ADITOP accuses NUPENG of extortion, excessive levies on tanker owners - ITREALMS

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The Association of Distributors and Transporters of Petroleum Products (ADITOP) has accused the Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) of extortion and excessive levies collection within the downstream sector.

This accusation came on the heels of a vote of no confidence passed on the leadership of NUPENG by the Lagos Zone of Petroleum Tanker Drivers Branch of the union (PTD). 

Circular Road: Compensation to land owners commences soon - ITREALMS

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The Oyo State governor, 'Seyi Makinde, has constituted a monitoring team to oversee and fast track the payment of compensation to land owners affected by the acquisition of lands on the first segment of the Senator Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja Circular Road, reports ITREALMS.

Special Adviser (Media) to Oyo State Governor, Sulaimon Olanrewaju, in a press statement available to ITREALMS, quoted a letter signed on behalf of the Secretary to the State Government, Prof Olanike Adeyemo, indicated that the monitoring team is to be headed by the Executive Assistant on Security to the Governor, CP Sunday Odukoya (rtd).

Five tips for small business owners online - ITREALMS

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Entrepreneurs can benefit from new ideas on ways to address a particular issue or ideas for growth.

Small businesses are embracing digitalization and catering to their customer needs through a variety of online channels. 

With new technologies emerging such as artificial intelligence, there is no time like the present to help your small business grow by taking advantage of the online world.

COVID-19: TJAA urges media owners to prioritise journalists welfare - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

With over 15,000 deaths due to Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and rising infection rate globally, an advocacy group under the aegis of Times Journalism Alumni Association(TJAA), has called on media owners especially in Nigeria and Africa to place a high premium on the welfare of journalists who risk their lives daily to inform, educate and entertain the world, reports ITREALMS.

Intervening against the backdrop of increasing cases of the COVID-19 infections worldwide, Chairman of TJAA, Clifford Agugoesi, noted that journalists are almost always on the go and must really stretch themselves to limits to be available where the news is happening and to be able to report this accurately, timeously and this peculiarity of their job exposes them to great risk and many have actually paid the supreme prize in the pursuit of professional duties and excellence.

“We urge employers of journalists to treat them with greater respect, compassion and dignity as no time in the history of mankind has the vulnerability and gullibility of humans, particularly our colleagues and members, being so exposed as under the COVID-19 crisis period.

“We specifically call on employers of journalists and our members in Africa in general and Nigeria in particular to prioritise their welfare more than ever before.

“As actuality reporters, we cannot pretend that all is well with our members. They are not immune from pathogen exposure, long working hours, psychological distress, fatigue, occupational burnout, stigma, physical, emotional and psychological violence and cannot be left to their devices.

“Our employers owe us a duty at this time to empower us to work efficiently and effectively because it is only under this milieu that their maximum productivity is guaranteed.

While we appreciate the role of the World Health Organisation(WHO), global experts, governments, private sector employers and development partners to rapidly expand scientific knowledge on this new virus and to provide timely advice on measures to protect people’s health and prevent the spread of this outbreak, we appeal to employers of our members in Nigeria and Africa to up their games on our members’ welfare which, at best is currently despicable and, at worse, non-existent at all in some cases.

We cannot afford to play the ostrich at this time as COVID-19 has virtually met two of the three factors for a pandemic -rapid sickness and death and sustained person-to-person transmission and analysts saying the third criterion-worldwide spread of the virus, seems like just a matter of time.

There is no gainsaying fact that journalists face a direct threat to their health and lives and this is an opportune time for employers to show serious concern on their plight. Journalists are the most important resource wherever they are employed and their employers must, as a matter of priority, provide them with the requisite tools and conducive environment to work in and avail them of appropriate protective gears to keep them safe and secure in the course of work, especially at this period of the COVID-19 pandemic. They must also put in place policies that promote the highest level of state of health of mind and body of reporters and reduce to the barest minimum, pressures borne by those who fall sick in the course of active service while putting in place a good retirement regime for those who retire.

