Business
Ethiopian Airlines Meets Envoys Over Passengers’ Detention
Most popular carrier in Ethiopian Airlines Meets Envoys Over Passengers’ DetentionAfrica, the Ethiopian Airlines, has met with the ambassadors of Nigeria, Ghana and six other African countries with a view to finding amicable solutions to the reported delays and detention of some passengers at the Bole International Airport, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The Group Chief Executive Officer of Ethiopian Airlines, Mesfin Tasew, in a statement obtained on Monday, spoke against the backdrop of the recent reports alleging maltreatment of Nigerians by Ethiopian police and immigration officials.
While denying the allegations that Nigerians travelling through the Bole Airport hub are maltreated unjustly and subjected to unfair police and immigration detention, he noted that only passengers who fail to comply with the required international security standards are delayed or sometimes detained for normal police and immigration processes.
The Nigerian Ministry’s of Foreign Affairs had earlier said over 270 Nigerians are serving various prison terms in Ethiopia, adding that most of them were imprisoned for drug-related offences.
The Ministry was reacting to a recent viral video by one Dr. Paul Ezike on social media on the alleged plight of Nigerian inmates in the Kaliti Prison in Ethiopia.
However, the Ethiopian Airlines GCEO, had told journalists in Addis Ababa last week, that efforts were being made by the carrier to address the issue.
This, he said, led to a recent meeting with the ambassadors of some eight African countries in Addis Ababa.
“We had to call about eight ambassadors from West Africa to my office. They were kindly willing to come to Nigeria, Togo, Senegal, Ghana. They expressed their concern.
“So, we are discussing this. It is unfortunate, we don’t want any passenger to be inconvenienced as they pass through Addis Ababa Airport, but some of these things are beyond our control. That is the case. Otherwise we don’t want anyone to be inconvenienced”, Tasew said.
Lamenting the situation further, the Africa largest carrier boss said its findings had shown that some passengers transiting through the Bole Airport hub often were carrying beyond the required amount of dollars or precious metals allowed by the Ethiopian government laws.
He observed that the failure to declare such huge amount to the Customs officials at the point of entry often had led to the arrest and detention of such passengers.
Tasew, however, noted that plans were on by the government of Ethiopia and Nigeria to resolve the matter through diplomatic channels.
“Some passengers are found carrying drugs. If they are found carrying drugs, definitely they are not allowed to continue their flight.
“The security people will take them under custody. If they are found carrying weapons without permission, they do the same thing until they investigate and see that it is an approved weapon and so on.
“So, some passengers, when they are found to be non-compliant, they can go under the custody of police.
“The second problem that we witness is that some people carry a lot of money on paper, a lot of dollars, or valuables like gold in large size or dollars for example in tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, sometimes even millions; over a million dollars are carried in their bags.
“Such passengers might probably not have incurred the wrath of the Ethiopian government if they were not passing perhaps a day in the country during their flight.
”If they are transiting without coming to Addis, the security people don’t touch them. They can carry the money because it’s their money, they are not coming to the country.
“However, for some reason, if they want to pass a day or a night to get their connection and they have to come out to the hotel, the national regulation says that all passengers carrying over $10, 000 or its equivalent or in gold or other normal ornament, have to declare it at the Customs section on arrival.
“You have to tell them that ‘I am carrying $30,000’. They may ask you, ‘where is it’? You can take it out from your bag and show them. You are then asked to sign on a piece of paper they will give you.
“And the next morning when you are going out, as you pass through the X-ray, the Custom officials are there. If they see it and ask you whether you have a permit to carry the money, you then show that paper and nothing will happen. You are free to carry out your money, even if it is $1m. All they are asking you to do is to declare it.
“If you don’t declare, then the government assumes some Ethiopians had met with you in order to take such hard currencies out of the country. So, the government assumes that if you didn’t declare it when you were coming in, then it means it’s not your money; somebody in the city has given you the money, so it is illegal to take out the money.
“The government confiscates the money. This is another problem that we have. So, to protect them from doing this, you may have heard that before the flight arrives, the cabin crew announce to all our esteemed passengers to declare to Customs if they are carrying more than $10,000”, he explained.
By: Conlins 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