Business
Ocean Surge Threatens $4.5bn ECOWAS Facility
The Customs Area Controller of Seme Border, Comptroller Dera Nnadi, has lamented that the multi-billion dollar Nigeria-Republic of Benin joint border control facility at Seme is under threat.
According to the Command’s helmsman, unless urgent measures are adopted to remedy the situation, raging ocean surge might sweep away the $4.5billion Seme Border control modern facility built by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Donated by the European Union (EU) to the ECOWAS and commissioned in 2018, the border control facility is jointly operated by Nigeria and Republic of Benin, and houses all the security agencies from both countries that operate at the Seme Border.
Nnadi made this disclosure while briefing members of the Senate ad-hoc Committee on Customs and Excise during an oversight visit recently at Seme Border Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).
Nnadi, said there was need for urgent measures to address the menace of ravaging ocean surge at Nigeria’s end of the sprawling border control facility.
According to him, one of the residential buildings in the barracks area of the command has already completely gone under the waters, while a second building is at the verge of being submerged due to the sea surge.
“No one knows when and how the next surge would happen, it could be when people are asleep.
“You can imagine the quantum of loss in terms of lives and property that could occur if such a disaster happens at night. My own official residence is about six metres away from the second building that is at the verge of being submerged, so you can imagine how close the surge is to us.
“This is why urgent remedial measures are required in the interim while efforts are made to address the menace on a more permanent and sustainable basis”, Nnadi said.
He listed other challenges at the command to include poor public power supply to the border facility, saying that there has only been power supply to the area twice since January, a development that negatively impacts cost of operation, especially given the increase in the pump price of petroleum products.
The Tide gathered that several letters had been written to the Managing Director of Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC), which is in charge of supplying public power to the area.
Meanwhile, none of the letter has changed the situation, even as the letters have not been replied to as at the time of filing this report.
Chairman of the committee, Senator Francis Ade Fadahunsi, while reacting to the concerns raised by the Customs boss over the worsening sea surge, having inspected some parts of the joint border control facility, noted that the committee came on the visit at the behest of the leadership of the National Assembly, especially the Senate, and would therefore tender its report.
Fadahunsi, who is a retired Assistant Comptroller General of the Service, assured that the committee would do a comprehensive report on the entire visit, which must also feature all the observed challenges facing the Command, which is one of the revenue nests of the Federal Government.
The Comptroller also briefed the committee on the operational activities at the command, saying that out of the N1.9billion revenue target given to the command for the 2023 fiscal year, it has collected a total of N1.6billion as at July, which represents 72per cent increase compared to the N884million collected in the comparative period of 2022.
He also reeled out some of the Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives by the command for the host communities, which include the renovation of the Badagry General Hospital and donation of drugs and other healthcare materials by the Customs Officers Wives Association, donation of football jerseys and other sports materials to various youth groups within the border communities.
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