To prevent or halt global spread, several countries have imposed travel bans to and from China and other countries and many events around the world have been cancelled or postponed indefinitely.

For journalists, this means fewer events to cover. All journalism beats are impacted although in varying degrees. From sports, maritime, aviation, religion, capital/money markets, insurance through technology, labour, defence et cetera, their experience is the same and confounding for most reporters.

It is a known fact media professionals face a direct threat to their health and lives as well and the situation is more dire in many developing countries who lack the resources to test and identify those infected with the virus and put up with the nagging fear that the virus may already be circulating in the local population.

Our thoughts go out especially for the freelance community, some of whom have to be on the go to meet their basic needs. In fact, these are the worst-hit since they have neither health insurance nor leave benefits and need to be out in the field often which compounds an already bad case of meeting extra expenses such as working with facemasks and sticking to the safer and therefore costlier eating places to grab a quick bite. For this category of reporters, preventive measures such as density reduction, social distancing and their likes are neither here nor there because remaining at home equates with literally committing suicide.

We have gone at length to bring these concerns in the public space and passionately appeal to stakeholders in journalism to be more responsible and responsive to reporters who keep the world informed, educated and entertained on a regular basis. We appeal to governments at all levels to do all within their powers-policy, regulatory and legal, among others, to ensure that journalism and journalists had the best working environments and enjoyed the best working conditions that conduce to increased productivity and a buoyant economy.

On their part, we advised reporters themselves to understand they are humans and must be guided by rules and regulations that lead to a safer and more secure humanity. It might be nice to see productivity maximised while working remotely via telecommuting and engaging in virtual office meetings. Instead of running face-to-face interviews, it might be a good idea in the era of COVID-19 to do online interviewing and limit as much as possible, contacts with their interviewees, except where adequate safety and security measures have been certified by relevant professionals. Online press coverage needs to be seriously considered to minimise human contact and exposure and enable reporters to carry on even while confined to bed.

In addition, for reporters to always sanitise their microphones and recording gadgets with respect to broadcast journalists whereas maintaining the prescribed one (1) meter distance with others. 

Uj. N. Dominic/Editor
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Riot act: Lagos warns owners of illegal structures in Ikoyi, VI, Lekki

ITRealms"

The Lagos State Government has read a riot act to all the owners of illegal structures, shanties, street hawkers and those who have converted walkways into trading points and food courts in Ikoyi, Victoria Island and the Lagoon Front of Lekki, giving them 14 days grace to remove such illegal structures, reports ITRealms.

A press statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Tunji Bello, on Sunday, the State Government warned that if such illegal structures are not removed after the 14 days grace, the State Special Task Force on the Clean Up of the areas would move in to enforce the laws.

“The owners of all the illegal structures, shanties, abandoned buildings and all those who have converted road median to commercial uses in Ikoyi, Victoria Island and Lekki have between Monday, August 29, 2016 and two weeks time to comply or have the State Special Task Force on the Clean Up of the areas to contend with,” the SSG said.

LASG cautioned owners of all abandoned buildings in different areas of Ikoyi, Lekki and Victoria Island, which are now harbouring prostitutes, illegal miscreants and unwanted elements must clear the structures of such undesirable elements immediately.

Bello also warned owners of properties on the Lagoon fronts of Lekki Phase 1 who have littered the whole areas with compactors and several other deadweight equipments to remove them outrightly.

The LASG scribe noted with concern the conversion of the frontages of properties and abandoned houses to kiosks and trading points by maids and guards as well as the unregulated activities of horticulturists who have turned setbacks to hideouts and selling points.

He reiterated the determination of the Governor Akinwunmi Ambode administration to restore the original master plan of Ikoyi, Victoria Island and Lekki by checking the activities of roadside automobile repairers who have converted many dual carriage lanes to single lanes with indiscriminate parkings.

The State Government, he said, would no longer tolerate unauthorised parking of vehicles, trucks as well unsightly state of drainage infrastructure, adding that owners of such vehicles and properties with unkempt drainages will be prosecuted.

