Business
NPA, Navy, NIMASA Partner To Secure Onne, Rivers Ports
Following the incessant attacks of vessels by sea pirates in Onne and Rivers Ports, Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) says it is partnering with the Nigerian Navy and Nigeria Maritime Safety and Administration (NIMASA) to tackle the menace.
NPA also said, plans are in the pipeline to acquire two 1.7 meters offshore monitoring vessels to complement the efforts and make the waterways safe for traffics.
Managing Director, NPA, Mrs Hadiza Bala Usman disclosed this at the weekend in Port Harcourt during the quarterly stakeholders forum held at NPA Dockyard, Rivers Port.
Represented by, the Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Mohammed Bello Koko, Usman said, soon the Nigeria Navy will be deployed to Onne and Rivers Ports to enhance surveillance and security of the facilities.
The MD also said, NPA has gotten approval for the procurement and purchase of six water tanks patrol boats.
She said the six patrol boats will enable the security agencies to patrol in and around the ports for safety.
Hadiza Usman also insisted that arrangements are in top gear with the Nigeria Navy and the office of the National Security Adviser for installation of a 3 c i, a security system that would enable NPA to monitor vessels and ships and pick them up when there is any distress.
She noted that, the disastrous system faced by the ports will soon be curbed through the NPA’s collaboration with the Navy and NIMASA.
According to the MD, the federal government is working assiduously to improve security of lives and property nationwide to the benefit of everyone.
On equipment, Hadiza Usman said, NPA will soon acquire more tugboats and construction of six pilot cutters in Onne Port to enhance productivity.
The Managing Director also said, procure processes is ongoing for the purchase of six marine boats, even as NPA is planning to dualise Bonny channel to accommodate more sea going vessels to increase traffics.
She also told the stakeholders that NPA will soon embark on the dredging of Rivers Port dockyard, to accommodate more vessels.
Usman decried that the facility at the dockyard is near moribund as budgetary provision has been made to upgrade the dockyard.
She assured terminal operators and stakeholders that, NPA will soon embark on concession reviews in the port.
Earlier, Port Manager, Rivers Port, Alhaji Abubakar Umar lauded the Managing Director, Hadiza Bello Usman for embarking on the restructuring of NPA.
Umar said, the restructuring has helped in achieving optimum operation efficiency in the ports.
On the achievements, Umar said the serene atmosphere enjoyed by the stakeholders has attracted more importers and increased ship traffic in the port which has led to more revenue generation.
The port manager also disclosed that, Rivers Port maintains cordial relationship with the stakeholders and terminal operators for efficiency.
Management, he said recently allocated two new security patrol vans to the port.
Other achievements by Umar include, responsive management, reduction in vessel turnaround time.
Alhaji Abubakar also said, Rivers Port recorded improvement in revenue generation and collection, improvement in service delivery and improved safety guidelines.
Chinedu Wosu
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