Business
Ministry Seals Five Gas Stations In Abuja
The Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment in Abuja sealed five gas stations during its surveillance exercise on stations short-changing their customers.
The Director, Weights and Measures Department in the Ministry, Mr Hassan Ejibunu, said that the activities of the gas stations violated Section 25 of the Weights and Measures Act.
The sealed stations are Merigas Refill Centre, Wuye, Vinegas, NIPCO Gas in Jabi and Banner Gas outlets in Zones 1 and 4.
“All the outlets we have visited are under-dispensing to members of the public.
“If you are buying 12. 5 kg of LPG what they are selling to you is 11kg, so they are taking away .5 which is a lot.
“It is against Weights and Measures Act and any station that engages in such thing must be sanctioned.
“As you can see, we have gone ahead to seal all those outlets that contravened the Weights and Measures Act,’’ Ejibunu said.
While appealing to gas stations to desist from such sharp practices, Ejibunu assured that the ministry would replicate the exercise across the country.
“We will continue to do our work so that equity and fairness would be entrenched by all the marketers in Nigeria.
“It is the wish of the ministers and the permanent Secretaries going by the mandate given to them by the presidency to ensure that legal methodology is applied,” the Director said.
He added that the exercise embarked upon by the ministry was prompted by a series of customers’ complaints of irregularities by gas outlets.
Ejibunu pointed out that the gas stations would be unsealed when the anomalies are rectified, adding that the affected outlets would have to pay fines to the government.
“There is an amount to that stated on our table of fees,’’ he added.
Ebijinu urged Nigerians to always weigh their cylinders before and after refilling to avoid being cheated and stressed the need to report any malpractice by gas outlets to the ministry’s Department of Weights and Measures for appropriate actions.
Mr Solomon Ndujekwu, Plant Supervisor, Vinegas, said that operating the pumps without certification is an oversight on the part of the management of the outlet.
He expressed the outlet’s commitment to always operate in conformity with the appropriate standard, pledging that any error would be corrected.
A customer, Mrs Vivian Okoro, expressed confidence in Vinegas having patronised them for over five years.
Okolo, however, urged the government to always monitor the activities of the gas outlets to check any malpractice.
Earlier, Mr Kunle Olubiyo, President of Nigeria Consumer Protection Network, an NGO, expressed worry that some gas outlets deploy different tactics to cheat unsuspecting customers.
“Recently I refilled my 12kg cylinder but only for it to finish in nine days; no doubt I was cheated,” Olubiyo said.
Newsmen report that some of the gas outlets visited sold 1kg of gas between N640 and N696 and refill 12kg cylinder for N8,352.
Another customer, Eunice Aduda, urged the Federal Government to intervene in the rising cost of cooking gas.
She added that the purpose of advocating the use of clean energy may be eroded where many Nigerians find it difficult to buy cooking gas at a cheap price.
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