metro
Hajj fare: Why NAHCON charged pilgrims additional $100 each
Hajj fare: Why NAHCON charged pilgrims additional $100 each
Despite repeated assurances to the contrary, the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has resorted to charging additional $100 each from the 75,000 states pilgrims because of the Sudan’s civil war.
The local air carriers had earlier demanded an increase per pilgrim as additional cost occasioned by additional flight time to Saudi Arabia because of the closure of the Sudan air space. Consequently, $250 was agreed between the carriers and commission after the negotiations.
The commission said the federal government has waived the remaining 35 percent aviation charges (having waived 65 percent earlier), which translates to $55.
“The liability of the remaining $195 will be borne by 75,000 pilgrims which is calculated at $117 per pilgrim (one hundred and seventeen Dollars),” the commission said in a letter dated May 18, signed by NAHCON chairman and CEO Zikirullah Kunle Hassan, and sent to the state governors and the Minister of State for FCT Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu; and copied the executive secretaries of the state pilgrims boards.
The commission, according to the official communications, said it will deduct $100 each from the $800 Basic Traveling Allowance (BTA) of the pilgrims.
Parts of the letter reads, “the Commission resolved to reduce the Basic Travelling Allowance (BTA) for 2023 Haj Pilgrims to the sum of $700 (Seven hundred Dollars) as against Eight Hundred Dollars ($800.00) previously provided.”
READ ALSO:
- Buhari to inaugurate rail wagon assembly plant in Ogun today
- Gunmen abduct Catholic Priest in Imo
- How suspected vigilantes killed 11 herders, women, children in Oyo community
This newspaper had earlier reported plans by the hajj commission to deduct the fare increase from the pilgrims BTA. But on Saturday May 13, Mr Hassan, during his opening remarks at the Opening Ceremony and Dinner of a One- Day Workshop Seminar on Hajj Management, impliedly denied that, saying the commission will not ask pilgrims to make any increment.
The air ticket component of the 2023 hajj fare for northern states was pegged at $1,780 (N826, 810 at N464.5/$ official exchange rate). While the southern states pay $1, 950 (N898,000).
With the $250 increment now, the flight ticket will rise to $2,030 (N942,935) for northern pilgrims, and $2,200 (N1,021,900) for southern pilgrims.
However, findings by this newspaper revealed that an average return ticket from Abuja to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia through Egypt Air cost N887,502; while the same return ticket cost N538,841 on Ethiopian Airlines.
Aviation experts told this newspaper that this makes Nigerian hajj flight ticket one of the most expensive in the world.
This is clear from the way it surpassed the return ticket being charged by Ethiopian Air (N538,841); and Egypt Air’s N887,502 to Jeddah and Madinah.
Also, both Ethiopian and Egypt airlines are equally spending almost 7 hours flight time to Jeddah/ Madinah from Nigeria due to the Sudan conflict which is the raison d’être for the $250 hike.
In the letter, NAHCON said all the BTA of the 75,000 pilgrims will be deducted and share to the four local airlines – Max Air, Air Peace, Azman Air and Aero Contractors.- that refused to sign the airlift agreement because of the Sudan conflict.
The Saudi Arabian -designated airline Flynas, which was the only carrier that signed the agreement despite the conflict in Sudan, was surprisingly excluded from the sharing even though its over 28,000 allocated pilgrims from Lagos, Ogun, Osun, Oyo, Niger, Zamfara, Sokoto and Kebbi states will be affected by the $100 deduction.
It was reliably gathered that state executive secretaries of the nine states allocated to Flynas are planning a showdown with NAHCON tomorrow Monday. They vow to resist the commission plans to deduct their pilgrims BTA and give to other airlines that won’t airlift their pilgrims, a source said.
Aviation stakeholders have criticized NAHCON over this arbitrary decision, saying “why deducting Flynas pilgrims BTA to share it to others.”
Hajj fare: Why NAHCON charged pilgrims additional $100 each
metro
EFCC Drags Fuji Musician to Court Over Alleged ₦21.2m Fraud
EFCC Drags Fuji Musician to Court Over Alleged ₦21.2m Fraud
LAGOS, Nigeria – The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned a Fuji musician, Felix Duke Osagie, before a Lagos State court over an alleged ₦21.2 million fraud.
The musician was reportedly arraigned on Thursday before Justice Ismail Ijelu in connection with allegations of financial fraud, according to a report published on the EFCC’s social media platform.
The arraignment marks another high-profile case involving the anti-graft agency’s investigation and prosecution of alleged financial crimes.
However, details of the charge, including how the musician allegedly obtained the money, the identity of the complainant and the specific transactions involved, were not visible in the available excerpt.
EFCC Drags Fuji Musician to Court Over Alleged ₦21.2m Fraud
metro
‘Tinubu Graduated in 1979, You Arrived in 1985’: Omowaiye Challenges Pearse Over CSU Claims
‘Tinubu Graduated in 1979, You Arrived in 1985′: Omowaiye Challenges Pearse Over CSU Claims
ABUJA, Nigeria – A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Oluremi Omowaiye, has challenged Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Dr Adetokunbo Pearse, over his claims concerning President Bola Tinubu’s academic records, drawing attention to their respective educational backgrounds.
