₦airaland Forum

Shipping Medical and Food Materials has been expectedly on the rise to help cushion the effect of the pandemics on the suffering populace.

Apparently, the issue of the Lockdown across countries of the world is not only alarming, disheartening, and threatening to the national economy, but indeed sudden and unexpected to have happened to the world at large.

We are wary of the fact that the entire world system is facing a tremendous shake due to the widespread of the wild Corona-Virus popularly known as COVID-19. A situation that has affected a lot of normal life activities and requires adequate attention to curb, even though still uncertain.

Shipping Medical and Food Materials

No doubt, the pandemic has sent everyone, including businesses, into a compulsory stay-at-home and stay-safe policy, regardless of colour, tribe, status, as it creates a deepening threat on the old ones above 65 and 70+ or people with imbalance immune system particularly.

Hundreds of coronavirus deaths are reported in the US and UK every day. Each one marks a devastating loss for a family or community somewhere in the country or outside the country.

Read Also: 5 Epidemics Prevention Products you can Import during COVID-19 Lockdown https://bowagateglobal.com/2020/03/27/epidemics-prevention-products/

How Prepared Are We?
We understand the challenge in the shipping and we are doing our very best in managing potential health and business risks within our operations internationally.

While we have been maintaining very strict measures, our top priority has been the health and safety of our people and our customers, since the outbreak of the COVID-19.

In that event, we have, however, made arrangement to attend to clients from home and have since been shipping imported goods from China in particular.

See full article from source: https://bowagateglobal.com/2020/04/30/shipping-medical-and-food-materials/amp/

Well, interstate travel ban in still in place till further notice.
Hopefully it will be lifted also if there’s a significant decrease in the new covid-19 cases throughout the country.

success97:
Please guys what of interstate travels ban
when will it be lifted?

The Lagos State Government on Thursday said commercial vehicles, from May 4, 2020, will operate from 6am to 7pm daily.

Commercial motorcycle riders and inter-state travels were suspended indefinitely.

The guidelines were revealed by the state Commissioner for Transportation, Dr Frederic Oladeinde.

The commissioner also urged passengers and commuters to always wear face masks, use hand sanitisers, wash their hands with soap under running water before and after each trip.

“All transport operators and companies are expected to disinfect their vehicles, parks and garages regularly and continuously in collaboration with and under the supervision of the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, in order to ensure standards and safety of the disinfectant being used.

“Motor parks and garages must not be overcrowded with passengers and commercial activities at any point in time. Social distancing is required for passengers queuing to board buses.

“All public buses should be 60 per cent capacity, i.e. for buses one passenger with driver in front seat, two passengers on the back rows each and two passengers for tricycle,” he said.

Source: https://punchng.com/lagos-issues-guidelines-for-transport-operations/

There has been a significant increase in calls to poison control in the state of Illinois in the last two days, Illinois Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike said during a Saturday afternoon press conference.

Such calls included someone using a detergent based solution for a sinus rinse and another person gargling with a bleach and mouthwash mixture to kill germs, Ezike said.

She urged people to not use cleaning chemicals to try and kill the virus #Covid-19

Injecting, ingesting, snorting household cleaners is dangerous. It is not advised and can be deadly," Ezike warned.

This comes after President Donald Trump suggested Thursday the possibility of injecting disinfectants to treat people with #coronavirus. https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/24/business/lysol-disinfectant-trump-coronavirus/index.html

However @NCDCgov has advised Nigerians to note that Bleach and Disinfectant is to be used when cleaning surfaces and not to be consumed.

@NCDCgov warned against drinking of these household cleaning materials can cause health complications and even death.

Read Also: COVID-19: Top 5 Powerful Epidemics Prevention Products https://bowagateglobal.com/2020/03/27/epidemics-prevention-products/amp/

The lockdown is supposed to be curbing the spread of the virus, but reverse is the case here.

Meanwhile lifting the lockdown will give room for income to most Nigerians. Some Nigerians need to function alongside with another country. And following the restriction of movement across the globe, don’t you think it’s a difficult decision to make as some will be be fully functional while some will not.

strafist911:
This is rubbish!
What has nigeria achieved from the official 4 weeks LOCK-DOWN? Nothing so far. Instead they keep inflating number of "new covid19" cases without concrete evidence, economy is in shambles, people are hungry, high-profile corruption going on in Abuja(burning of gov.offices), crime rates have increased due to poverty etc.
The LOCK-DOWN is not helping matters. Open the economy, distribute free nose masks & enforce all necessary precautionary measures in place in all work places so that people can be able to feed themselves PERIOD!!
THE SO-CALLED FG & STATE GOV PALLIATIVES ARE NOTHING TO WRITE HOME ABOUT & REALLY DEMEANING. HOW CAN AN ADULT NIGERIAN QUEUE UNDER THE SUN FOR 2 HRS JUST TO RECEIVE A WRAP OF AMALA + A PACK OF SOUP?
NIGERIANS DESERVE BETTER!!

There was unease in the seaports on Thursday following the recent increase of the exchange rate for import duty payment  from N326 per dollar to N361.

Our correspondent gathered that in line with the increment, the Nigeria Customs Service has effected an increase in duty payable on cargoes imported through the ports.

