Business
Criminal Gangs Make Fortunes At Lagos Diplomatic Zone
Criminal gangs have taken
over the diplomatic district at Walter Carrington Crescent on Victoria Island, Lagos, extorting money from people besieging the area to transact consular businesses.
The Tide source reports that unscrupulous young men have turned the area, popularly known as Eleke Crescent into a goldmine, collecting money from visitors for various services.
The gangs often compel visitors to pay as much as N1, 000 before they could be allowed to urinate in bushes on the lagoon coastline.
Visitors desiring to use shanties erected by the gangs to ease themselves were forced to pay N200 before they could be allowed to use the facilities.
A company executive, Mr Andrew Ekpah, told reporters that he was man-handled for daring to resist paying the gangs after he urinated at the lagoon coastline.
“The guys swooped on me and insisted that I must pay them one hundred naira after I finished urinating at the refuse heap at the lagoon coastline.
“I didn’t see why I should pay them because the place I urinated belonged to nobody. It is bush.
“More so, the boys are not local government officials. I argued that people should not be extorting money from innocent people simply because they can fight and intimidate.
“Has government abandoned its citizens to be exploited by unscrupulous elements?’’, he asked, displaying wounds inflicted on him by the hoodlums.
Investigations showed that motorists paid as much as N1, 000 to park on the road adjacent the Indian High Commission on Walter Carrington Crescent.
The toll collectors told our correspondent that they were collecting the money for Capital Oil Ltd, whom they said, “owned the road.’’
One of the collectors, who pleaded for anonymity told our source that “the road belongs to Capital Oil not local government; we have been collecting tolls here for many years’’.
But motorists are wondering why such tolls should be paid to a private company, instead of the Eti-Osa Local Government Council, the statutory owner of the road.
Eti-Osa Local Government Council officials kept sealed lips on the matter when a our correspondent sought their view on the issue.
A visa seeker, Mr Johnson Oye, told reporters that the activities of criminal gangs at the diplomatic area could be sending wrong signals on the level of lawlessness in Nigeria.
“How can some unscrupulous elements take it upon themselves to collect revenues for themselves that should ordinarily be collected by government?
“Government should arrest persons or gangs extorting money from people who come to Eleke Crescent to do legitimate businesses,’’ Oye said.
Another visa seeker, Mr Obasegun Olaoye, described Eleke Crescent as a goldmine that had provided limitless income to unscrupulous people over the years.
“Something must be done to curb the excesses of boys around the embassy areas. What they do here is not just good for our country because foreigners see these things every day.’’
A photographer, Mr Vincent Ogbonna, who runs a shop at one of the car parks, said that some people had been making their living from illegal businesses at the diplomatic area.
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