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30% of Truck Drivers Have Vision Problems – FRSC

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FRSC
  • 30% of Truck Drivers Have Vision Problems – FRSC

About 30 per cent of drivers of articulated vehicles have vision problems and can hardly see well at night, the Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps, Boboye Oyeyemi, has said.

He said this was the outcome of a recent research conducted by the corps following frequent road accidents involving trailers/tankers leading to loss of lives.

Oyeyemi who also lamented that the FRSC had lost 74 of its officials as a result to reckless acts of some drivers in the last 18 months, spoke on ‘Safety as an imperative for road cargo transportation’ at the Haulage and Logistics Magazine Annual Conference and Exhibition in Lagos.

He said, “We conducted a vision test on the highway and motor parks and we observed that 30 per cent of the articulated vehicle drivers had vision problems and that is also contributing to the crashes.

“We discovered during the interview session that they think if they use glasses, they will lose their jobs. Employers should be training their drivers and encouraging them to use glasses to enhance their driving skills.”

He expressed worry about the high rate of accidents involving tankers/trailers, attributing about 85 per cent of the road crashed to human errors.

Oyeyemi said, “Crashes involving articulated vehicles are much more distressing because of the higher rate in fatality and over all negative multiplier economic effects, asides environmental pollution.”

Specifically, he said the crashes were usually due to non-adherence to road traffic safety practices; inadequate driver’s training/certification and retraining leading to drivers’ errors; inadequate provision of tanker/trailers parks across the country; non adherence to safe laden/haulage practices /standards; non-functional weighbridges to assist in enforcement of axle-load compliance, including overload with sundry goods; aging trucks and lack of fleet renewal programmes; alteration of original design value of truck heads and/or trailer and poor state of the nation’s roads.

He, however, said the corps was determined fully enforced standards before and during loading as well as on transit and off-loading of cargoes.

“Fleet Operators should ensure the mandatory Use of Inflammable signs and retro-reflective tapes on all trucks to enhance visibility. All trucks with flammable contents must comply with the Agreement for Dangerous Roads (ADR) standards and fix necessary signs on trucks for recognition,” the corps marshal said.

He also advised truck owners to consider investing in on-board cameras and satellite tracking to monitor the behaviour of their drivers.

The Deputy General Manager at ABC Transport Plc, Verere Regha, spoke on ‘Achieving a culture of safety in cargo operations on Nigerian roads: the ABC Transport experience’.

He dwelt on preventive, predictive and corrective forms of maintenance.

According to Regha, preventive maintenance is carried out on all trucks based on a defined service interval, some of which are 5,000km, 10,000km or 15,000km, adding that brakes and clutch systems checks are done at every workshop visit in view of the importance of the systems.

Predictive maintenance, he said, was carried out when any premature failure of a vehicle component within the fleet was perceived.

The Managing Director of A&A Global Leasing Services, Mrs Oluwaseye Yomi-Soleye, spoke on the effects of bad roads, which he described as a major challenge for haulers.

The convener of the conference, Alfred Okugbeni, commended the intermodal transportation initiative of the government, which he noted would ensure smooth transportation and drastically reduce road accidents.

Is the CEO/Founder of Investors King Limited. A proven foreign exchange research analyst and a published author on Yahoo Finance, Businessinsider, Nasdaq, Entrepreneur.com, Investorplace, and many more. He has over two decades of experience in global financial markets.

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Guinness Nigeria Postpones Spirits Importation Exit, Extends Deal with Diageo

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Guinness - Investors King

Guinness Nigeria Plc has announced a delay in its plan to halt the importation of spirits as it extended its agreement with multinational alcoholic beverage company Diageo until 2025.

The decision, communicated through a corporate notice filed with the Nigerian Exchange Limited on Tuesday, cited a longer-than-expected transition period for separating its business from Diageo’s.

Initially slated for discontinuation in April 2024, the importation of premium spirits like Johnnie Walker, Singleton, Baileys, and others under the 2016 sale and distribution agreement with Diageo will now continue for an additional year.

The extension comes as the process of business separation between Guinness Nigeria, a subsidiary of Diageo, and Diageo itself faces unexpected delays.

In October, Guinness Nigeria had announced plans to cease importing spirits from Diageo, a move aimed at reducing its foreign exchange requirements.

However, the separation process has encountered unforeseen hurdles, necessitating the extension of the importation agreement.