The development has caused tension at the ports as importers and freight forwarders who spoke with DAILY TREND NEWS lamented that they were being forced to pay duty far above what they had initially budgeted for.

Read Also: These 5 Step Can Save You Money While Importing By Air; https://bowagateglobal.com/2019/12/12/how-to-save-money-importing-by-air-freight-shipping/amp/

Confirming the development, a port user, Frank Amasiaku said, “I went to work today and at  DTI(Direct Trade Input), I was about punching (capturing) my work via the Customs portal, only for me to notice some changes in dollar (Customs duty) rate.

“For example, fixed dollar rate for vehicles before now was at N326/dollar but as of today, it has changed to N361.”

The Vice President, Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents, Dr Kayode Farinto, reportedly said the Customs had effected the changes without due consultation with relevant stakeholders.

He said the implication of the increment was that the cost of cargo clearance had increased.

The cost of products in the market would also be increased automatically, he added.

Meanwhile, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Miss Hadiza Bala-Usman, has appealed to freight forwarders and owners of goods at the nation’s seaports to remove their cargoes.

Read Also: 5 Most Important Import Documents Required for Customs Clearance; https://bowagateglobal.com/2019/12/05/5-most-important-import-documents-required-customs-clearance/amp/

She disclosed that leading terminal operator, AP Moeller, had used up 90 per cent of its space to store goods.

Bala-Usman made the appeal in Lagos on Thursday, while fielding questions on the sidelines of the inauguration of two mobile harbour cranes recently acquired by the APM Terminal.

Source: https://punchng.com/tension-as-cbn-increases-exchange-rate-for-cargo-imports/

Read Also: HOW TO CALCULATE CUSTOM DUTY https://bowagateglobal.com/2020/01/30/calculate-customs-duty-charge-nigeria/amp/

An official diplomatic document has emerged showing that the Chinese Government detailed how 72 Nigerians tested positive for COVID-19 in Guangzhou, China.

The document, REF. No. SWZ (2020) 0128, dated April 22, 2020 by the Foreign Affairs Office, Guangzhou Municipal People’s Government, outlined the profile of the cases and advised Nigerians resident in China to comply with the law of their hosts in controlling the pandemic.

The PUNCH had published a story on Thursday, April 23, 2020, ‘Evacuation: 72 Nigerians, 111 other Africans in China test positive’, which some Nigerians have mounted a strident campaign against, claiming that the story was false.

Some Nigerians, especially those who claimed to be resident in China, had accused The PUNCH of propaganda and spreading falsehood, saying no Nigerian had tested positive for the virus in China.

The official communication between the two countries has, however, validated The PUNCH story that the Chinese Government actually wrote its Nigerian counterpart, informing the Federal Government of its staggering findings among Africans in Guangzhou.

The document, written to the Consulate General of Nigeria in Guangzhou, read in part, “The Foreign Affairs Office of Guangzhou Municipal People’s Government presents its compliments to the Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in Guangzhou and has the honour to summarise the current situation of Nigeria citizens in Guangzhou concerning the COVID-19 pandemic:


“According to the data reported on 21st April, 2020 by the Guangzhou Municipal Health Commission, among Nigerian citizens in Guangzhou, there are 16 confirmed cases, 56 cases have been tested positive and 65 cases of close contact.”

The letter added, “We hereby kindly request the Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in Guangzhou to urge Nigerian citizens in China to comply with the Law of the People’s Republic of China on the Prevention and Treatment of Infections Diseases, Law of Frontier Health and Quarantine of the People’s Republic of China, Public Health Emergency Regulations, etc., support and cooperate with the Guangzhou Municipal People’s Government for any work related to the prevention and control of #COVID-19


“Also, remind them to carry out self-protection, reduce outdoor activities, avoid going to crowded areas; do not organise or participate in mass gathering.


“We hereby extend our gratitude to Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Nigerian citizens in Guangzhou for your kind understanding, support and cooperation.”

The content of this official communication, on which the story was based, formed the basis of a meeting between officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nigeria and the Chinese embassy in Abuja on Thursday.

Earlier on Friday, Nigerians resident in Guangzhou, China, denied reports that 72 members of the Nigerian community in the city tested positive for coronavirus.


They claimed that none of their community members returned positive, adding that they were all given a clean bill of health by the Chinese authorities after their tests.


But reacting to the report on Friday, a resident of Guangzhou, Mr Blessed Isaac, insisted that no Nigerian had tested positive for the virus in China.


He said, “It is falsehood. No Nigerian has tested positive for coronavirus in China. Chinese security agents and officials have been harassing us and most of us went into quarantine and we just completed our 14-day quarantine.”


Another resident, Frank Onyeka, claimed that he tested negative for the disease, adding that he was tested thrice.


“All of us in my group tested negative. We are about 50 in our hotel where we were quarantined and we shared our experiences,” he said.


A businessman, Johnson Chinonso, said many Nigerians were quarantined and released after testing negative.

Source: https://punchng.com/covid-19-chinese-diplomatic-letter-confirms-punch-report-72-nigerians-tested-positive/

The Federal Government, through the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, has explained why the lockdown measure should not be relaxed amid efforts to contain the coronavirus pandemic.

The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd), had on March 29 ordered a lockdown of the Federal Capital Territory, Lagos and Ogun states for 14 days to curb COVID-19 spread. Many states had also followed suit.

