Business
2014: Ministry Supervises 1,690 Remediation Oil Spill Sites -Report
Assstant Regional Eck Spiritual Aide, Nigeria, Odololiyi Lolomari (middle) flanked by Director, Business Development, RSNC, Vincent Ochonma and others cut the tape to commission Chanhassen lodge, a two-star hotel in Port Harcourt, recently
The Federal Ministry of
Environment has said it supervised the remediation of over 1,690 oil spills sites nationwide in 2014.
The ministry stated this in a report on the “Transformation Agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan in the Environment Sector in 2014’’ obtained by The Tide Source on Friday in Abuja.
According to the report, the ministry has remediated over 430 lead poisoned compounds in Zamfara and four hectares of lead poisoned industrial sites in Bagega village in the state.
“The ministry’s activities on remediation in response to the persistent environmental degradation and devastation of the coastal ecosystem have doubled, especially in oil-producing areas of the Niger-Delta region.
“It has also re-doubled its effort towards reducing incidents of oil spill and remediating the impacted sites,’’ the report stated.
The report said that the ministry bid and won the right to host the UN Environment Programme’s African Regional Coordinating Centre for Marine Pollution.
“This is in recognition of Nigeria’s leadership role in response to marine pollution control in West Africa Sub-region.
“When fully established, it will enhance the nation’s capacity to tackle the challenges of marine pollution in all its ramifications,’’ the report stated.
“ To facilitate regular interaction with public, the ministry applied for and obtained a toll-free line for reporting oil spill incidents across the country; this facility will be fully activated in December 2014.
“The ministry procured equipment for the Geographic information System (GIS) and Remote Sensing laboratories at the headquarters in Abuja and five zonal offices.
“The ministry collaborated with other stakeholders to create the oil spill monitor, a robust GIS-based web platform that has raised the level of awareness and transparency in oil spill management,’’ it said.
On ozone friendly programmes, the report said the ministry had distributed a first set of 30 low pressure foaming machines to small-scale ice machine makers.
It said the ministry distributed the machines to ice-makers under its ozone depleting phase out programme to ensure conversion from the use of ozone depleting chemicals to ozone friendly ones in their production process.
It also said that the ministry had contributed to achieving a clean and healthy environment by training over 50 health officers on construction of domestic bio-digester nationwide.
According to the report, 7, 983 environmental health officers have been registered and certified nationwide, while additional 4, 324 environmental health professionals have been registered to sit for certification examination this month.
“The ministry has collaborated with SURE-P in engaging 10,000 environmental health officers as a stop gap to the yearning of Nigerians for the re-introduction of sanitary inspectors in phases.’’
It said 120 health officers were qualified in Abuja for house -to -house inspection.
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