Business
Lagos Begins Issuance Of New Taxi Cab Licences
The Lagos State Govern
ment last Thursday began the issuance of new licences to operators of taxis and cabs in the state.
The Tide correspondent learnt that the licences, targeting no fewer than 14,000 registered operators, are being issued under the state’s new transport policy.
Apart from conferring on operators the right to operate unhindered, the licence can also be used to take loans from the bank.
The document, which is transferable and sellable, has a flat value of N100,000 but was being issued free of charge.
Presenting the licences to operators in Ikeja, Governor Babatunde Fashola said the taxi licensing system was concieved out of the need to properly regulate the taxi business and attend to serious safety issues.
He said that cases of criminals using cabs to perpetrate serious crimes were rampant in recent times and the new licences were a step to check the problem.
Fashola said the licences, apart restoring order to taxi operations, would also provide economic support to operators as the document could be sold or used to obtain loans from the banks.
“We need to be clear why we are issuing these licences. In many parts of the world where I have been, one of the safest places where you can find women, adults and children is the taxis.
“Once you enter a taxi in those parts of the world, you are safe. The reason is very simple: In all those places, those who run taxis are known people; they are professionals, they have identity, they cannot disappear.
“So if you are looking for a child and they say he entered taxi A or B, they will find the child because they know the driver, because they have the data of all operators.
“ So, at this time of national and global security challenges, we cannot afford to be left behind, so we are issuing the licences not just for business, the most important part of it is safety.
“What this means is that if you enter a licenced taxi in the state, just know that you are safe and it also means patronising unregistered cabs means putting one’s safety in jeopardy, “ he said.
Fashola said the licences were necessarily carrying the pictures, names and addresses of holders for security considerations.
He said that the fingerprints of all carriers embossed on the licences were verifiable on the state’s database and were also means to respond to security issues.
The governor said the new taxi licensing system was to further boost the status of Lagos as an emerging model megacity where cabs run efficiently with minimal security concerns.
Highlighting the economic benefits of the new taxi policy system, the governor said the system sought to professionalise the business and make it more rewarding for operators.
He explained that the new licence could be used as collateral to obtain loans from the banks and negotiate vehicle prices.
The governor said that the new licence could be sold by holders for a good sum in the future as it would work as a document with an appreciating value.
He said the document was transferable as it could be inherited and used by the holders’ children.
Fashola, however, said operators whose vehicles were not older than 12 years old and were in good condition were being issued the document
The Commissioner for Transportation, Mr Kayode Opeifa, on his part, said the licences were devised to revolutionise taxi business in the state.
Opeifa said the benefits of the licences were numerous to the state, the operators and the general public.
The commissioner said that the licencing meant more organisation, more confidence in the taxi system as well as better business for operators.
He explained that the document would not be issued three years after 2015, and that the essence was to create more value for the document.
“Under the new taxi policy, taxis are now allowed to carry adverts and they could wait at bus stops to take passengers unhindered,” he said.
He urged operators to tap the potential of the new taxi policy and licensing system to improve their businesses.
The President, Lagos State Taxi Driver/Cabs Operators Association, Mr Tajudeen Adetoro, thanked the government for the licensing initiative.
He, however, urged the government to do its best to ensure that the promise that the licence would improve their busineses was fulfilled.
Our correspondent reports that new road signs designed by the state to ban horning in libraries ,hospitals and areas close to important government buildings, were also unveiled at the occasion.
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