But as the number of COVID-19 cases increased, the President on April 13 extended the lockdown for 14 more days.

As of the time of filing this report, the coronavirus had spread to 26 states and the FCT, with 1,095 cases recorded across the country by the NCDC. While 208 patients had been discharged, 32 had died.

The new cases were 80 in Lagos, 21 in Gombe, five in FCT, two each in Zamfara and Edo, and one each in Ogun, Oyo, Kaduna and Sokoto states.

Speaking on Friday at a media briefing of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 in Abuja, the Director-General of the NCDC, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, said it was not yet time to relax the lockdown.

He noted that although the lockdown was having negative effects on the economy as it was impeding Nigerians’ ability to go about their daily activities, he said it was vital to be patient and endure the lockdown further to ensure a safe and healthy society when the economy would be reopened.

“Everybody is pushing hard along this direction. We need unprecedented level of caution to continue carrying out the preventive measure that we have advised many times on this platform.

“Many families have not been able to bury their dead, rescheduled their marriages and baptism and everything they are doing. In a way, life is in suspense. Everyone recognises the sacrifice Nigerians have made but we really have to encourage one another to continue to a position where we can relax some of that (lockdown) but until we get to that place, we have to continue in the short term.

“We are working hard to reach a point where we can relax some of these measures but we are not there yet. We ask you to join us to continue this journey with us and amplify these messages that we are giving. We are happy to have the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress here with us today (Friday).”

Ihekweazu added that the citizens must remember that the most vulnerable people were the elderly and people with other illnesses.

“We must protect them. In protecting them, if they are living in the village, leave them there and support them with whatever resources you have. But please, now is not the time to encourage travelling,” he added.

Pension fund won’t be used for COVID-19 –SGF

Meanwhile, at the briefing, the Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, said although the body considered using part of the funds lodged in the Contributory Pension Fund for COVID-19 palliative, it decided not to touch the money after considering the “ravaging” impact of the pandemic on the world economy and health of the people..........

Souce: https://punchng.com/fg-explains-why-lockdown-cant-be-relaxed-as-cases-hit-1095/

It still need to be proven scientifically before it can be confirmed worthy and harmless for consumption.

Tnycee:
What if the drug actually has potential of fighting off this disease or preventing one from contracting it.

Let's look inwards and find a cure to this deadly virus since science have failed us.

Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, on Tuesday, has met with representatives of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank via video conference to discuss collaborative strategies for the economic stimulus packages planned by the Federal Government.

The Osinbajo-led Economic Sustainability Committee had stated that it was working out a stimulus package that would take the country’s economy out of global recession to positive growth in 2021.

The committee was inaugurated by the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), earlier this month.

The Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, posted a video on Twitter on Tuesday, showing Osinbajo in a video conference meeting.

The tweet read, “VP Osinbajo has been busy today holding video conference-based meetings with IMF and World Bank representatives on how the agencies can collaborate with President Buhari’s forthcoming additional economic stimulus packages. Video shows just-concluded meeting with World Bank Nigeria reps.”

The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, who is a member of the economic sustainability committee, had on April 17, said the global economy would go into recession in 2020 as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

According to her, the prediction of the IMF that Nigeria will go into a negative growth of 3.4 per cent next year is based on an assessment of the National Bureau of Statistics.

The minister, however, noted that the stimulus package being worked out by the economic sustainability committee would be approved by the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), before it would be announced to Nigerians.

Source: https://punchng.com/osinbajo-meets-imf-world-bank-over-economic-stimulus/

Read Also: https://bowagateglobal.com/2020/02/13/benefits-of-air-freight-consolidation-in-nigeria/amp/

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control has warned members of the public against buying or using a locally brewed mixture being offered as COVID-19 vaccine.

The disease control agency gave the warning on Wednesday via its verified Twitter handle @NCDCgov.

It did not disclose the source of the concoction, or if an arrest has been made.

The agency also did not state if anyone is known to have taken the mixture.

The label on the poison states: ‘COVID-19 vaccine. Using traditional medicine. Kano State.’

It is accompanied with phone number 070420272–8

The tweet: “A liquid mixture is being sold with claims that it is”#COVID19 vaccine.” This is FALSE!

“There is currently NO VACCINE or drug approved for #COVID19 prevention by health authorities.

“#TakeResponslibility. Only purchase and consume drugs at accredited pharmacies or health facilities.”


It may be recalled that the World Health Organisation also warned that there is no approved #COVID-19 vaccine in Nigeria.
#bowagateglobal #coronavirus #freightshipping #freightforwarding #logistics #customsclearance #shippingworldwide #import #seafreight #airfreight #logisticsredefined

Read Also: Top 5 Powerful Epidemics Prevention Products
https://bowagateglobal.com/2020/03/27/epidemics-prevention-products/amp/

China has reached an agreement with South Korea to set up a “fast track” for businesspeople to travel between the countries as Beijing looks to ease an entry ban on foreigners imposed to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

With the deadly disease spreading globally, China last month blocked almost all foreigners from entering as authorities fretted over cases being imported from abroad.

Beijing is also in talks with other countries including Singapore to set up a similar channel to stabilise economic cooperation and ensure supply chains run smoothly, foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told a press briefing Tuesday.

