News
Hajj 2023: NAHCON advance team departs for Saudi Arabia
Hajj 2023: NAHCON advance team departs for Saudi Arabia
Ahead of the commencement of the 2023 Hajj airlift operations, a team of 31 officials of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), on Sunday, departed for Saudi Arabia from the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja, as members of advance team to this year’s pilgrimage exercise.
The team, made up of members of the national reception team, national medical team, accommodation and feeding committees, will be in Saudi Arabia for the final preparation to receive the first set of intending Nigerian pilgrims from Nasarawa State, who would be arriving the Kingdom on Thursday, May 25 for the 2023 Holy Pilgrimage.
The team, which will among other things, organise and coordinate the reception, accommodation, feeding and transportation, health and general welfare of the pilgrims in the Holy land throughout the period of the spiritual exercise, is led by the NAHCON deputy director of Training, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris.
READ ALSO:
- JUST-IN: Explosion kills 4 in Sokoto
-
Many travellers killed, others trapped in tanker fire on Lokoja-Abuja road
-
Arteta blames Liverpool for collapse as Arsenal manager takes responsibility, congratulates City
At a brief farewell ceremony held at the Hajj House before their departure to the Holy Land, the chairman/CEO of NAHCON, Alhaji Zikrullah Kunle Hassan, described Hajj as a global issue, whose aim is to establish unity among the Ummah and, therefore, enjoined the officials to take their job seriously by identifying the best goals and methods to achieve success in their assignments, which is for the pilgrims to enjoy value for their money and obtain Hajj Mabrur.
“You must be diligent, committed, vigilant and particularly, you must have patience and act in the right manner at all times, so that at the end, you can achieve the benefit of here and the hereafter,” he said.
The NAHCON chairman, in a statement by the
deputy director of Information and Publications, Alhaji Mousa Ubandanwaki, said in spite of the challenge posed by the Sudan crises, the Commission was able to fulfill its promise and was on course to ensure that the inaugural flight set for Thursday, May 25 remained sacrosanct.
Alhaji Hassan further prayed to the Almighty Allah to assist the Commission in making this year’s Hajj the best experience for the Commission and the Muslim Ummah.
Also speaking at the event, the Commissioner in charge of Policy, Personnel, Management and Finance (PPMF), Alhaji Nura Hassan Yakasai, described the event as epoch, stressing that it marked the beginning of 2023 Hajj operation.
READ ALSO:
- Abuja CCTV project: Account for $460m Chinese loan, court orders Buhari govt
-
Sack fever grips NCAA, NAMA heads, after FAAN MD, directors’ removal
-
65-yr-old man, 60-yr-old brother allegedly rape teen stepdaughter, infect womb
He described the Advance Team as the foundation on which the success of this year’s Hajj will be built.
“If it is very strong, then the rest of the structure will be solid. Therefore I want to enjoin you to discharge your duties with utmost sense of responsibility and I want to assure you of the Commission’s support for your team to achieve the desired objectives,” he said.
In the same vein, the Commissioner in charge of Planning, Research, Statistics and Library Services (PRSILS), Sheikh Suleiman Momoh, enjoined the team members to pray for the success of the Hajj exercise when they get to the Holy land.
“I just have one request for you and that is, when you get to Madina, please go and pray for the success of this year’s Hajj,” he pleaded.
Responding on behalf of the Team, Alhaji Tajudeen Akande and Dr. Galadima expressed appreciation to the Management for the trust and confidence reposed in them and assured of their determination and readiness to make this year’s Hajj more successful than previous years.
“On behalf of the team, I want to thank the Management for the support extended to us, we will put in our best to ensure we achieve success,” said Akande.
News
Late COAS Lagbaja gets CFR honour, buried amid tributes
Late COAS Lagbaja gets CFR honour, buried amid tributes
The late Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. General Taoreed Lagbaja, was on Friday laid to rest in Abuja, amid tears and tributes.
President Bola Tinubu conferred a posthumous award of the Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) on the late Chief of Army Staff.
The burial took place at the National Cemetery in Abuja to end two days of funeral rites that began in Lagos earlier in the week.
His body was lowered into the grave at exactly 4:41pm after the ceremony that lasted over two hours.
Lagbaja’s casket, draped in Nigeria’s green and white colours, arrived at the cemetery around 3pm in a white funeral wagon after a funeral service at the National Christian Centre in Abuja.
Dignitaries were led to the event by President Bola Tinubu. Others are Vice President Kashim Shettima; the Acting Chief of Army Staff, Lt.Gen. Olufemi Oluyede; the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa; Minister of Defence, Abubakar Badaru, and other top government officials and military brass.
President Tinubu announced the conferment of the CFR on the late COAS during the interment at the National Cemetery in Abuja.
The President extolled the virtues of the late warrior, especially his contributions to national security.
According to him, the appointment of Lagbaja as the COAS was one of his finest made so far.
“As an eternal symbol of our appreciation, I have granted the late Chief of Army Staff, the posthumous national honour of the Commander of the Federal Republic of the Niger (CFR),” Tinubu declared.
He thereafter invited the wife of the late COAS, Mariya, to collect the award on behalf of the Lagbaja family amid applause from the congregation.
News
Supreme Court dismisses 16 govs suit challenging EFCC legality
Supreme Court dismisses 16 govs suit challenging EFCC legality
The Supreme Court has dismissed the suit by 16 states challenging the constitutionality of the acts establishing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and two others.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the other agencies are the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU).
In the lead judgment by Justice Uwani Abba-Aji delivered on Friday, the Supreme Court resolved the six issues raised for determination in the suit against the plaintiffs.
The court held that the laws establishing the anti-corruption agencies were validly enacted by the National Assembly within its legislative competence.
It faulted the claim by the plaintiffs that the EFCC Act, being a product of the United Nations convention on corruption, ought to be ratified by majority of the state houses of assembly.
Delivering judgement on Friday, Justice Abba-Aji ruled that “the EFCC Act, which was not established from a treaty but a convention, does not need the ratification of the houses of assembly.”
News
Executive Secretary FCDA Hadi Ahmad suspended indefinitely
Executive Secretary FCDA Hadi Ahmad suspended indefinitely
Executive Secretary, Federal Capital Development Authority FCDA, Engr. Shehu Hadi Ahmad, has been suspended indefinitely.
His suspicion was on the order of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media to the Minister, Lere Olayinka, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday evening.
No reason was given for the suspension.
Ahmad was directed to hand over to the Director, Engineering Services in the FCDA.
The statement read: “The Executive Secretary, Federal Capital Development Authority FCDA, Engr. Shehu Hadi Ahmad, has been suspended indefinitely.
“According to a statement on Thursday, by Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media to the Minister of Federal Capital Territory FCT, Nyesom Wike, the suspension of Engr Hadi Ahmad is with immediate effect.
“The suspended Executive Secretary has consequently been directed to hand over to the Director of Engineering Services, Engr in the FCDA.”
-
Sports1 day agoBREAKING: Super Eagles qualify for AFCON 2025
-
Aviation1 day agoDisaster averted as bird strike hits Abuja-Lagos Air Peace flight
-
metro16 hours agoCourt orders varsity to pay lecturer N40m compensation for wrongful dismissal
-
Education2 days ago12-year-old Nigerian girl Eniola Shokunbi invents air filter to reduce spread of diseases in US schools
-
Opinion15 hours agoApomu king turns warmonger for PDP
-
Politics3 days agoWhy I can’t form coalition with Peter Obi – Sowore
-
News1 day agoEdo Gov Okpebholo freezes govt accounts, reverses ministry’s name
-
metro1 day agoWe are understaffed, ICPC boss laments