License To Deforestation As I<~rosene Price Sl<yrocl<ets By Fabian Odum CVEN in the Berce continuing battle t'? keep. llhe globe green and rrutlgate the pams of ellmate cnange, Nigeria seem to be on the losmg end. The greens are steadily under the saw of lumberjacks, who not only fell trees fortirnber but fuel wood and charcoal. 路 The reason is that the sixth largest producer of crude oil that first found its way Siphoned to the surface of the earth a little more than half a century ago cannot supply cooking kerosene to its teeminl! population ofusers. There .s more generation of smoke from wood burnt in homes for cooking and at night, the hurricane lanterns are either at low levels or completely extinguished in a bid to cut cost and keep the f;imjJy budget trim_ In Lagos, kerosene prices fluctuates much, unpredictable as the rain-bearing cloud of the wet season. A litre of the product sells for N160 and as much as N200 depending on the location of purchase. The 'black market' prices are another matter entirely and only assessed by those who can afford itorneeded as a product lacking an immediate available alternative. Since the scarcity is nationwide, the prices areas varied as the number of colours on a textile design. Meanwhile between NNPC and independent petroleum marketers, there have been buck passing at its highest echelon with none taking responsibility for the mess into which the President Jonathan administration has been dragged. As that is going on, the forest is lOSing the trees that has taken decades to grow and tree planting programmes, unfortunately not taken seriousfy by governments at the State level. Dealers of firewood and charcoal in Lagos are having a field day with prices jerking up higher; supplies from the hinterland (Ogun, Ondo and Edo States) are stepping up and the price is not any cheaper. Reports frOm Asaba, Delta State, are not different; pressure is on the sellers to keep the supply up at a higher price as a result of increase demand. They depend on supplies of wood from Onitsha in Anambra State, which in tum depend on dealers from neighbouring towns and States of the east Inddentally, those who make money from firewood are tasking the soil of these eastern towns
sian, a challenge that warranted the federal governmeilt to set up the Ecological Fund to lielp work on the fast fading terrain. A recent report showed that a small bundle of firewood of about eight split dry wood sold for N350 in thelastquarterof2010 but now, the same goes for-between N500 and N600. The same quantity sold for between N150 and N200 in 2009. A keen watcher of energy issues, Godwin Okoduwa said there is a solution for the seeming crisis. He sayscookinggas is it 'The people should know that it is abundantly available in Nigeria
and cheaper. He says the deregulation of kerosene is a must, as government spends in billions, to subSidize kerosene. "What is the point if the ordinary man does not beneBt from the subsidy. These money might as well be used for a one-<Jff purchase of lJ'G cylinders to the masses; Okoduwa argued. Another public commentator said, "It appears that the Federal Government is giving petrol at N65 with the right hand, and collecting the subsidy with the reft hand through skyrocketing prices of kerosene and diesel.
'The irony of this strategy is that the very poor who make use of kerosene will continue to wallow in pains. If this is the case, where then is the subsidy in fuel prices, because kerosene and diesel are also fuel products, since a lot of people have erroneously believed .t hat fuel refers to petrol alone." On a serious note, government and a1l stal,eholders should take measures to assuage the pains of the poor who are struggling to make ends meet With the deforestation continuing, our effort at joining forces to fight climate change would only remain feeble and unfocused.
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that have suffered untold loss from gully ero- fuel wood business boom on the increase
Customer Service On Wheeis, AFresh Dimension ~
Care and Delight Bus on display
By Chijloka lremake Tfwas a definIng moment for customer service manageLnent, especially after sales, when LG, a leading brand put a modern luxury bus (coach) to such use. It plans to spread this service to all parts of tfle country to give customers what t11ey would have got only in the cities. A tour of the coach, named LG Care & Delight bus, revealed well equipped workshop on wheels with spare parts and tools to speed up repairs and services. It was also designed to "tUn on electricity generated from solar cell battery system 路placed at itsroof top. . Launched at the West SPAR in Lekld, Lagos State, the 路company rewarded participants with different brand products ranging from Hash drives to cell phones, while LCD plasma televisions were given out to the speakers.
stress-free initiative, adding that the bus is not only a moving service centre and retailer but also takes the advantage of sales promotion and support tool to penetrate the mar. ket. "LG is committed to meeting the customers' needs and exceed their expectations since customers satisfaction is our rewarding priority. This is a way of rewarding customers for their trust and faith in our brands," he added. Mohal1!med Fouani, Nigeria's LG chief executive said "The world is fast becoming a consumer-centric society with emphasis placed on customers as king. The extent to which a company can become a trail blazer and market leader is dependent on the efficiency of its customers' service team." Tlie introduction of mobile service into Nigerian market, he noted, heralds a new experience and changes the normal service centre concept. This is a demonstration of the company's resolution to make available to its customers the best services. Fouani noted the primary focus of the bus is to care for customers after sales' needs and demands as the need arises. The bus will meet them at strategic point all over the country as it is billed to tour round the states. This, he stated, will indeed help to combat the challenges, which come from complaints bothering on after sales services and helps to save time as well as efforts in rendering credible 'after sales services.' "We are pleased to use this initiative to demonstrate that we are passionate about our customers and persistently strive to meet their yearnings and aspiration not just from our products' quality, designs and styles but also in quality customer semce," he said~ Commending the initiative, Director of Comme rce,Lagos State Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Mr. Hakeem Adeniji said such idea that seeks convenience for its customers is not an innovation many companies in Nigeria would like to embark on. He therefore, urged others companies to be more cansumer-<entric ana affirmed that the company is taking the lead in this direction, the hallmark of market leadership. Entertainment was provided by diferent musical artistes, Meanwhile, one of the customers at the event, Mrs. Akintola who thrilled the participants with a number of stage perAdesuyi said the system will be stress-free if it works. "With formances, cultural dance, singing contests and dancing this, the customers have to wa.t for the mob. Ie centre and competition among others. servi ce their appliances instead of trying to locate .mmoveAccording to the Managing Director, LG Electronics, West able service centres that will cost them time and resources. I Africa Operations, Jaeyoung Lee, the initiative is to change the have not seen this in the country," she enthused. manner at which the company's 'after sales service delivery' is Another participant, Mr. Wale Adebanjo said, the system run by bringing its service team to the doorstep of the conwill increase the acceptability of the the brand 10 market sumers as well as providing comfortable environment for since they will come and service the products at home free, their services. especially those products with a year warranty. This innovation stands to change the company's age long However, the customers with warranty covering products system of 'after sales service delivery' by bringing its service will have their products serviced at no cost to them, while team to tile doorstep of its consumers. It will also ease off the tIlose whose products are not covered with warranty will stress they go through,locating the conventional brick and pay for the cJianged parts of the products out side the servmortar customers' services locations in the country. ice fee_ Lee urged the customers to make the maximum use of this
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