The notice, signed by the company’s Legal Director/Company Secretary, Abidemi Ademola, highlighted the ongoing efforts by Guinness Nigeria and Diageo to implement the separation, originally scheduled for completion by April 2024.

The extension underscores the complexity of disentangling the businesses and ensuring a smooth transition.

Guinness Nigeria reaffirmed its commitment to the long-term growth strategy, aligning with Diageo’s decision to establish a new, wholly-owned spirits-focused business.

Despite the delay, both companies remain dedicated to managing the importation and distribution of international premium spirits in West and Central Africa, with Nigeria as a key hub.

The postponement comes amid challenges faced by Guinness Nigeria, including significant exchange rate losses, which amounted to N49 billion in the 2023 half-year operations.

Despite these setbacks, the company remains optimistic about its future prospects in the Nigerian market.

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Private Sector Warns: Interest Rate Hike to Trigger Job Cuts and Inflation Surge

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As the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) announced a hike in the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) from 22.75% to 24.75%, concerns have been raised by the private sector regarding the potential ramifications on job stability and inflationary pressures.

The move, aimed at curbing inflation and stabilizing the exchange rate, has prompted apprehension among business operators who fear adverse effects on the economy.

Representatives from the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) and the Nigerian Association of Small Scale Industrialists have voiced their worries over the increased difficulty in accessing affordable credit.

They argue that the higher interest rates will impede the private sector’s ability to borrow funds for expansion and operational activities.

This, they fear, could lead to a reduction in business investments and subsequently result in widespread job cuts across various sectors.

The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) acknowledged the necessity of the interest rate hike but emphasized the potential negative consequences it may bring.

While describing it as a “price businesses would have to pay,” the LCCI highlighted the current fragility of the economy, exacerbated by various policy missteps.

They cautioned that the increased cost of borrowing could stifle entrepreneurial activities and discourage expansion plans critical for economic growth and job creation.

Experts have echoed these concerns, warning that the tightening monetary conditions could exacerbate inflationary pressures and hinder economic recovery efforts.

With inflation already soaring at 31.70%, the rate hike could further fuel price hikes, especially in essential goods and services, thus eroding the purchasing power of consumers.

However, CBN Governor Yemi Cardoso defended the decision, citing the imperative to address current inflationary pressures and ensure sustained exchange rate stability.

He emphasized the need to restore the purchasing power of ordinary Nigerians and expressed confidence that the economy would stabilize by the end of the year.

Despite assurances from the CBN, stakeholders remain cautious, calling for a more nuanced approach that balances the need for price stability with the imperative of fostering economic growth and job creation.

As businesses brace for the impact of the interest rate hike, all eyes are on the evolving economic landscape and the measures taken to mitigate its effects on livelihoods and inflation.

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Breaking Barriers: Transcorp Hotels CEO Shares Journey from Crisis to Success

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Dupe Olusola

Dupe Olusola, the Managing Director/CEO of Transcorp Hotels Plc, reflects on her remarkable journey from navigating the depths of a global pandemic to achieving unprecedented success in the hospitality industry.

Appointed in March 2020, amidst the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Olusola found herself at the helm of a company grappling with the severe economic fallout and operational challenges inflicted by the crisis.

Faced with a drop in occupancy rates from 70% to a mere 5%, Olusola and her team were confronted with the daunting task of steering Transcorp Hotels through uncharted waters.

Undeterred by the adversity, they embarked on a journey of transformation, leveraging creativity and resilience to navigate the turbulent landscape.

Implementing innovative strategies such as introducing drive-through cinemas, setting up on-site COVID-19 testing facilities, and enhancing take-away services, Transcorp Hotels adapted to meet the evolving needs of its guests and ensure continuity amidst the crisis.

Embracing disruption as a catalyst for growth, Olusola fostered a culture of collaboration and teamwork, rallying her colleagues to overcome obstacles and embrace change.

Through unwavering determination and a commitment to excellence, Transcorp Hotels emerged from the pandemic stronger than ever, breaking profit and revenue records year after year.

“It’s indeed been a great opportunity to learn and relearn, to lead and to grow. When you see success stories, remember it’s a journey with twists, turns, ups and downs but in the end, it will all be okay”, she said.

Olusola’s leadership exemplifies the power of adaptability and perseverance, inspiring her team to transcend limitations and chart a course towards unprecedented success.

As Transcorp Hotels continues to flourish under her stewardship, Olusola remains steadfast in her dedication to driving innovation, fostering growth, and breaking barriers in the hospitality industry.

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