Over 20 countries lift travel restriction on vaccine passport holders
More than 20 countries have wholly or partially lifted travel restrictions for vaccine passport holders ahead of the summer travels. International carriers have applauded the growing number of countries making data and “evidence-driven” decisions to open their borders to vaccinated travellers, urging more countries to fall in line.
Among the countries that now accept vaccinated travellers are: British Virgin Islands, Croatia, Ecuador, Georgia, Greece, Island, Israel, Seychelles, and lately, Germany. Varying local conditions, however, apply.
The vaccine passport – in the form of certificates or digital cards testifying to the low-risk status of their holders – promises to reopen the world and perhaps return lives to normal. But its subtle compulsory vaccination for all air travellers raises fundamental questions of a more divided and discriminatory world.
Specifically, vaccine passport policy draws the line between those that have taken the jab and those that have not; between vaccinated-rich countries and poor ones like Nigeria that have barely kick-started vaccination, therefore, disenfranchising the unvaccinated and poor countries from international travel and tourism.
Nigerians to submit phone IDs in three months, says NCC
The Nigerian Communications Commission has said Nigerians will have to submit the International Mobile Equipment Identity of their phones to it from July.
The regulatory body said this in the commission’s Revised National Identity Policy for SIM Card Registration.
The NCC said, “With the aim to curtail the counterfeit mobile phone market, discourage mobile phone theft, enhance National Security, protect consumer interest, increase revenue generation for the government, reduce the rate of kidnapping, mitigate the use of stolen phones for crime, and facilitate blocking or tracing of stolen mobile phones and other smart devices, one of the means to achieve this is through the deployment of Device Management System.
The NCC’s move to start the implementation of the Device Management System (a Centralised Equipment Identity Register) is backed by the President, Muhammadu Buhari.
“The implementation of a Centralised Equipment Identity Register otherwise known as Device Management System will serve as a repository for keeping records of all registered mobile phones’ International Mobile Equipment Identity and owners of such devices.
Bitcoin pushes back after market dip, crosses $40,000 mark
The cryptocurrency market nears previous trading levels before the market dip as Bitcoin and other altcoins rally significantly. Bitcoin is currently trading at $41,500, after trading for as low as $30,000 in the market bloodbath of May 19th, 2021. This represents a 38% gain within 24 hours. The flagship crypto is still down by 18% from the last 7 days, however.
Altcoins have also seen significant recoveries as Ether is currently up 33.51% from yesterday’s bottom of $2,170 to currently trade at $2,900, at the time of writing this report.
The total cryptocurrency market capitalization declined to as low as $1.47 trillion yesterday during the market crash, but today, it is currently up 26.53% to $1.86 trillion. The market is close to the trading levels it fell from before the market dip which was within the $1.90 – $2 trillion range.
COVID-19 surge: Nigeria’s oil revenue at risk as India slows down crude purchases
India, one of Nigeria’s top oil buyers, has slowed down its crude purchases as it continues to battle rising COVID-19 infections.
Figures from the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics fourth quarter (Q4) 2020 report on ‘Foreign Trade in Goods and Statistics’, show that India is Nigeria’s top export destination accounting for 17.12 percent of exports during the period. Crude oil also accounts for 79 percent of Nigeria’s export in the quarter.
India has continued to witness a spike in coronavirus infections, with figures on Thursday putting total active cases at 3.12million, according to data from MOHFW(India) and John Hopkins.
S&P Global Platts, a provider of energy and commodities information, reports that India’s state-owned refiners typically issue tenders for a large proportion of their crude requirements.
Seplat Promises Better Performance, Generates $318 Million Cash
The Chairman of Seplat Petroleum Development Company Plc, Dr. ABC Orjiako, yesterday assured shareholders and other stakeholders of better future performance, saying the company’s $318 million for 2020 full year remained strong and was higher than the $150 million invested.
Orjiako, who spoke at the company eight annual general meeting (AGM) in Lagos, noted that the capital investment, which was higher than the $125 million spent in 2019, demonstrated its commitment to growth.
He disclosed that the company’s average working interest production was 51,183boepd, including 33,714bopd of liquids and 101MMscfd gas (17,469boepd).
