Business
Shippers, APM Partner To Reduce Cost At Ports
The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has said that it would collaborate with the APM Terminals, Apapa to reduce operational cost at Nigerian ports.
The Executive Secretary of the council, Mr Hassan Bello stated this on Monday during a tour of the APM Terminals in Apapa.
Bello said that it was the desire of the council for Nigeria to become the preferred destination of cargoes.
He commended the management of the terminal for the “huge investments” it had made in the terminal, saying that that the Federal Government would safeguard the investments of concessionaires.
“I need to remind you that one of the cardinal reasons the ports were reformed for operations was cost.
“Costs must come down relative to operational climate with the services that are being rendered at the ports.
“We are working for you in many ways. We are trying to see that things are not arbitrarily done.
“The government agencies would not increase their tariffs, especially for you to operate. If it is going to happen, then it must be done scientifically.
“And what is a little bit worrying is sometimes the impunity – people just fixing prices for themselves without recourse to the authority. This would not do for good business operations.
“Here we are; Nigerian Shippers’ Council; very, very important partner to you. We are not regulators, we are moderators. We want to moderate every aspect of maritime activities.
“So as to get the efficiency that is needed and we have always tell people that we are in competition with some ports here.
“We need to improve our ports because the destination of cargo is at the feet of the consignee and consignee always goes to a place where everything is favourable to him.
“We want Nigeria as a whole to be the preferred destination for cargo.”
The executive secretary said that it was important for the council to be responsive to the problems of the terminal operators.
He lauded the company for the rail transport project being introduced to help in the delivery of cargo to the Northern parts of the country.
Responding, Mr Femi Ransome-Kuti, the Deputy Managing Director of APM Terminals, said that the management of the company had been able to resolve 70 per cent of its problems, including cargo handling.
Also speaking, Mr Sunil Bansal, the Chief Financial Officer of APM Terminals, said that the management of the company would work closely with NSC, being the regulator.
“We are definitely committed to Nigeria; we are here to stay. You are aware we are not only talking about the port here; we are taking about the Badagry port – much larger dominant.
“Of course, a lot of discussions are still ongoing. That is the commitment we have till date.
“Once we start our presentation, you will see we have invested like 350 million dollars over the last nine years in the terminal and more is still ongoing.
“When we started the terminal nine years back, the dream was to make the terminal a world class and today we are happy to say that this terminal is equivalent to any other terminal in Europe.
In terms of infrastructure, in terms of system, in terms of processes, we are absolutely equivalent.
“This is the only terminal in Lagos, which is connected with the rail to the hinterland.
“We have two lanes inside, two trains can come simultaneously and if Nigeria Railway Corporation can support in terms of providing train, we can connect to the other parts of the country very, very easily making the entire system very efficient.
“People do not have to come to Lagos to clear their cargo; it can be cleared at their doorstep.”
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