News

Thousands may miss Ramadan Umrah as S/Arabia fails to issue visas

Published

2 months ago

March 22, 2024

Thousands may miss Ramadan Umrah as S/Arabia fails to issue visas

Thousands of intending pilgrims from Nigeria may miss the 2024 Ramadan Umrah pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia over the decision of the authorities to stop issuing Umrah visas, Daily Trust can report.

Already, the development is fueling anxiety and agitation from intending pilgrims with the Ramadan fasting crossing 11.

Also, hajj and Umrah operators may be exposed to huge financial losses from hotel bookings in Makkah and Madinah in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Daily Trust reliably gathered that several flights meant to convey intending pilgrims for the Umrah exercise are already being cancelled or rescheduled.

A source told our correspondent that a flight that was supposed to depart from Kano to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, with over 300 intending Umrah pilgrims, failed to leave because most of the passengers could not secure their visas.

Daily Trust reports that the Ramadan is an Umrah season in Nigeria and other countries around the world as Muslims strive to spend the last 10 days of the one-month fasting in Saudi Arabia to perform lesser hajj.

But this year, the plan of many Muslims is threatened by the decision of the Saudi authorities not to issue visas to the intending pilgrims with many of them already agitated.

In Kano, hundreds of Umrah intending pilgrims are still waiting to get entry visas to perform lesser hajj.

Agents finger new policy

Some travel agents blamed the situation on a new visa policy introduced by authorities in the Saudi kingdom.

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Kano Zonal Chairman, Association of Hajj and Umrah Operators of Nigeria (AHUON), Haruna Ismail, said the visa policy with three months validity and two weeks duration of stay is responsible for the current slow issuance of the visa for intending Umrah pilgrims.

Ismail said many pilgrims had secured the visa since Rajab (the 7th month in the Islamic calendar) but delayed entry till Ramadan (the 9th month) because the visa has three months validity.

According to him, some pilgrims overstayed their duration in the kingdom because they did not fully understand the concept of three months validity.

“Once a client pays for an Umrah package and his visa is delayed or not given, then we have to either reschedule his ticket or refund his money and either way is a loss,” the agent explained.

Similarly, Abdulaziz Sabitu Mohammed, AHUON Vice Chairman, said more than 7, 000 Umrah intending pilgrims have secured visas but did not enter the kingdom.

He said 260 of his clients have their air tickets ready but no visa yet, adding that only about 40 clients have secured visas for this year’s lesser hajj unlike the previous years.

“From our estimation last year, Saudi Arabia received more than 25 million Umrah pilgrims out of which, three million performed Umrah in Ramadan, but this year, because of the new visa policy, three months validity and duration of stay of two weeks instead of one month, made many to overstay in the Kingdom. There were people who visited since Sha’aban (8th month) and stayed after performing the Umrah,” he said.

Mohammed said they have discussed the issue with the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, and hopefully, before the middle of Ramadan, the problem will be resolved.

Thousands may miss Ramadan Umrah as S/Arabia fails to issue visas

News

Ohanaeze Ndigbo President-General raises alarm over threats to his life

Published

12 hours ago

May 9, 2024

Trends Admin

Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu

Ohanaeze Ndigbo President-General raises alarm over threats to his life

Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has expressed concern over threats to his life by individuals he described as anti-Igbo. He revealed that there have been plans to either kill him or burn his house due to his leadership of Ndigbo.

Addressing a press conference in Enugu, Iwuanyanwu highlighted the dangers he faced, mentioning the death of his predecessor, Prof George Obiozor, and an attempt on another ex-leader’s life. He recounted receiving information about people hired to attack him but assured that he remained undeterred in his commitment to serving his people.

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Iwuanyanwu lamented being confronted by such threats despite his efforts to serve his people, citing his extensive career and scholarship schemes that benefited thousands of youths. He recalled the fate of late Prof. Joe Irukwu, who faced similar accusations of working against the interest of Igboland.

Despite the challenges, Iwuanyanwu reaffirmed his determination to serve Ndigbo and vowed not to yield to intimidation.

Ohanaeze Ndigbo President-General raises alarm over threats to his life

News

Rivers crisis festers as new factional Speaker emerges

Published

13 hours ago

May 9, 2024

Trends Admin

Goodboy Sokari

Rivers crisis festers as new factional Speaker emerges

A new speaker has emerged in Rivers State Wednesday May 8, 2024, to signal the much-awaited showdown in state’s deteriorating political crisis which seems to be here.

Already, hidden cards or fists are appearing every hour to show that both the Nyesom Wike camp and the Governor Siminalayi Fubara camp have been preparing for it.

The Wike camp through the Rivers State caretaker committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) led by Tony Okocha yesterday gave go-ahead for impeachment action against the governor. The one they one the 27 defected lawmakers loyal to Wike initiated on October 30, 2023, failed when Gov Fubara fought back until a temporary ceasefire was achieved in Aso Rock with an 8-point agreement signed by both parties but largely observed in breach.

Now, it seems both camps have rearmed and may be ready for the final showdown that may make Rivers State tense in the coming days, to say the least.

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The APC has directed that impeachment begin immediately; the next day, the Fubara camp announced their own Speaker, Victor Oko Jumbo from Bonny; same day, hints emerge that screening of LGA caretaker committee members may be going on.

On the other hand, the local councils have staged protests saying their monthly allocations have been withheld. Pressure is thus mounting from that angle covering the 23 local council areas.

The purported screening may lead to appointment of caretaker committees of the 23 LGAs in the state who would get the monthly allocations and hit the ground running.

This action would provoke what the Wike-backed APC group said they would resist. They may begin their own action in the form of impeachment proceedings which the Fubara camp (Rivers State government) said they would resist.

These acts of resistance may plunge the state into violence and make it ungovernable. At that point, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who has remained silent since the peace agreement, may unveil the sanctions he had threatened would descend on any person who breached the agreement. Each camp points to the other as the one breaching the agreements. Each clings to Tinubu as the favourite.

The battle seems timed to ensure that the one year anniversary is hindered.

Rivers crisis festers as new factional Speaker emerges

News

Cybersecurity levy suspension tears lawmakers apart, speaker overrules

Published

13 hours ago

May 9, 2024

Trends Admin

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen

Cybersecurity levy suspension tears lawmakers apart, speaker overrules

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, intervened on Wednesday to halt a motion calling for the suspension of the controversial cybersecurity levy, which has sparked widespread dissatisfaction among Nigerians.

Since the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) mandated all banks to deduct 0.5% of the value of electronic transactions from customers, Nigerians from various sectors have vehemently opposed the levy, labelling it an additional financial burden.

During Wednesday’s plenary session, Manu Soro, a lawmaker from Bauchi State, presented the motion, citing concerns about the timing of the levy’s introduction amidst Nigeria’s prevailing economic challenges.

Soro argued that imposing new taxes or increasing existing ones amid the current economic difficulties exacerbated by the removal of fuel subsidies and currency depreciation would only add to citizens’ financial woes.

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He called on the House to urge the CBN to retract the circular on the cybersecurity levy and halt its implementation immediately. Additionally, he urged the Minister of Finance to refrain from introducing new taxes or raising existing rates until the economic situation improves significantly.

However, Speaker Abbas advised Soro to temporarily withdraw the motion to allow the House leadership to deliberate on the best course of action to address the issue.

In a related development, the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) threatened to shut down the economy over the plan to implement the cybersecurity levy on electronic transactions. TUC’s president, Mr. Festus Osifo, criticized the levy as illogical, particularly given the current economic challenges faced by Nigerians. He warned that its implementation could worsen poverty and deepen the economic crisis in the country.