The virus, first discovered in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in December, has since spread like wildfire and killed more than 167,000 people worldwide with cases reported in over 190 countries.

But there are signs that China is looking to relax some of its controls as the measures used to curb the pandemic place a huge economic strain on nations worldwide.

“China is in talks with relevant countries to set up fast-track channels allowing… business and technical personnel to travel,” Geng told reporters on Tuesday.

“The purpose is to stabilise important economic and trade cooperation… and to ensure the safe and smooth operation of international industrial and supply chains,” he added.

Beijing has reached a consensus with Seoul on the fast-track channel and both sides are working to implement the plan, Geng said.

China and Singapore have also discussed personnel exchanges via video conference, he said, but Geng declined to elaborate on which other countries authorities were negotiating with.

The Asian giant has tightened controls on returning travellers and drastically cut international flight routes after largely bringing its virus outbreak under control in recent weeks.
#freightshipping #customsclearances #cargo
#import #warehousing #logistics #shipping
#bowagateglobal #logisticsredefined

Source: https://punchng.com/china-to-ease-entry-ban-on-foreigners/

Read Also: Top 5 Most Profitable Product To Import From China
https://bowagateglobal.com/2020/02/06/most-profitable-products-from-china/amp/

The Federal Government will next week commence the evacuation of Nigerians stranded abroad on account of the coronavirus pandemic.


The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, who disclosed this during a briefing by the Presidential TaskForce on COVID-19 in Abuja on Monday, noted that the nationals would be brought back in batches of 200.


Over 2,000 Nigerians in United States, United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates, China and other countries had registered for the evacuation after agreeing to subject themselves to mandatory coronavirus testing and 14-day quarantine on arrival in Abuja or Lagos.


The minister stated that the government has been working to put in place adequate isolation centres to accommodate the returnees on arrival in the country.


He said, “We have just signed and agreed with two airlines, we negotiated what we feel is very good rates. Since the evacuees are expected to pay, we wanted to get as good a deal as possible. Now, that’s done.


Source: https://punchng.com/covid-19-evacuation-of-nigerians-abroad-starts-next-week-onyeama/

Read Also: https://bowagateglobal.com/2020/04/16/the-commercial-invoice/amp/

In a statement via social media, the State’s Commissioner for Health, Professor Akin Abayomi said, “Lagos recorded another #COVID19 death; a 63 year old male, Nigerian who had no history of travel or contact with any confirmed case”.

Professor Abayomi, further revealed that as at 14th of April, 2020, 25 new cases of #COVID19 infection was confirmed in Lagos State.

He further stated that the total number of confirmed #COVID19 Lagos cases rose to 217.

According to the health commissioner, eight fully recovered #COVID19 patients (2 females and 6 males) were discharged.

This brings the total number of those discharged in Lagos, to 69.

Leave your view to this in the comment box

Read Also: http://new.bowagateglobal.com/2020/03/27/epidemics-prevention-products/

Source: https://www.channelstv.com/2020/04/15/breaking-lagos-state-records-seventh-coronavirus-death/

Isaiah 53:5

But He was wounded for our trangressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chatisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are made whole.

Let's all endeavor to make sacfrifices to save mankind.
Let's take responsibilty of our lives and the poeple around us in this trying time.
Let's save the world together.

Stay Home and Have a blessed Good Friday!

#goodfridayblessings #covid19 #stayhome #staysafe #bowagateglobal #freightshipping #customsclearing #logisticsredefined #importers #exporters

Find us: www.bowageteglobal.com

If you are seasoned importer using our services, you would readily have been informed about SONCAP requirements in Nigeria or come across it somehow, somewhere else...

In this post, we talk about SONCAP requirements for exporters in Nigeria with a view to creating an adequate understanding of our craving clients.....

Equip your supply chain journey with..↓↓↓

1. SONCAP Requirements in Nigeria

- What does SONCAP stand for?
- The objective of SONCAP
- What are SONCAP Regulated Products
- Routes that Determines Product Conformity
- Benefits of SONCAP to Nigeria?
- Risk of non-compliance with SONCAP
- What will it cost to comply with SONCAP?
- How do exporters show compliance with the SONCAP?
- Where to Obtain the Certificates

2. Let’s Guide You Through The Process

#shipping #logistics #supplychain #importers #exporters #freightforwarding #customs #cargo #seafreight #airfreight #freightshipping #customsclearance #covid19 #staysafe #stayathome #logisticsredefined #bowagateglobal

Source: https://bowagateglobal.com/2020/04/09/soncap-requirements-in-nigeria/

Read Also: https://bowagateglobal.com/2020/02/06/most-profitable-products-from-china/

There was a fire outbreak on Wednesday at the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, also known as the Treasury House, in Abuja.

It was learnt that the fire started about 10.15 a.m. when some workers were already at work.

The fire was put out by combined efforts of the Federal Fire Service, FCT Fire Service, Nigerian Navy, Julius Berger, Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Fire Departments, and the National Emergency Management Agency.

Source: https://punchng.com/photos-fire-outbreak-at-accountant-generals-office/

Read Also: How To Know The Best Logistics In Nigeria https://bowagateglobal.com/2020/01/16/best-logistics-service-provider-nigeria/amp/

There was a fire outbreak on Wednesday at the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, also known as the Treasury House, in Abuja.