Bello said it is totally unacceptable for people to stockpile and display wares such as bags of charcoal on major roads like Ahmadu Bello Way and Federal Secretariat Road, Ikoyi, stating that henceforth such goods would be confiscated and the owners prosecuted.

“We are using this medium to sensitise members of the public and residents of the affected areas who are involved in these illegalities to immediately take right action and do the needful as the State Government will take the necessary steps to enforce its environmental and sanitation laws forthwith," he said.

Emphasising that all those engaging in roadside display of wares, illegal street trading and all illegal squatters on undeveloped land and all those who have converted road median to commercial uses in Ikoyi, Victoria Island and Lekki are being advised in their own interest to put a stop to the illegalities.

Ayo Omidele/GEE

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CWG, Openshopen host MSMEs to eCommerce in Lagos

ITRealms:

The Computer Warehouse Group plc (CWG) in collaboration with the Openshopen has hosted the some Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) owners to an electronic commerce (eCommerce) in Lagos, reports ITRealms.

Tagged “Learn How to Set-up, operate and advertise your own store online” ITRealms reports that the workshop was aimed at equipping business owners with the skills they require to take their business to the online community by operating an online store and selling to people other than those in their immediate physical community.

ITRealms also reports that while welcoming participants, the Head Marketing Communications, CWG, Success Nmerife, stated that the workshop was designed to introduce them to solutions and methods they could employ to maximize the benefits that the internet affords in growing their businesses.

She observed that the shift in the global focus from traditional business model to online commerce has made the utilization of the electronic media in business promotion and sales an indispensable tool for merchants.

In her remarks, Adriana De la Cruz Duffo, Business Manager, Openshopen told ITRealms that Openshopen has been uniquely designed to respond to the challenges of online trading encountered by SMEs in the Nigerian business environment.

“Openshopen is easy to use, cheap and profitable. It addresses the fears of payment gateway security. It also takes care of the logistics of delivery. It is a platform you as merchants can adopt, if you want your business to grow” she said.

Delivering his presentation, Head, Innovation at CWG plc, Mr. Tayo Oduwole, introduced the Openshopen online platform to the participants, stressing that CWG partnership with Openshopen affords them to introduce the eCommerce platform which is in line with its vision to enable Nigerian merchants acquire business enabling technology without incurring business killing own-infrastructure costs.

He pointed out that Openshopen differs from other online shopping platforms, in that it allows merchants sell directly to buyers and have the privilege of promoting their brands. Unlike other platforms that require merchants to submit their wares for sale.

“With Openshopen, you can sell your brand alongside your products, such that people can look for you if they want your products again”, he said.

The workshop featured a practical session where Mr. Oduwole took participants through step by step procedure of opening a store online. The participants had the privilege of creating their own store, each having their unique web address, corporate logo and products for display. Thereafter, they were taught the basics of promoting their business using various social media platforms.

Presenting certificate of participants to attendees, Chief Technology Officer, CWG, Mr. James Agada, noted that the workshop served as one of CWG’s ways of contributing towards the growth of SMEs in Nigeria, creating employment and contributing to the growth of the nation’s economy.

He also urged participants to utilize the knowledge they have gained from the workshop.

“Having learnt how to open your store and sell online, we look forward to seeing you sell on Openshopen”, he said.

For some of the participants, including Mr. and Mrs. Yemi Adeyemo, Directors at House of Treasures, “In fact, the workshop was worth the while, the lectures were extensive and the speakers were very good. We have learnt a lot that we will like to put them into use as soon as we get back home”.

 +Remmy Nweke @Success Nmerife

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Pix:L-R: Charles Ibonye, Project manager, CWG Plc; Mr. James Agada Chief Technology Officer, CWG Plc;  Tayo Oduwole, Head, Innovation; Success Nmerife, Head, Marketing Communications and Adriana De la Cruz Duffo, Business Manager, Openshopen at the maiden eCommerce workshop for merchants in Lagos recently.