All Posts in "Technology"

UAE begins visa issuance October 8

By Favour Nnabugwu

The federal government has disclosed that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will begin the issuance of visa to intending travellers from Nigeria as from Thursday, October 8.

Hadi Sirika, the minister of aviation who made the disclosure in a tweet on Tuesday, October 6, also spoke about some of the requirements needed to secure the visa

Sirika had announced on September 30 that the UAE had written to state that they agree to issue visas to Nigerians, a development that made the Federal Government lift the ban it had earlier placed on Emirates Airlines.

Patoma Admin by — October 7, 2020 in Aviation 0
Airports are viable with specific objectives, Sirika..As commends Obiano on Anambra cargo airport

The Aviation Minister, Senator Hadi Sirika said airport s can be viable if they are built with specific objectives.
Sirika made the while he received the the  Governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano feho paid the Minister a visit in his office in Abuja.
While commending Obiano for embarking on a cargo airport project that will positively impact on the economic development of the state and the South East region as a whole.
The Minister said the Federal Ministry of Aviation and its agencies will always give the necessary guide and cooperation to states embarking on airport projects in order to ensure that all internationally set standards are met.
According to Sirika, ” Airports can be viable if they are built with specific objectives in mind “.
He expressed the belief that the Anambra airport will be successful in serving the interests of the trading population of the state and environs.
He also advised the Governor to ” sustain the ongoing collaboration with the regulatory authorities to ensure that all regulations and guidelines for the construction and operation of airports are met “.
Earlier, Governor Willie Obiano had said that Anambra International Cargo Airport, located at Umueri will be ready for commissioning in April 2021 and that the state would be honoured to have the minister perform the task.
“We are sure of the date because we have the money to compete it. We are not asking for any assistance, neither are we taking any loans. I am here personally to brief you on the project and to invite you to commission it for us in April 2021”
Obiano told the Minister that the decision to embark on the airport project was informed by the need to cater for the economic interests of the state and its environs.
The airport, he said, has the second longest runway in the country, after the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos, built with the best available materials, with a guaranteed lifespan of 100 years.
“The airport is just a few kilometres from Onitsha town, the economic nerve centre of the south east region. It is strategically located and is a worthwhile investment, ” the governor further said.
According to him, the “construction of the airport has been guided by recommendations and guidelines of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) as it hopes to meet the best international standards”.
Patoma Admin by — October 6, 2020 in Aviation 0
NAICOM turns insurance industry to digital compliance

By Favour Nnabugwu

National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) is resolute about turning the country’s insurance sector into practical entity through information technology to drive the process.
The portal, which Commission put in six years to finalised under the Commissioner for Insurance (CFI), Mr. Sunday Thomas’s watch, revealed at the 2020 seminar organised for insurance journalists in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state pointed out that the  management was able  to stabilise the commission through the cooperation of staff.
He said the new portal was such that wherever anybody is in the world, information on the nation’s insurance sector would be available to him at the click of a button.
“We will be looking at the digital world. Part of what we have done so far is the fact that our portal that was on the drawing board for over six years has been fixed. It is taking us from where we are to the next level.
The CFI said, “We have sensitised the technical people in the industry and they have been going through series of trainings.
“The next thing we are going to do is to engage the industry with IT guidelines. It is no longer going to be historical reporting.”
Thomas noted that  commission would continue to enhance the  confidence President Muhammadu Buhari reposed in the insurance sector while he assured that Nigerians would not be disappointed in the industry.
According to him, “It is not by coincidence that we are having this conference today that we are marking 60th anniversary as a nation.
He reassured, “We want to be seen the way we are so we know where to make amends. NAICOM is an agency of the Federal Government  and has the responsibility to make some impact on the economy. We will  continue to relish the president’s appreciation of the industry.”
Acknowledging that the investment climate was tough, he said, the commission was determined to make a difference as there will be no hindrance to information dissemination.
He insisted that he is not a CFI that waits in the and expect things to fall into places,  based on the position, the Commission visited the Chairman of Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) and Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Kayode Fayemi, to prevail on his colleague governors  to assist in driving the compulsory insurance policy.
Without mincing words, he said that the investment climate was too friendly, inspire of that he said that the commission was determined to make a difference as there will be no hindrance to information dissemination.
“The terrain is tough but we are determined to succeed. Nigeria is not by accident the largest economy in Africa. We must take advantage of the population. There are a lot of things to fast track the process. The digital world will drive regulation,” he posited.
“If there is a need for change let us know and if there is a need for me to explain I will not hesitate to do that. We have challenges ahead of us but we are determined to overcome those challenges. We try as much as possible to let investors, government and stakeholders into our programmes,he charged Insurance Journalists.
Patoma Admin by — October 4, 2020 in Insurance 0
NAICOM sets the stage for next level on IT

National Insurance Commission (Naicom) said the regulatory is set to take iinsurance industry’s to the next level through digitalisation.

The Deputy Director in charge of Information Technology in NAICOM, Mr Abiodun Aribike, said this at a seminar for journalists with theme: “Digital Transformation of the Commission and Market Development Initiatives’’ on Friday in Uyo  Akwa Ibom

He affirmed that ithe strategies, which would be made available through the portal would help to reduce incidences of fake insurance, improve productivity and revenue in the industry.

In a paper he presented with theme: “Digital Transformation of NAICOM’s Processes and Procedures’’, at the 2020 seminar for  journalists,  in Uyo, Akwa Ibom  told journalists that Commission egun training of stakeholders in the sector to effect the digital transformat

He said that the digitisation strategy would help the people to source information about insurers to check their genuineness

“We have trained staff of brokers in the South West and we want to train those in the South-South, South East for them to join the portal.

“This will improve productivity, enhance stakeholders’ collaboration, trust and resource management,’’ he said.

He noted that the digital system would aid easy approval of licensing for insurance companies and tracking of insurance related complaints by policyholders.

He said the strategies, which would be made available through the portal, would help to reduce incidences of fake insurance, improve productivity and revenue in the industry.

Aribike further informed that the Naicom had also begun training of stakeholders in the sector to effect the digital transformation.

He believed that digitisation strategy would help the people to source information about insurers’ genuineness.

“This will improve productivity, enhance stakeholders’ collaboration, trust and resource management.”

He noted that the digital system would aid easy approval of licensing for insurance companies and tracking of insurance related complaints by policyholders

Patoma Admin by — October 4, 2020 in Insurance 0