It was learnt that the fire started about 10.15 a.m. when some workers were already at work.

The fire was put out by combined efforts of the Federal Fire Service, FCT Fire Service, Nigerian Navy, Julius Berger, Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Fire Departments, and the National Emergency Management Agency.

Source: https://punchng.com/photos-fire-outbreak-at-accountant-generals-office/

Read Also: How To Know The Best Logistics In Nigeria https://bowagateglobal.com/2020/01/16/best-logistics-service-provider-nigeria/amp/

To all health workers out there, we say well done and thank you for your services rendered.
Together we say NO to covid-19.

#staysafe #covid19 #warcovid19
#socialdistancing #clean #takecaution
#bowagateglobal #logisticsredefined

The police in Taraba State have again arrested a suspected child trafficker, Mary Yakubu, with 27 children.

The Police Public Relations Officer in Taraba, David Misal, Yakubu’s arrest in a statement on Monday.

He noted that it was the third time the suspect would be arrested, making it 60 children that have been rescued from her.

READ ALSO: https://bowagateglobal.com/2020/02/13/benefits-of-air-freight-consolidation-in-nigeria/amp/

Misal explained that the children were rescued on Sunday at Tashan Takalma community in Gassol Local Government Area of the state.

The 27 rescued children comprise 14 males and 13 females.

According to him, 33 children have been reunited with their parents while the suspect is undergoing trial in a court.

The command’s spokesman added that the newly rescued 27 children have been handed over to the State Ministry of Women Affairs.

The suspect was first arrested on February 26 in Bali by the detectives attached to the Bali Police Division in connection with a case of suspected child trafficking.

Upon her arrest, she was found with 23 children while making an arrangement to convey them to an unknown destination.

Yakubu was again arrested on March 4 and led a team of investigation police officers to Mararaban Donga, in Donga LGA of Taraba, where additional 10 children were rescued.

Between 26th February and 4th of March, she has been arrested three times.

Does it mean that she was breaking out of prison ya commit this crimes or have never been tried and sentenced with the gravity of her crime?

Let’s have you view

Source: ChannelsTv

The World Health Organisation (WHO) chief, Tedros Ghebreyesus has dismissed as “racist” a suggestion by some scientists that the coronavirus vaccine be tested in Africa.

Ghebreyesus at a press briefing on Monday said Africa is not a testing ground for any vaccine and described such suggestions as a hangover from the “colonial mentality.”

“On the vaccines issue, there was a comment from some couple of scientists who said the testing ground for the new vaccine should be Africa.

To be honest, I was so appalled. When we need solidarity, these kinds of racist remarks will not help.

“Africa cannot and will not be a testing ground for any vaccine. We will follow all the rules to test any vaccine or therapeutics all over the world using exactly the same rule, whether it is in Europe, Africa or wherever, we will use the same protocol,” Ghebreyesus said in the video from the press briefing which was shared on his official Twitter handle.
#covid19 #Coronavirus #Africa #Nigeria #Logistics

Read Also: https://bowagateglobal.com/2020/02/20/frequently-asked-questions-answered/

Source: ChannelsTv

Dubai will grant financial aid to Emirates in order to shield its most valuable asset from the coronavirus fallout, which has forced airlines around the world to suspend operations.


The amount being provided by the state, which owns the world’s largest carrier by international travel, wasn’t provided in a tweet from Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the deputy ruler of the emirate.


Emirates, which relies on long-distance flights joining far-flung points with its Gulf hub, has grounded virtually its entire passenger fleet after countries sealed off access to fight the virus.

“Today we renew our commitment to support a success story that started in the 80s, turning it into one of the best global carriers in the world,” Sheikh Hamdan said.

“Dubai’s government is committed to provide the full support for Emirates Airline in these exceptional circumstances by injecting new capital into the company.”

Emirates is an emblem of Dubai’s meteoric rise in the last three decades from a desert outpost into a global business and tourism hub.


The airline relies on a fleet of Airbus SE A380 double-deckers and Boeing Co. 777 wide-bodies to connect its giant airport with destinations around the world.

But a depressed oil price has weighed on corporate travel, and tourism has been curtailed since the coronavirus outbreak in China late last year.

Airlines have been particularly hard hit by the abrupt collapse in air travel as countries lock down to slow a spread of the virus.

The International Air Transport Association, which represents 290 airlines around the world, estimates the industry may suffer more than $250 billion in lost revenue this year.


Carriers like Deutsche Lufthansa AG and EasyJet Plc have grounded their fleets, and many carriers have called on government aid to help them weather the crisis.

Emirates is the largest of the major Middle East carriers, which also include Qatar Airways QCSC and Etihad Airways PJSC.


Qatar said last week that it has maintained about a third of its operating schedule, in part because the country’s flag carrier has a more diverse fleet that also includes narrow-body airliners.


Emirates, by contrast, only flies the biggest category of jetliners, including a fleet of 115 A380s, which most carriers have mothballed for the time being.


