Business
Business Operators Decry High Charges At PH Airport
Some business and transport operators at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, have decried high charges being imposed on them by the present management of the airport.
They have also accused the airport manager, Mr Felix Akinbinu, of high handedness for taking the issue of revenue generation so high without minding what business operators go through.
A car hire service operator, Mr Daniel Igwe, said the rate at which charges have gone up at the Port Harcourt airport was outrageous, compared with other airports like Lagos and Abuja.
According to him, every individual car hire operator now pays N1.2 million yearly for doing business in Port Harcourt airport.
“How can we meet up with this kind of charges. This high charge is not obtainable in other airports across Nigeria.
“Mark it today, we will cause crisis here against this management one day because what they are doing is not right”, he said.
Also reacting, another car hire operator, who identified himself simply as Mr Ben, lamented that the situation at the airport was getting out of hand.
He said the present management of the airport was only interested in how to generate revenue and forcing people to pay excessively, without minding the difficulties experienced by airport users in raising such money.
“This is getting too much what we are paying here, is the reason why we don’t allow operators from outside, like the Bolt car hire operators to carry passengers here, and one day we will engage the management, because the charge is too high for a person to pay N1.2 million (per year).
“Go to other airports like in Lagos and Abuja, you find that other outside operators like Bolt are allowed to carry passengers, because their charge there is lower”, he said.
Meanwhile, one of the protocol personnel of Indorama Petrochemical, Chizi Okoro, has also decried the high rate of renting an office space at the airport terminal building.
“Can you imagine how a private business operator will be asked to pay N3 million per year to operate the shop.
“What are you going to sell there for you to make gain, and pay the rent? That is why the shops are still empty, and no one will take that risk. The whole thing is pointing to the fact that some people want to use this airport as their revenue base, and no wonder why they find their way back here, even after being transferred”, Okoro posited.
However, the airport manager, Felix Akinbinu, in an interview with aviation correspondents, explained that most of what people were decrying had been in operation before he assumed office.
He also said that the headquarters of FAAN set up a revenue committee that goes round the airports for revenue drive, adding that the closure of airports during Covid-19 lockdown, last year affected the revenue generation of airports negatively.
By: Corlins Walter
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