Business
Customs Impounds N11bn Goods
Federal Operations Unit
(FOU), Zone ‘A’ of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted contraband valued at N11.66 million.
The Controller of the unit Comptroller Mohammed Umar, said this in a statement he made available to newsmen in Lagos through Mr Uche Ejesieme, the unit’s Public Relations Officer (PRO).
The statement said that the seizures were recorded on January 14 and January 16 respectively by the Controller after his assumption of office on January 12, 2016. It stated that the first seizure of 158 bales of second-hand clothes was effected by the Lagos Monitoring Unit through intelligence information at Iju area of Lagos State.
The statement said the Controller’s Surveillance Team, Idiroko Axis, while acting on a tip-off, also intercepted a truck-load of 500 bags of smuggled 50kilogrammes of rice each.
It added that the team intercepted another Mercedes Benz truck along Sagamu-Ijebu-Ode Road found to be carrying 551 cartons of smuggled frozen poultry products concealed in 600 bags of cement. The statement noted that the same team also intercepted a truck along Ijebu-Ode Road axis laden with 400 bags of 50kilogrammes of rice each suspected to be smuggled.
It added that the Monitoring Team ‘A’ Idiroko Axis, while on routine patrol, intercepted another truck with foreign number laden with logs of rough wood along the Abeokuta- Ibese Road.
The statement said that the truck was suspected to be heading toward the borders in violation of the extant rules on export. It quoted the controller as saying, “My mandate here is to bring my experience to bear in degrading the menace of smuggling.
“All hands must be on deck as I will be prepared to encourage and support our operatives in this campaign.
“The statutory function of the unit is a task that must be done, irrespective of whatever challenge or hiccup we might encounter.
“My principal objective is to ensure the officers of the unit key-in into the change mantra of Federal Government.
“The statement also commended the efforts of the various teams that exhibited operational efficiency and urged others to emulate the laudable achievements of their counterparts. It also said the controller warned smugglers to have a rethink by investing in more legitimate businesses.
It said the Controller, however, assured legitimate and compliant traders of the support of the unit in terms of facilitation of legitimate trade.
The statement called on patriotic Nigerians to oblige the unit with genuine and useful information that could help it to arrest smugglers irrespective of their methods.
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