THE GUARDIAN, Sunday, March 3, 2013
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BUSINESSHIGHLIGHTS
Southeast State Govts, Others Owe PHCN N15b From Lawrence Njoku, Enugu EBTS owed the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), Enugu Zone, stood at about N15 billion as at January this year. The zone, which controls the five Southeast states said the money is owed by state governments, armed forces, industrial and residential customers. Disclosing this in Enugu while rolling out a new billing and multi-channel payment system, Managing Director of the Enugu Distribution Company, Suleiman Yahaya, said the huge debt was affecting operations of the company. He disclosed that before now, military personnel were via spot deductions. He said this is no longer the practice. Expressing deep worry that the huge debt was affecting the activities of the agency, he said about 70 per cent consumers adopt new usage strategies that bye-pass metering. He said the new payment system termed Electricity Management System (EMS) 2000, would help consumers in the five states to pay electricity bills at their comfort while it also eradicates crazy billing system. He said PHCN decided to embark on new payment system owing to the challenge posed to it by billing and debt management in zone, stressing that he had, in October last year,
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commissioned efforts that could make it easier for customers to pay bills. He said the company has successfully integrated old databases of AVR and spectrum into the EMS2000 database, adding that with the new multi-payment system, customers can use ATM
cards, handsets, recharge cards, webmobile and cash offices to pay bills. “Our customers no longer need to queue in our offices to purchase electricity because we have put a platform for the customers to buy electricity from the convenience of their
home”, he said. Yahaya, who appealed to residents to continue to pay their bills, said vandalism of PHCN installations was affecting funds meant for development projects. He called on the people to assist protect power facilities.
Seme Customs Debunks Reports on Smuggling He disclosed that all the borders under his command were well secured by well-trained officers, who patHE Customs Area Controller, rol the areas on 24 hours and seven Seme Border Command, the days a week. Nigerian Customs Services (NCS), He said that on assumtion of duty Comptroller Abdu Saleh Othman, has refutted allegations levelled aga- there in September 2012, the first thing he did was to meet all security inst the NCS at Seme Border, that agencies to alert them of the enormoimporters of Nigeria-bound goods through the Cotonou Port now see us challenges and the way forward. We all agreed to work together. Seme as a most viable entry point According to him, few weeks ago, either for duty evasion or concealthere were challenges at Owode, ment of prohibited items. where some of his officers were about The Customs boss at a press brieto be overrun by smugglers, “So we fing at Seme, reiterated the comhave to call for re-enforcement from mand’s drive to ensure that smuggling and other forms of prohibited Idiroko military barracks. “This is just to give an example about anti-economic activities were prehow we work together here now. Off vented.
By Godfrey Okpugie Deputy Lagos City Editor
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course, we cannot completely stop smuggling here one hundred percent, but as far as I am concerned, smuggling has greatly reduced in this area with full co-operation from other security agencies,” he affirmed. When The Guardian asked him what he would need to do the job of monitoring the porous borders more effectively, he replied: “Now, most of the job of checking trucks coming into the country through the border is done manually by our officers. The scanner is not being used yet but it is being installed now. Our offers are learning how to use it; and by the time it is fully installed they would have known how to operate it; and when it is eventually handed over to us we would have no problem again. Physical examination cannot do the job of thorough examination of trucks but with fixed scan-
ning, any item concealed in the truck can be seen. “So, scanning, apart from enhancing revenue generation, would also help to secure the country against importation of dangerous goods.” To forestal future unconfirmed media report on Seme border post, Othman gave assurance that the doors of the NCS’ authorities at the border are opened to any media house or journalist any day to come and seek confirmation on any allegation before it is published. “If there is any negative allegation about us, contact us to hear our own side to enable you do a balanced report. I am accessible any day and so is my PRO and other officers of this command,” he assured, adding “ Henceforth, all seizures would be made available to the PRO for onward transmission to the press for publication especially on rice, frozen chickens and turkeys.”
