Business
Stakeholders Want FG To Copy Benin Republic’s Port Model
Arising from the noticeable decay in the maritime industry, some experts in the Nigerian maritime sector have called on the Federal Government to copy the Webb Port model of port community system used in neighbouring Benin Republic.
The experts, at the 2023 JournalNG Port Industry Town Hall meeting in Lagos, agreed that the Webb Port model has proven to enhance national security, improve revenue collection and promote trade at the seaport, airport and land borders.
Giving an insight into the workings of the Webb Ports in Benin, Lanre Balogun, A Manager in charge of installation at Webb Fontaine Nigeria Limited, said the Port Community System has achieved seamless interactions between systems used by the port authority, customs and terminal operators from data exchange and logistics through billing and payment.
Balogun said all port processes under the Webb Ports regime enjoy speedy processing from electronic manifest declaration through electronic payment of all duties and fees: space booking for delivery and loading preparation; e- release for cargo exit authorisation; and cargo movements management and follow up.
Balogun said his company has trained 8,137 persons in Benin from 2018 to 2022 and has 6,624 users of the system that has helped Benin Republic Customs achieve 97 percent increase in customs revenue collection between 2016 and 2022.
He added that the PCS is active at Cotonou Port, Cotonou Airport, and six land borders of Hilla Condji, Krake Plage, Malanville, Parakou, Iloua and Tchicandou.
He said the contract entered with Benin Ministry of Finance has contributed immensely to the port efficiency in the country, easing trade.
He listed trucking companies, banks, stevedores, customs brokers, shipping agents, inspection authorities and others as maximising the benefits of the Webb Ports system.
The Customs Area Controller of Kirikiri Lighter Terminal, Comptroller Timinadi Bomodi, warned that the nation’s blue economy won’t attract FDIs without adequate data to guide investors.
Bomodi said automated processes and technology could be utilized in addressing the dire need for relevant data on various aspects of the sector which makes it easier for investors to understand the terrain.
He identified fishing trawler operations in the country as a sub-sector that requires optimum regulation and adequate data to guide the regulators, operators, government policies and spur Foreign Direct Investments.
While stating that the Customs online portal, Nigeria Integrated Customs Information System (NICIS) II, allows for integration of other agencies, he stated that blue economy should be explored as an ecosystem that leverages technology.
Also speaking at the meeting, Chief Abdullai Tony Dania, a Maritime Lawyer, called for due diligence and enactment of laws that will strengthen integration among government agencies.
According to Dania, “there is a need for mandatory inter agencies and inter-Ministerial collaboration, supported by statute to give impetus to the required technologically backed integration”.
He said the Nigerian Customs and Excise is under the Ministry of Finance, but her operations are more under the Marine & the blue economy, hence the need to regulate the existing maritime agencies.
Meanwhile, the Founder of National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) and Chairman of the occasion, Dr. Boniface Aniebonam, observed that automated processes of port agencies are fragmented.
Aniebonam, who was represented by the Registrar, NAGAFF Academy, Mr. Francis Omotosho, observed that even the popular Customs Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) Valuation system and NPA’s electronic truck call-up system are fraught with the challenge of human interference.
The veteran freight forwarder suggested that technology could be utilized to alert Customs of overtime cargoes after 28 days at ports, thereby positioning the Service to expedite the evacuation of such cargoes.
On his part, the Chairman of the Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO), Chief Remi Ogungbemi, advised that already established technological processes should be improved upon.
He also lamented that truck owners are also being vilified when their trucks are seized along with consignments intercepted by Customs and other security agencies.
Earlier, the Publisher of JournalNG and convener of the conference, Mr. Ismail Aniemu, observed that technology has become part of daily life and automation has also become the norm.
He said Nigeria Customs Service is the best suitable to be the lead agency for a national single window project and most qualified to handle it with its more robust NICIS II platform.
While commending the Webb Port system as most suitable, tested and trusted platform observed to be sustainable in Benin in the last six years, Aniemu said the Nigeria Customs’ strong presence at the seaports, airports and border stations further attests to its suitability to undertake the task.
It would be recalled that JournalNg town hall meeting in the past Five years has been playing advisory role in the maritime industry in a bid to promote adequate business environment.
By: Nkpemenyie Mcdominic,
Lagos
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
