Business
EKEDC Targets Uninterrupted Supply To Consumers
Car park at Marina Central Business District, as workers resume after Easter holidays in Lagos, yesterday.
The management of the Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) says they have put in place measures that would enable the company to provide 24 hours uninterrupted electricity supply to its consumers.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mr Oladele Amoda, announced this yesterday in Lagos during the company’s Customer Engagement Town Hall Meeting with electricity consumers from Ibeju-Lekki, Ajah, Igbo-Efon, Lekki Phase 1and 2.
Amoda said that the management had concluded plans to add more than170megawatts (MW) to the supply from the national grid.
He said that the company was receiving only 11 per cent or between 270 megawatts and 300 megawatts of electricity generated from the National grid.
“EKEDC requires 700 megawatts to give consumers in the zone uninterrupted power supply but out of which we are given between 270 MW and 300MW.
“This has resulted to erratic power supply to our numerous customers and led to series of protests in many communities.
“This has made the company to engage in embedded power generation projects, to fill in the lapses.
“We are almost through with three power generating plants who have agreed to supply the company with 170megawatts.
“We have entered into agreement with the Egbin Power Plant who will be supplying the company 100MW directly from their station.
“40MW will be received from the Ijora Power Plant and the remaining 30MW will come from Agara in Ogun State.
“Apart from this, we are at present negotiating with more than 40 companies to get more energy. My team is in Abuja to finalise arrangements with the companies.
“These companies will generate power and send to us and we will distribute to our customers,” he said.
Amoda, however, assured the consumers that the arrangement was almost completed, adding that they would soon start to enjoy between 20 hours and 22 hours of uninterrupted electricity supply.
“The new era has come with the change we are all clamouring for. I can assure you that the embedded power generation will boost the power supply greatly,” he said.
Also speaking, Mr Amuda Oladele, a community leader from Ajah bemoaned the delays in repairing faults, especially explosion from high tension wires and transformers in the area.
He urged the company to find lasting solutions to numerous recorded explosions from high tension wires.
Mr Kingsley Osu, a resident of Harmony Estate in Lekki Phase 1 said that the N250,000 bill slammed on him by EKEDC was laughable.
According to him, the bill is outrageous becuase nobody used electricity in the house during the six months he travelled abroad.
Osu also appealed to EKEDC to adjust the bill.
In his contribution, Mr Godwin Idemudia, Assistant General Manager (Public Affairs) of EKEDC commended consumers in the area for their understanding.
He said that the town hall meeting was introduced by the management of EKEDC to listen to electricity consumers and find ways to alleviate their problems.
According to Idemudia, the meeting would now hold on a quarterly 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