SOURCE: https://bloom.bg/3axODbv

Read Also: COVID-19: Top 5 Powerful Epidemics Prevention Products https:///2WWF7Ll

Prohibited items for importation are items that are forbidden by law to be imported into Nigeria. These are commodities that are marked as contraband and any importation of such commodities or goods by an importer is treated as violation of law and order of the country. Nigeria import prohibited items are sometimes mistaken for items marked not valid for foreign exchange.

READ MORE: https://bowagateglobal.com/2019/05/16/list-of-prohibited-items-for-importation-in-nigeria-and-their-hs-codes/?fbclid=IwAR07sPjfQU2UKXqkav1YilWdrSXNnU2u2ztN5Gaj-K03nZ0OfMkM4fQaGi8

An explosion at a gas processing plant on Sunday killed at least 15 people and destroyed about 50 buildings after a fire broke out in a suburb of Lagos, Nigeria's commercial capital, emergency services said.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) said the explosion was triggered after a truck hit some gas cylinders stacked in a gas processing plant near the corporation's pipeline in Abule Ado area of Lagos state.

The affect of the explosion led to the collapse of nearby houses, damaged NNPC's pipeline and caused the corporation to halt pumping operations on the Atlas Cove-Mosimi pipeline, the state-owned oil company said in a statement.

Several people were injured and taken to hospital, according to Ibrahim Farinloye, zonal coordinator for the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

Plumes of smoke billowed into the air as people watched, while firefighters tried to quench the flames, a Reuters witness said.
Farinloye told Reuters that “the explosion destroyed over 50 residential houses.”

Pipeline fires in Nigeria, Africa's biggest crude oil producer, are common and they are mostly caused by theft and sabotage. The methods used to steal oil often result in accidents that cause fires.

“The fire started with smoke,” one eyewitness said. “The smoke was coming up and later we heard a sound ... and some houses collapsed even the roofs.”

NNPC said that the temporary shutdown of the petroleum products pipeline would not affect the normal supply of products to the Lagos and surrounding towns.

https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/africa/2020-03-16-lagos-gas-blast-kills-15-destroys-several-buildings-nigerian-officials/

The Nigeria Customs Service say goods worth N7.35 billion have been seized from smugglers in the ongoing border drill.
Seven months into the ongoing border drill for the partial border closure, Hameed Ali, comptroller general of Nigeria Customs Service said on Tuesday that the exercise had yielded positive results and continued to do so.

Codenamed “Exercise SWIFT Response,” the border closure is a measure taken by President Muhammadu Buhari-led government of Nigeria to check inflow of arms and ammunition into the country by terrorists and bandits.

Ali, a retired army colonel said the measure had saved the country huge resources and enhanced national security.

“For instance, the importation of drugs and proliferation of small arms and light weapons which usually fuel terrorism and other forms of criminality in the country have been considerably curtailed,” he said in a statement by Joseph Attah, spokesman of the service.

Ali said the agricultural sector had also received a boost due to the restriction placed on the importation of rice and other prohibited food items.

He said, “The Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) which is coordinating the exercise has continued to record large numbers of seizures and arrests from the 4 sectors of the North-West, North-Central, South-West, and South-South geopolitical zones.

As at 6th March 2020, 697 illegal migrants have been arrested while seizures include 86,602-50kg bags of parboiled foreign rice; 695 bags of NPK fertilizer; 1,172 vehicles; 2,997 drums filled with PMS; 16,771 empty 200 litre Drums of PMS; 90 engine boats; 68 drums of groundnut oil; 26 trucks (33,000 litres) of PMS; 14,604 Jerricans of PMS; 656 motorcycles; 15,089 Jerricans of PMS, vegetable oil; among other items. The estimated monetary value of the seizures is N7,350,818,657.70.


“Nonetheless, Nigeria remains committed to ongoing diplomatic engagements to finding lasting solutions to the concerns that necessitated the partial border closure.

It would be recalled that apart from the ongoing Tripartite Technical Committee meetings comprising Nigeria, Benin and Niger Republic; Ministers in charge of ECOWAS Affairs and Trade of Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Niger, Nigeria and Togo met on the 15 February 2020 at Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso to assess the partial border closure and its impact on the sub-region. Overall, the government is fully committed to the recommendations of the respective Committees.

“However, the priority remains to keep our borders safe from any inimical activity that would compromise our national interests and by extension our national security. We therefore thank all Nigerians, especially the business community for their continuous support.”
https://www.businessamlive.com/n7-35bn-worth-of-goods-seized-at-nigeria-borders/

READ ALSO: Brief Comparison between Detention and Demurrage Charges; https://bowagateglobal.com/2020/03/05/demurrage-and-detention/

APMT at Nigeria’s premier port, Apapa Port in Lagos has existing annual cargo handling capacity of 1.2 million TEU, but the closure of Nigeria’s land borders has increase seaport cargo throughput by about 50 percent since October last year.

The port concessionaire said on Monday that it had placed orders for more equipment to cope with the significant growth at the Lagos Port.
The clarification is coming on the heels of a report that the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) had issued a 30-day ultimatum to the terminal operator to address alleged lapses, which has reportedly resulted in port congestion.

The ultimatum, which was reportedly given to the company last month, would expire this week.
Speaking on the development, Martin Jacob, managing director of APM Terminals Apapa, said, “Due to the conducive economic environment coupled with the closure of the border with Benin, Lagos ports witnessed a spike in volume as cargo was diverted from Cotonou, with periods such as October witnessing up to 50 percent year-on-year growth of imports.

