and increase revenue collection by all government agencies.
He said that decongestion of the roads would stop loss of lives and anxieties of the trading public and would also prevent fire outbreak due to convergence of tankers, trucks and environmental degradation.
Also speaking, the Chief Executive Officer of Creeks and See Truck Park, Mr Meyiwa Ogbebor, said that the truck holding bay would accommodate 1,000 trucks on daily basis.
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
