Business
Lekki Seaport To Be Regional Hub – ICRC Boss
The Acting Director-General of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), Mr Chidi Izuwah says the Lekki Deep Water Port, once completed will become a regional hub for port operations in West Africa.
Izuwah said this on the sidelines of the commission’s monitoring visit to the Lekki Deep Water Port on Saturday in Lagos to have an on-the-spot assessment of the ongoing project.
He said the project was expected to grow to about 4.5 million Twenty-foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) container capacity annually upon its commencement, from the current 1.5 million target.
“With this feat, Lekki port will no doubt become one of the largest water ports in the region, and serve as a hub for port operations in the whole of West Africa,” Izuwah said.
He said that the promoter, the Lekki Port Enterprise Ltd., also planned to dredge the port channel to about 16 metres draught, currently not obtainable in any seaport in the country.
Izuwah also said that was an indication that ships of large sizes would visit the port, and greater efficiency and lead economy of scale would drive and generate revenues for the economy with government earning a significant portion of it.
The ICRC boss, however, said that the commission was worried that several years after the execution of the contract, the concessioner had yet to attain a financial close on the project as a result of certain contingent challenges.
According to him, the project promoters had earlier planned to attain financial close by second quarter, 2016 and commence full operations by second quarter, 2019, thereby giving a period of three years for the construction work.
He encouraged the promoters to do their best to ensure that the project comes on stream, saying the ICRC would continue to give its support toward the attainment of the objective.
“We at the ICRC firmly believe that if all the parties to this contract demonstrate utmost commitment toward this project, the goals and wonderful picture painted above will become a reality in less then three years.
“I have said this, bearing in mind the enormous work which has already been done by the project promoters and the quantum of resources committed to this cause.
“I promise you that the ICRC under my leadership will go above and beyond the call of duty to assist you reach the financial close,” Izuwah said.
He also said the commission was willing to join the promoters on focuses lender and investor roadshows to seek additional debt and equity capital and among others.
Izuwah said, “We will also play a key role in driving the creation of inter government and agency high impact team to solve some of the project’s immediate problems like high capacity’s evacuation route from the port site.
“This is to assure investors and lenders that all containers and goods arriving at the ports will be evacuated flawlessly and efficiently.
“We have gone too far on the project, so we can’t afford to fail or slow down.
“If we fail to lay a good foundation for the upcoming generation, not only will posterity hold us accountable, but you and I will not be able to sleep peacefully at night with our eyes closed.”
The ICRC is charged with the responsibility of monitoring and ensuring the efficient execution of all Public-Private Partnership (PPP) projects entered into by MDAs on behalf of the Federal Government.
The concession agreement for Lekki Port was signed on April 21, 2011 by Nigerian Ports Authority, (NPA), the Lagos State Government and Lekki Port LFTZ Enterprise.
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