Business
Shippers Association ’ll Divert Cargoes To Ghana
The Lagos State Shippers
Association, has said it would direct its members to divert their cargoes to Ghana as the cargo sheds at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, had remained shut.
The association’s President, Mr Jonathan Nicol, who made the assertion in an interview with newsmen in Lagos, said the sheds had been shut for nine days.
He said: “We (shippers) are moving some of our cargo to Accra, Ghana, as the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc (NAHCO) and Skyway Aviation Handling company Ltd. (SAHCOL) sheds remained shut’’.
Nicol said the shippers (importers and exporters) were taking this stand because goods stocked in the sheds were attracting huge demurrage and they (shippers) could not quantify how much loss they had been incurring.
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) had on Monday said the cargo sheds of the airport should remain shut until terminal operators complied with new operational procedures that would not threaten national security and revenue.
The closure of the sheds was based on the confrontation between the customs and the licensed agents.
The Customs Area Comptroller of the Airport Command, Mr Tajudeen Olanrewaju, said government had directed officials to identify and allow passage of perishable, medical and diplomatic goods, which had remained trapped due to the crisis.
He said the NCS had the power to deal with any violator or saboteur who threatened national security and collection of revenues for government.
Olarenwaju said that government would continue to keep the cargo warehouse closed because the clearing agents had demonstrated that they were not ready to comply with regulations.
The comptroller said that agreements signed with the agents in the past had failed as they had consistently violated the rules that restricted their access to some parts of the cargo terminal.
“It has become increasingly insecure to carry out businesses at the cargo section of the airport because the agents have through their collective action continued to threaten national security.
“The agents have displayed lack of capacity to enforce the new regulations in sensitive areas where cargoes are kept at the airport.
“The warehouse remains shut until the agents and terminal managers show capacity to operate without threat to security,’’ he said.
Nicol added: “The shippers are losing so much, especially at this time that we have supply contracts to our various clients.
“We appeal to the Nigeria Customs Service and the freight forwarders to resolve the issues at stake.
“The cargo in the sheds do not belong to the freight forwarders, they belong to the shippers.
“The shippers have no quarrel with customs. Shippers are not finding it easy with our cargo caged in the sheds for no fault of ours,’’ the shipper told newsmen.
“Whatever has happened between customs and the freight forwarders is part of human error; so it can be resolved.
“Whatever is the problem between the freight forwarders and the customs should not affect the nation’s economy.’’
Nicol recalled that few days ago, they got out of the nine-day strike at the Apapa port and now going through another strike at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport.
He said that as the shippers were trying to get out of the problems of the Apapa strike, they were still paying demurrages.
“We cannot afford to continue to do business in a volatile atmosphere that cannot be determined.
“So, we are moving some of our cargo to Accra,’’ Nicol said.
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