Tag: Enugu state

  • Enugu State appoints Kobo360 CEO as commissioner for transportation

    Enugu State appoints Kobo360 CEO as commissioner for transportation

    Chief executive officer of the logistics startup Kobo360, Obi Ozor has been appointed commissioner of transport in the Nigerian city of Enugu. 

    This news comes just one week after Bosun Tijani was confirmed to the position of minister, signaling new heights for the country’s startup environment.

    On Thursday, Governor Peter Mba of Enugu, Nigeria, announced the appointment of twenty commissioners who will assist in the administration of his policies throughout the state of Enugu, located in eastern Nigeria. One of the freshly sworn-in commissioners is Obi Ozor, who is the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian logistics company Kobo360. Mba’s cabinet will include a new commissioner of transportation, and that person will be Ozor.

    Mba stated during his speech that the commissioners were appointed on the basis of their prior experience as well as their track record.

    “It’s our hope that you are going to bring those experiences to bear and to work for the people of Enugu State,” he added.

    Mba also shared his vision for the future of Enugu with the commissioners and urged them to work with him to make it a reality. 

    “We want to attract investments to Enugu and it will require you, deploying not only your skills, but also making sure that you acquire those new skills that we need to fix the challenges of breaking new grounds of economic development and growth.”

    Read also: Kenyan logistics startup Sendy shuts down

    Obi Ozor’s professional background

    Obi Ozor has been the CEO of Kobo360 for the past five years. Prior to that, he spent five years receiving his education at a seminary. Prior to that, he held the position of Director of Operations at both J.P. Morgan and Uber Nigeria. Obi Ozor and Ife Oyedele are the individuals responsible for the launch of Kobo360 in Nigeria in 2017. 

    They left the firm last year. Cargo owners can make requests for goods trucks through this company’s digital logistics platform using either their mobile phones or the web, and the company will then pick up their products and deliver them to the specified destination.

    New dawn for Nigeria’s tech sector 

    This appointment comes one week after President Tinubu named Bosun Tijani to the position of minister. Even though this is not the first time that company founders have been nominated to serve in a government position in Nigeria (Oswald Guobadia, who has held a two-time founder’s role in Buhari’s administration, comes to mind), the selections of Ozor and Tijani established a new degree of validation for Nigeria’s tech industry. 

    The next steps for the evolution of Nigeria’s technology ecosystem are already under way, now that they are not confronted with obstacles at the level of the government. 

    About Kobo360

    Kobo360 was established in 2018 with the intention of addressing the inefficiencies that existed within Africa’s supply chain. To do so, the company developed a platform that connects manufacturers and cargo owners with truck operators. This allows the owners’ goods to be transported without any disruptions across the continent.

    The primary objective has been to expedite economic development and long-term growth in Africa by streamlining the delivery process of raw materials from ports to manufacturers and finished goods from manufacturers to customers in the last mile. This has been accomplished by streamlining the supply of raw materials and finished goods.

    They employ data analytics and artificial intelligence to eliminate inefficiencies in last-mile delivery, give transparency and visibility, reduce communication gaps within the entire ecosystem, optimise pick-ups and deliveries, and enhance routes in real time. In addition, they provide transparency and visibility to their customers. Their predictive analysis not only provides useful insights to organisations but also enables them to make informed decisions, which ultimately leads to an increase in both productivity and satisfaction levels for customers.

    Their objective is still active even as we work towards streamlining the supply chain and logistics across Africa in order to add value for African businesses as well as transporters.

    Kobo360 has a physical presence in seven different countries in Africa, including Nigeria, Benin, Ghana, Uganda, Kenya, and Côte d’Ivoire. Burkina Faso is also included in this list.Kobo360 is the most innovative company in Africa when it comes to providing integrated logistics solutions and truck brokerage services.

    They compile haulage activities from beginning to end in order to assist cargo owners, truck owners, drivers, and recipients of goods in developing an effective framework for their supply chain.

    Over 50,000 truck owners and delivery partners are eager to transport your goods to where it needs to power their services. Their services are powered by over 50,000 truck owners. Because of our network, you will be able to transport goods easily across the continent.

    Through an all-in-one simplified digital ecosystem that connects owners to shippers, Kobo360 technology generates value for both customers and truck owners. This gives you access to the broadest network of registered drivers, vehicles, and end-to-end digital visibility.

  • Enugu state launches e-tickets for road transporters

    Enugu state launches e-tickets for road transporters

    To put a stop to the abuses committed by swindlers posing as those authorized to collect government levies, the government of Enugu State in Nigeria has implemented a system that uses electronic tickets. 

    Dan Nwomeh, who is in charge of media relations for the state, broke the news to the governor.

    The system, which is going to be completely functional by the 11th of August, is going to be called the Enugu State Unified e-Ticket Scheme.

    According to Mr. Nwomeh, the objective of the initiative is to simplify and streamline the process of tax and levy payments for carriers. In addition to this, he mentioned that the method will assist in removing the practise of double taxes and the harassment caused by touts all across the state.

    In addition to this, he stated that beginning on August 11, the day that the e-ticketing system is scheduled to be implemented, any and all forms of paper tickets will be outlawed throughout the state due to the implementation of e-ticketing. In addition to this, he urged all Enugu transporters operating within the state to obtain their tickets from authorised e-ticketing agents.

    A media outlet met with Darlington Mbah, one of tHe stated that the web channels and portals will be disclosed on Friday, November 11, when the system will finally be made available to the public.

    He also mentioned that there will be USSD choices available for users who do not have a high level of familiarity with digital abilities in order for them to access digital platforms. Given that the steep geography of the state might occasionally act as a barrier to a robust internet network, this is something that is absolutely important in Enugu state.

    Read also: eFactory simplifies electricity payments in Nigeria

    The purpose of the e-tickets in enugu

    Although the state government identified the primary reasons for the e-ticket plan as being simplicity and convenience, the elimination of wastage, and the curbing of harassment by touts, the majority of people would be more concerned about the elimination of harassment and touting from the system.

    The practise of touting has historically been used as a method of tax collection by governments, particularly at the level of the local government. The levy payments that are made to the local government are those that are collected by these touts. They also collect them for their own benefit, as a significant portion of the generosity they provide does not find its way back into the government’s coffers.

    When it comes to collecting these levies, these illegitimate tax collectors frequently resort to harassing and assaulting their targets in order to get what they want. Because of this, the people who they are supposed to serve now view them as their worst foes. Indeed, individuals are already attempting to gain an understanding of how this policy enacted by the state government will be carried out at the level of the local government.

    However, it would appear that with this most recent turn of events, the state administration is moving towards the implementation of a single unified system for the collection of all taxes and fees. In fact, the Head of Media to the Governor of Enugu state responded to an inquiry by confirming that this is the case.

    Nigerian tech firm, NAIRAXI announces solutions for mass transportation 

    Remarks 

    Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, the Secretary to the government of Enugu State, provided more support for this by noting that the administration is convinced that tax and revenue collection must be convenient and friendly via technology while addressing leakages. He also said that the government is committed to eliminating leakages. In addition, he issued a warning that measures would be taken against touts and other scum who were caught extorting transporters. 

    Professor Onyia said: “Henceforth, anyone caught in the illegal act shall be prosecuted and please be guided accordingly.”