Business
NCSDC Wants Equipment For Personnel
The Nigeria Civil Security Defence Corps (NCSDC), Rivers State has tasked the Federal Government of Nigeria on provision of equipment for the corps to enable them adequately discharge their duties.
The NCSDC, Rivers State, Commander, Mohamed Haruna, made the appeal during a press briefing to outline the achievement of corps in 2018 in Port Harcourt, over the weekend.
Haruna said that the provision of gunboats and other equipment in addition to man power increase would enable the corps tackle the issue of oil theft and oil touts under the Niger Delta region.
The NCSDC boss in the state noted that within the year in review, the corps had arrested 132 suspects, instituted 65 convictions, impounded vehicles, trucks, vessels, boats and barges conveying vandalised and adulterated petroleum products.
According to him, “to checkmate the excesses of oil thieves and oil touts, the corps has arrested no fewer than 132 suspects, 15 vehicles and 36 trucks, all loaded with stolen petroleum products”.
Additionally, he said, “the corps also arrested 20 boats, two vessels, four barges and 170 drums, all containing adulterated petroleum products within 2018.”
Recalling the challenges encountered by the corps in carrying out their work, the Rivers NCSDC Commander, noted, “The major problem we encountered in carrying out our duties this year has been the issue of inadequate equipment to work with”.
Furthermore, Haruna said the NCSDC’s Peace and Conflict Resolution (PCR) unit has impacted positively in the area of addressing civil matters in the year under review.
He said, “The impact of the Peace and Conflict Resolution Unit cannot be overemphasized as civil cases are constantly tackled and mediatory measures put in place to settle civil cases.
It has been yielding positive results, for example, the corps, through the PCR unit, has contributed immensely to the reduction of cases in litigation, we have successfully resolved 159 cases ranging from family to marital matters, indebtedness, breach of contract, land related matters, herdsmen-farmers related matters and personal and other related issues”.
“For the judges quarters, we have 20 super luxury duplex which will be given to judges of Rivers State for life. Once you are given, it becomes your own for life.
“The purpose for that is that the governor does not want the Judges to be distracted by thinking on where to stay, after leaving government quarters and the project is 25 per cent completed”, he said.
Nwobueze however posited that the two projects would bring the Ministry of Housing to limelight, as it has not been done before adding that the ban on street trading would be fully enforced, after the commissioning of the market.
Tonye Nria-Dappa
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