Business
Ogoni: Shell Moves To Combat Oil Theft
In a bid to reduce incidents of pipeline vandalism and crude oil theft from the 2013 record of 49 cases to the barest minimum, Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC) has initiated a new strategy that fuses its pipelines contract management system as an integral part of the grassroots-based development paradigm driven by the Global Memorandum of Understanding (GMoU).
Consequently, the company has scrapped the legacy pipelines surveillance contracts and created a new model community-based pipelines surveillance structure with host communities directly in charge of securing the strategic national assets under four GMoU portfolios covering Eleme, Tai and Gokana 1 and 2 clusters on one of the most sabotaged Trans Niger Pipelines (TNP).
Unveiling the dual-purpose strategy to newsmen in Port Harcourt last Thursday, General Manager, Onshore Assets, SPDC, Grzegorz Kulawski, said that the tested and proven model was designed to drive development while at the same time promoting environmental sustainability in Ogoniland.
Kulawski said that given the company’s experience in the area and the outstanding performance of the pilot strategy in Tarakiri, Oporomor and Nembe-Bassambiri clusters in Bayelsa, and Ikwerre and Degema 1 clusters in Rivers, it decided to deploy the GMoU framework to support community development efforts in the area as well as enhance the ability and capacity to protect and secure the TNP which passes through several non-producing facilities in Ogoni since 1993.
Explaining the details of the programme, General Manager, Sustainable Development and Community Relations, Nedo Osayande, said that “the new GMoU agreements with Community Development Boards (CDBs) in Eleme, Tai, Gokana I and Gokana II will support more than 500 youths from 30 communities engaged in unarmed surveillance activities along sections of the 24-inch and 28-inch TNP in Ogoniland, replacing expired pipeline surveillance arrangements with existing contractors.
Osayande assured that SPDC will provide the required funding for both the pipelines surveillance and community development initiatives while the pipeline patrol teams will report all incursions directly to government security agencies for immediate action, adding that leaders of communities where the TNP traverses now have the mandate to select people directly from the affected communities to secure the pipelines, and save their environment for posterity.
According to him, “the new agreements make community-appointed personnel responsible for monitoring pipelines and other facilities, and not individual contractors”, stressing that “the agreements in Rivers and Bayelsa States have helped to reduce the rate of crude theft, and we hope to see the same trend in Ogoniland, thus saving the people and the environment from the effects of incessant crude theft activities.”
The general manager said that before the kick-off of the new strategy on May 1, 2014, SPDC had engaged all stakeholders in the affected three local governments, including traditional rulers, youth groups, women leaders, community and environmental rights groups, Rivers State Government and leaders of the three local government councils, as well as the former pipelines surveillance contractors whose contracts had expired, and secured their buy-in even before the GMoU pacts were signed in January, 2014, and the CDBs constituted by the communities.
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