Business
LCCI Wants CBN To Review Foreign Exchange Policy
L-R: Jonah Iboma, Manager Corporate Communication PHED, Chief Regulatory Officer, PHED, Nancy Abdala and Head Customer Services, Godwin Orurwiroro during a public consultation on traffic review in Port Harcourt, last Friday. Photo: Nwiveh Donatus Ken
The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has called on the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to review its foreign exchange policy for imported goods.
The LCCI made the call in a statement signed by its Director-General, Mr Muda Yusuf, which was made available to newsmen in Lagos, yesterday.
The chamber disapproved of the apex bank’s policy which restricted 41 imported goods from accessing foreign exchange from the bank.
It said that the policy would serve as a disincentive to the Nigerian manufacturing sector and the economy.
The statement said that the restricted items included critical elements of the manufacturing process of many firms, across sectors in the country.
“The policy means that manufacturers who require any of the 41 restricted items as inputs and raw materials for their production may have to simply shut their operations once their existing stock is exhausted.
“The LCCI understands the CBN’s constraints and circumstances, as it drew up this policy.
“It, however, appears as if the formulation of the policy has suffered from the CBN’s limited understanding of the manufacturing process of many of the sectors affected by this policy.’’
The CBN on June 23 said that it was imperative to exclude importers of some goods from accessing foreign exchange.
It added that the directive was aimed at encouraging local production of the items.
The chamber, however, noted that the policy was ambiguous as the restricted items were not well-defined and specific.
It stated that the ambiguity had plunged both manufacturers and banks into confusion regarding the intent of the CBN.
It, therefore, urged the apex bank to amend the policy with full product definition, specification of all restricted items, including their HS Codes and excluding any items which are non-substitutable industrial raw materials from the list.
The chamber, therefore, called for appropriate time frames for items which required some interval before local substitutes can be created for imported raw materials.
It reminded the CBN and the Federal Government that manufacturers had yet to recover from the losses they suffered due to the recent currency devaluation.
“Compounding recent devaluation losses with higher costs and the complete inability to source critical raw materials may push many firms over the precipice.
“This may result in business closures, job losses, declined manufacturing sector production and greater social tension.’’
It urged the CBN and the Federal Government to consider palliatives and incentives to prevent such a scenario.
The chamber stated that the fundamental forces the apex bank was struggling against were economic and fiscal policy dependence.
It said the Bank continues to exert monetary policy tools almost to a point in which economic harm may result.
The chamber, therefore, listed the fundamental factors as: diversification of the economy in terms of exports and government revenue, issues around the deregulation of the downstream oil sector and the fiscal regimes of the upstream oil sector.
Others are the power sector’s efficiency, creating alternative economies in solid minerals, agriculture, manufacturing and a robust export-driven economy.
“These matters cannot be resolved through exclusive deployment of monetary policy tools.’’
The chamber added that harmonisation of CBN policies with other government agencies was critical, to avoid cross purposes and for economic development.
It, therefore, urged the apex bank to avoid policies that may produce oligopolistic and monopolistic outcomes, which the chamber noted, were at variance with its mandate of building a sound economy.
It recalled that on July 9, LCCI organised a stakeholders’ forum on the policy, which was attended by representatives of the CBN and the organised private sector, including the manufacturing sector.
The chamber said that the outcome of the forum formed the basis of the forum’s communique for government’s immediate action.
It, therefore, urged for increased engagement and consultation between the CBN and the private sector, for adequate understanding of the impact of its policies on the manufacturing sector.
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