Business
BUA Decries Friction Among Ports Agencies
Multiplicity of service
processes by customary government agencies in the ports and friction among them due to overlapping functions, constitute bottleneck to international best practices in seaport terminal operations.
The General Manager of BUA Ports and Terminals Ltd, Port Harcourt, Alhaji Mohammed Ibrahim Lile, made this assertion during an awareness seminar on the role of the Nigerian Shippers Council as ports economic regulators held in Port Harcourt, Wednesday.
Lile, in his paper, “Enhancing Shipping Services Delivery and Pricing At Nigerian Ports” said there was need for the government to address the post-concession challenges inorder to reduce port costs.
According to him, issues such as host community problems especially in the Eastern, Ports and prevalence of shanty villages within the ports environment, inadequate pilotage, tug boats, pilot cutters, delayed berthing and sailing of vessels should also be looked into.
He further said arrest of vessels at berth by the Nigerian Customs or NIMASA and attendant consequences enchroached on the terminal operators berth space and through put, adding that port access vehicular traffic control is also chaotic.
“It has reduced the turnaround time of trucks resulting in high cost of haulage and congestion of the terminals.
Dependency on only one mode of transport for movement of cargo from port terminal is a big challenge,” he further said.
The General Manager noted that non-release of the entire leased area to Terminal operators was also a challenge, pointing out that 10 per cent of the leased space to BUA Ports has not been released to them by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).
Lile also listed that governments’ fiscal policies such as ban on the importation of cement, high duty on motor vehicle, rice, wheat and restriction on the importation of fish was also a reason for the very low traffic in all the ports, including the Eastern ports.
He hinted that inadequate public power generating system, lack of public power supply had been additional cost to the Terminal Operators, while still paying NPA electricity bills, and called on them to consider putting independent power plant production in place.
The BUA Ports and Terminals boss also noted that lack of political will to implement port development policies was also a challenge, stressing that Ibaka and Badagry ports have been on the drawing board for a long time now as well as intermittent ASYCMDA Connectivity failure has been another challenge to terminal operators cargo release and high port costs.
He, however, called on all stakeholders to support government to achieve its target of 48-hours cargo clearance and lower cost of operation, adding that, “it is a herculean task but with unity of purpose, there is no limit to what we can achieve.”
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