“APM Terminals Apapa has expedited the investment in additional equipment, with the first batch of three cranes already in operation after arriving within the last month.

“A further five cranes are scheduled to arrive within the next few weeks to not only handle the ocean-going vessels but also inject much needed capacity for the needed barging.

“The current investment phase, which will cover yard expansion apart from equipment will cost about N65 billion.
“APM Terminals Apapa is committed to delivering the Nigeria Ports Authority’s vision in enhancing the country’s maritime sector.”

In 2006, APM Terminals Apapa was awarded the concession to manage, operate and develop the Apapa container terminal at the Lagos Port Complex, after the federal government of Nigeria concessioned the country’s seaports with the purpose of improving port services through private investment and expertise.

The 55-hectare facility has 1,005m quay length, 13.5m draft alongside with an annual handling capacity of 1.2million TEU.
So far, APM Terminals Apapa said it had invested N130 billion in infrastructure, IT upgrades and modern container handling equipment to improve both quayside and landside operations.
https://www.businessamlive.com/apm-terminals-expands-capacity-with-n65bn/

READ ALSO: Brief Comparison between Detention and Demurrage Charges; https://bowagateglobal.com/2020/03/05/demurrage-and-detention/

Too many reasons, too many unclear facts, too many loops... Well, this is Nigeria and whatever unfolds here, stays here to judge us, individually and as a matter of fact, collectively too. Whatever is the original reasons, everything has its purpose and end result most usually justifies the means.

Did you see my signature?

Nigeria’s two biggest cargo handling companies, NAHCO and SAHCO are currently at each other’s neck over Ethiopian Airline cargo handling contract.

The imbroglio between the two major handling firms in Nigerian airports reached climax on Thursday as officials of the two firms engaged themselves physically, bringing business activities at the cargo section of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos to a standstill on Thursday.

An eye witness, a customs agent said officials of the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) Plc seized cargoes of Ethiopian Airlines Cargo and mail services, insisting that it has a legal contract empowering it to handle the airline’s cargoes for three years signed in October 2018.

Business a.m gathered that Ethiopian Airline cargoes were were handled by Skyway Aviation Handling Company (SAHCO) who also have a running contract for the business signed last year.

It was learnt that customs agents were thrown into quagmire as NAHCO seized the consignment while SAHCO kept the documents required for clearing the cargoes.

When Business a.m visited the cargo section, the situation had been brought to calm and agents were seen doing business at the export section.

However, the customs agent, Kemi Dada, who spoke to Business a.m on the matter said the fracas spoilt their business for the day. She said the Coronavirus outbreak in had led to a surge in exportation of certain medical items from Nigeria to China, leading to a temporary boom in exportation at the airport.

She said, “It was a tug of war here today and we could not work. Business activities resumed late in the afternoon. The two companies were fighting over exports meant for Ethiopian Airline.

” We are currently doing a lot of export for the past four weeks and it seems there was a renewed interest about who should handle the cargoes for the airline between NAHCO and SAHCO.”

NAHCO had on Wednesday, announced it had taken over the handling of Ethiopian Airlines Cargo and Mail Services, which was previously handled by SAHCO.

Tayo Ogunbanjo, head, Legal Services, NAHCO said the development was based on the provisions of the Standard Ground Agreement Service (SGHA) signed on October 1, 2018 between the two companies, adding that the current SGHA agreement between NAHCO and Ethiopian Airlines is for three years.

He said, “Ethiopian Airlines should ideally not have two contracts running on the same cargo handling business. Since we have an existing and bidding contract, we are simply exercising our right as stipulated in that contract.”

Also commenting, Prince Saheed Lasisi, group executive director, Commercial and Business Development, NAHCO, said, “under Section 5 and as stated in Clauses 1.10 and 1.11 of our current contract, NAHCO is entitled to charge Export Terminal Charges to the Exporter and Import Terminal Charges to the Agent or Consignee.”

According to him, consultations were made and clarifications sought before the company embarked on this takeover, carrying along all concerned parties.
https://www.businessamlive.com/nahco-sahco-fight-over-ethiopian-airline-contract-as-exports-soar-at-lagos-airport/

READ ALSO: Detention and Demurrage Charges: Brief Comparison; https://bowagateglobal.com/2020/03/05/detention-demurrage/

These two words Demurrage and Detention gets people confused most of the time. To make it easier, demurrage relates to container storage at the terminal (charged by the port), while detention relates to container usage (charged by the shipping line).

In logistics, supply chain and shipping industry, the words demurrage and detention charges are widely used term for financial related fines. The fines are issued in the event of shipping violations during imports and/or exports.

Although to the common person, the two terms Demurrage and Detention are almost similar. However, these are not used interchangeably as they have different approaches to handling them.

READ MORE: https://bowagateglobal.com/2020/03/05/detention-demurrage/

The Office of the Deputy Senate President and the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) are collaborating to end delays in the processing of documents for importation and clearance of charitable goods into Nigeria, as the country faces severe humanitarian concerns.

Distrust by government agencies and perceived importers dishonesty are leading to over regulation of movement of donated items and aids funds from abroad into Nigeria as the population of displaced and vulnerable persons grows by the day.