Firm, LBS Engage Consumers On Marketing Devt By Tope Templer Olaiya, Assistant Lagos City Editor
nity to have a “collision” of ideas that can accelerate the growth and HE world changes at an increas- development of the marketing ingly rapid rate and companies practice in Nigeria. continue to seek new ways of reach- Reminding the audience of the importance of brand building, he ing out to consumers in order to move their products and gain upper noted that brands are the ultimate hand in a globalised economy. What social construction and their sucare the next “big things” in engag- cess is largely measured by the ing the Nigerian consumer was the ways they are communicated to question a marketing colloquium at and engaged by consumers. Olaniyan charged the speakers to the Lagos Business School (LBS) sought to provide answers to recent- throw light on a number of key questions that address the central ly. issue of engaging the Nigerian conOrganised by the LBS Alumni sumer in the post-modern age that Association in partnership with Proximity Communications as part we live in. These include the next areas of focus, the challenges faced of the 5th year anniversary of the by brand owners, and the opportucompany, the seminar with the nities arising from the digital age. theme Engaging the Nigerian Denloye highlighted the increasConsumer: The Next Big Things had key speakers in the marketing com- ingly youthful outlook of the Nigerian consumer and the disparmunications circle. Moderated by Idy Enang, the for- ity in male and female buying mer Managing Director of Samsung power. With roughly half the Nigerian population below the age Nigeria, the speakers included Austin Ufomba, current Marketing of 15, he sees growth areas in the and Innovation Director of Guinness use of smarter technology, online Nigeria, a post he previously held at shopping, fashion, music and Coca-Cola Nigeria; Kachi Onubogu, entertainment. With this scenario, he foresees a Chief Executive Officer, Etisalat Nigeria, Steven Evans (), and Chief Financial Officer, Etisalat Group, Serkan Okandan, at the Etisalat Capital Markets Day in Abu Dhabi… the Commercial Director of recently. situation where growth of a very Promasidor Nigeria, and Enitan educated and discerning conDenloye, the Brand and Communications Director at Etisalat sumer leads to an exponential growth in the market as leading Nigeria. international brands scramble for Rotimi Olaniyan, Managing expected get recommendation from would also fund equipment leasing. In By Geoff Iyatse the Nigerian consumer. Director of Proximity, articulated case of leasing, applicants are expected to IRST Bank Nigeria Plc would soon com- NASSI executive before it could be In addition, he opines that conthe reason behind the colloquium. approved. pay 10 per cent of the total cost. mence lending to members of the Noting that it was very rare for mar- sumers will be spoilt for choices Whereas the MoU pegs the maximum It was learnt that NASSI national execuNational Association of Small Scale even as companies focus more on keting professionals to gather amount for individual at N5 million, tives would meet with the Central Bank Industrialists (NASSI) at nine per cent improving consumer experience together for intellectual discourse, Ogunrinde said special consideration of Nigeria (CBN) soon on the Federal interest rate. he saw the gathering as an opportu- of their brands. could to extended to certain applicants Government’s role in the deal. It is expectAfter months of negotiation, the bank ed that the government’s component and NASSI executives last June signed a as long as the bank is convinced that memorandum of understanding (MoU) borrower has the capacity to pay back. will come from intervention funds earlier extended by CBN. By Chijioke Iremeka where they explained details of the part- He said re-payment would be strucsmart production. tured to align with the cash flow of the NASSI Vice President (Southwest), Duro nership and how the loan would be G Electronics has introduced Managing Director, Fouani Nigeria businesses. Kuteyi, noted that inadequate capacity accessed. Xboom to Nigerian market as a Limited, Mr. Mohamed Fouani At the unveiling of the scheme to Lagos National Treasurer of the association, posses greater challenge to small and way of improving the country’s noted that commitment to making Olusegun Dada, said the scheme is medium enterprises (SMEs) than absence entertainment industry. Xboom is good products available for its conState Chapter of the association last bankrolled by federal government, state of funds. week, Product Manager, Consumer a new hi-tech sound system with sumers to achieve their dreams and governments, First Bank and NASSI, Kuteyi promised that the association Banking Products Department, First Bluetooth for easy connectivity. aspirations, was the major driving thereby increasing the chances interest- would continue to upgrade the capacity Bank, Folayemi Ogunrinde, said the Digital Marketing Manager, force in the new innovation. ed individuals have. He added that govof members just as it was disclosed that lender has rolled out activities that Home Entertainment Division, LG He stated that LG will stop at nothernment’s support would be guaranFirst Bank would, on regular basis, organwould lead to commencement of the Electronics, Mr. Jae Sang Lee said ing to enrich its customers with teed by the participating bank. ise trainings for those who benefit from programme. Part of the activities, he the introduction of the product is products of stylish designs, technosaid, is the dedication of “special branch- According to him, part of the applica- the loan. to ensure customers’ satisfaction logical innovations and giving cuses” nationwide through which the loans tion fees will be used for biometric reg- Director of Commerce and Industry, and enrich family life. tomers value for money spent, istration of members — a process that Lagos State Ministry of Commerce and would be dispatched. According to him, it is belief that adding that Xboom boasts of six will lead to a comprehensive database Industry, Akin Adeyemi, said the governHe explained that new NASSI members every music-loving Nigerian and beat-box, five voice samples and of the association. This, he said, is part of ment would meet with NASSI and First applying for the loan would pay upcoming DJs and musicians, seven DJ effects, which work autoefforts aimed at minimizing default, as Bank to discuss details of participation. N26,000 for registration while old ones would want to have the product, matically with one button and Latin the bank may not insist on collaterals. would pay N19,000. Each application is especially when it’s meant for EQ, Bluetooth. Dada disclosed that the scheme
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Bank To Give SME Operators Single Digit Credit
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LG Electronics Introduces New Product
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