Business
Ezu River: Senate TO Investigate Strange Corpses
The Senate yesterday in Abuja, mandated its Committees on Police Affairs and Security and Intelligence to investigate the sudden appearance of strange corpses floating in the Ezu River of Anambra State.
It took this decision following a debate on the motion sponsored by Senator Andy Uba (PDP-Anambra), concerning the issue.
Uba in his lead debate, disclosed that on January19, some villagers of Amansea Community of Anambra State found 30 dead bodies, mostly males, floating on the Ezu River.
He added that between January 23 and January 24, four more dead bodies were discovered on the River.
The lawmaker expressed concern that up till date, no explanation had been given as to the possible origin of the corpses.
He also expressed worry that the Ezu River, which was the only source of water for domestic and other uses for the people of five communities of the state, had been contaminated.
According to him, the autopsy ordered by the Anambra and Enugu governments had yielded no result.
He, however, observed that the incident could be an extra-judicial killing capable of giving the nation a bad image.
Senator Ifeanyi Okowa (PDP-Delta) in his contribution blamed the poor security situation in the country for the sudden development.
He said it was very disturbing that more than 30 bodies, mostly men had been found on a river and no security agency could explain what had happened.
“If our security system is working well, we would have been able to know exactly what this is all about.
“For the bodies to have started decomposing, it means they must have stayed in water for at least seven days.”
He said that seven days would have been enough for security agencies to get information on the incident.
The senator expressed concern that the people of the affected communities had to resort to getting water from tankers to accomplish their chores.
Okowa advised that qualified pathologists be engaged to find solution to what would have happened and unravel the mystery.
The Deputy Senate Leader, Abdul Ningi (PDP-Bauchi), also described the situation as a tragedy of monumental proportion.
“If this happens in another country, that country would be at a standstill, but here in Nigeria, people seem so unconcerned.
“Are we saying we are too many in this country and then decide to systematically kill some people to reduce our number?” Ningi asked.
Senate President David Mark said that it was a thing of great worry for 30 dead bodies to be found in one community and yet there was no report of a missing person.
“If the police is inefficient, how about the families or the communities? The question is where did these bodies come from?’’
He urged the senators to enquire from their constituents if there were any missing persons in their senatorial districts.
Mark also appealed to the committees to work very fast on the investigation and bring back their report at the earliest time possible.
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