At a one-day stakeholders consultation on ease of shipping and clearing of charitable items into Nigeria in Lagos on Thursday, organised by the Office of the Deputy Senate President and the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), shippers, customs agents and non-profit organisations (NPOs) lamented that more than half of charitable items donated to charity concerns in Nigeria from organisations abroad face cumbersome documentation requirements that eventually truncate clearance of the goods. The items would later be auctioned, having been abandoned at the ports, while those who need them perish at Nigeria’s many IDPs, hospitals and orphanage homes.

At the end of the technical session, a committee made up critical stakeholders led by the Ministry of Finance and Budget and National Planning was set to develop the Standard Operation Procedure (SOP) for importation of charitable goods into Nigeria.

Other members of the committee include the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, the Federal Ministry of Health (NAFDAC), the International Non-Governmental Organisation in Nigeria forum (I-NGO), the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs Disaster Management and Social Development, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Nigeria Network of NGOs. The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), the Shipping Association of Nigeria (SAN) and the Seaport Terminals Operators Association of Nigeria were also conscripted into the committee.

The committee also has Obiora Madu, an astute business administration scholar and country manager, Malaysian University of Science and Technology (MUST), chairman of the technical session and Farinto Kayode, vice president of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) and member, Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarders of Nigeria (CRFFN) to represent customs agents and freight forwarders in the committee.
Earlier, the deputy president of the Nigerian Senate, Ovie Omo-Agege, said the result of bureaucratic delay in the country importation and tariff exemption processes was that charitable items got entangled in high demurrage charges.

“This is sometimes caused by delays in clearing due to denial of import duty waivers by relevant government ministries/agencies, late application of necessary documents by non-profit organisations, among others. These often cause undue loss of items and financial losses,” he said in a welcome address presented by Princess Modupe Ozolua, SA to the deputy president on NGO/CSO Affairs.

He continued: “It also extends to the denial of, sometimes life-saving relief materials to places they are needed, particularly disease-ravaged areas and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) settlements. And given the present IDP crisis Nigeria now faces, the material and humanitarian losses can only be imagined.

“Charitable items are gifts donated by individuals, organisations or governments to the less privileged, usually through not-for-profit organisations, faith organisations or individuals. The items in turn come in different forms such as clothing, foodstuffs, medications, and assets and services.

“All stakeholders including Civil Society Organisations, other not-for-profit organisations, in concert with the government, must comply with necessary application processes and ensure charitable items are not used for commercial purposes. Rather they should always get to the targeted beneficiaries.

“This is critical because as it seems, import waivers on charitable items have been misused and abused not just by businessmen but also by some non-governmental organizations and civil society organizations. Further, it is also evident that these anomalies do not only affect Nigeria but also some of our neighbors whose consignments of charitable items come through Nigerian ports.”

Also speaking in a welcome address, Hassan Bello, executive secretary of the NSC said Nigerian national assembly were no more only concerned with political and constitutional affairs, but now becoming increasingly lending their hands in economic issues to activate and maintain a more robust economy.

He insisted that there must be a set of clearly mapped out procedures, easy to follow and quick to yield results for the purpose of timely delivery of charitable items donated to Nigerian organisations or foreign humanitarian organisations in Nigeria.

“Clearing of charitable items must have SOP. After many years of losing free gifts from kind organisations, we must now come together deliberate on actions to facilitate clearing of charitable items,” he said.

Also in their goodwill messages, Ibrahim Yahaya Oloriegbe, chairman, senate committee on health and deputy chairman, senate committee on diaspora and NGOs and Kabir Idris, chairman house committee on civil societies and development partners, as well as their colleagues from both chambers, lauded the initiative, even as they provide unflinching support from the national assembly to make appropriate acts for ease of importing charitable goods into Nigeria.

https://www.businessamlive.com/lawmakers-shippers-council-move-to-eliminate-bottlenecks-in-charitable-goods-importation/

For health safety, please read.

The new NCP coronavirus may not show sign of infection for many days then how can one know if he/ she is infected ?
Latest information is that the incubation period may be upto 28 days before the symptoms of COVID 19 are evident.

By the time a person has fever and/or cough and goes to the hospital, the lungs are usually 50 % Fibrosis and it's too late !

Taiwan experts provide a simple self-check that we can do every morning ;

Take a deep breath and hold your breath for more than 10 seconds.
If you complete it successfully without coughing, without discomfort, stuffiness or tightness , etc , it proves there is no fibrosis in the lungs, basically indicating no infection.

In critical times, please self-check every morning in an environment with clean air!

SERIOUS EXCELLENT ADVICE by Japanese doctors treating COVID-19 cases. Everyone should ensure your mouth & throat is moist, never DRY.
Take a few sips of water every 15 mins at least.
WHY ?

Even if the virus does enter into your mouth...drinking water or other liquids will WASH them down through your oesophagus and into the stomach
Once there , your stomach ACID’s will kill all the virus.

If you don't drink enough water more regularly...the virus can enter your windpipes and into the LUNGS.
That's very dangerous.

Pls send and share with family, friends and everyone about this !

Take care everyone & may the world recovers from corona virus soon.

May we all be well protected & happy.

https://guardian.ng/breakingnews/nigeria-confirms-first-case-of-coronavirus/