Omowaiye’s reaction followed Pearse’s recent television interview in which the former Chicago State University (CSU) lecturer questioned Tinubu’s attendance at the American institution and alleged that the President never studied there.
Pearse had claimed that he worked at Chicago State University between 1985 and 1990 and served as the director of the programme Tinubu reportedly attended.
However, Omowaiye dismissed the claim, arguing that Tinubu had graduated from the university in 1979, six years before Pearse said he began working there.
According to Omowaiye, the timeline raises questions about Pearse’s assertion that he directed the programme attended by the President.
The APC chieftain also questioned Pearse’s academic background, pointing to his reported studies in English at Bayero University, Kano, and subsequent academic pursuits at the University of Sheffield and the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he reportedly obtained a doctorate in Contemporary African Literature.
Omowaiye argued that Pearse’s academic specialisation was in English and the humanities rather than Accounting, the discipline Tinubu studied at Chicago State University.
On Tinubu’s educational records, Omowaiye cited the October 2023 testimony of Chicago State University’s Registrar, Caleb Westberg, during legal proceedings in the United States.
Westberg testified that Tinubu attended the institution between August 1977 and June 1979 and graduated on June 22, 1979, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, majoring in Accounting.
The testimony was accompanied by university documents presented during the proceedings.
Omowaiye also maintained that the controversy surrounding Tinubu’s academic qualifications had been addressed by the Nigerian Supreme Court.
The APC chieftain reportedly gave Pearse seven days to retract his allegations and apologise publicly, threatening legal action and petitions to the Inspector-General of Police and the Director-General of the Department of State Services if he failed to comply.
He said his intervention was motivated by concerns about the spread of claims concerning the President’s educational background, particularly among young Nigerians.
The controversy followed Pearse’s appearance on News Central Television, where he questioned the President’s academic history and accused the Minister of Education of misleading Nigerians over Tinubu’s educational records.
However, Pearse’s allegations remain disputed, particularly in view of the testimony and documentary evidence presented by Chicago State University during the 2023 US court proceedings.
The latest exchange has further intensified political arguments surrounding Tinubu’s educational qualifications as political activities gradually gather momentum ahead of the 2027 general elections.
‘Tinubu Graduated in 1979, You Arrived in 1985’: Omowaiye Challenges Pearse Over CSU Claims
metro
Schoolboy Foils Kidnap Attempt After Suspect Uses Father’s Name to Lure Him
Schoolboy Foils Kidnap Attempt After Suspect Uses Father’s Name to Lure Him
EDJEKOTA-OGOR, DELTA STATE — A schoolboy identified as Marvellous has reportedly escaped a suspected kidnapping attempt after a commercial motorcycle rider allegedly tried to lure him away by claiming that his father had sent him.
The incident occurred in Edjekota-Ogor community in Delta State, where the unidentified motorcycle rider reportedly approached the boy and attempted to gain his confidence by mentioning his father’s name.
The suspect allegedly told Marvellous that his father had instructed him to pick him up, apparently hoping to deceive the young boy into following him.
However, Marvellous reportedly became suspicious of the rider’s claim and refused to go with him, thereby foiling what could have been an abduction.
Following the incident, community leaders reportedly intervened to ensure the boy’s safety and facilitate his return to his family.
The President-General of Edjekota-Ogor community subsequently directed the community’s Secretary-General to take necessary steps to protect the boy and reunite him with his relatives.
READ ALSO:
- NELFUND Loan: How Parents Can Stop Children from Collecting School Fees Twice
- N52,500 Minimum Pension: PenCom Gives States Condition to Secure Benefits for Retirees
- Gombe Political Tension: Pantami Defies Burning Tyres, Roadblocks as Convoy Comes Under Attack
Acting on the directive, the Secretary-General reportedly contacted members of Marvellous’s family and successfully ensured that he was returned safely to his relieved parents.
The incident has drawn attention to the need for increased vigilance among parents, guardians and community members over the safety of children.
Parents have been urged to educate their children never to follow anyone, including familiar-looking strangers, without first confirming such arrangements directly with them.
Children should also be taught not to rely solely on someone mentioning their parents’ names as proof of familiarity or authority.
The identity and whereabouts of the suspected motorcycle rider were not disclosed in the account of the incident.
Schoolboy Foils Kidnap Attempt After Suspect Uses Father’s Name to Lure Him
-
metro3 days agoFayose Petitions IGP, Threatens Lawsuit Over Rape, Torture Allegations
-
News3 days agoDespite Tegbe’s 72-Hour Promise, Nigerians Still Battle Power Outages
-
metro2 days agoCourt Orders Final Forfeiture Of 48 Properties Worth N212bn Linked To Malami
-
metro3 days agoThree Broken-Down Trucks Paralyse Abuja-Kaduna Highway, Travellers Spend Eight Hours in Gridlock
-
International2 days agoUS Lawmakers to Hold Fresh Hearing on Nigeria’s Insecurity, Christian Killings
-
Auto2 days agoAfter-Sales Support Will Define Future of Nigeria’s Auto Industry – Carloha Marketing Chief
-
International3 days agoTrump Makes Stunning Admission: ‘I Will Always Hate Some of My Enemies’
-
News3 days agoEdo APC Chieftain Hacked to Death by Son Over Alleged Prophecy