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Israel-Hamas: Pilgrims commission dumps Jerusalem for Rome, Greece
Israel-Hamas: Pilgrims commission dumps Jerusalem for Rome, Greece
The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission, Rev Yakubu Pam, has said that the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas has necessitated the change from visits to Biblical sites in Israel and Jordan to sites in Greece and Rome.
Pam made this known on Wednesday while addressing journalists in Abuja and emphasised that the security and welfare of the pilgrims remained the prime concern of the NCPC.
He noted that the commission had suspended the December 2023 pilgrimage to Israel due to the same concerns, adding that after a prolonged wait for the Israel/Hamas conflict, which began on October 7, to be over, he had personally led a research team to assess and inspect accommodation facilities and existing Biblical sites in Greece and Rome.
“I have led NCPC teams to inspect holy sites across Greece and Rome. We have discussed extensively with government and local authorities and security. Accommodation and good hospitality are assured as the very first batch of Nigerian Christian pilgrims visit these places to connect physically with New Testament locations of the gospel and do spiritual exercises, including meditation and prayers for our dear nation.
“Also, arrangements for smooth flight, good meals and local transportation have been concluded for the 2023/2024 main pilgrimage; state governments, state offices of Christian Pilgrims Welfare Boards, churches and individuals have been formally informed about the modalities and the N3m cost that only requires some augmentation of payment previously made for the Israel/Jordan trip,” he said.
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Pam explained that the new pilgrimage sites will include places where Apostle Paul, otherwise known as Saint Paul, passionately spread the teachings of Jesus Christ, converting polytheists and idol worshippers through extensive physical journeys and remarkable contributions that remain very significant parts of the New Testament to date.
The NCPC also stated that the new N3m pilgrimage cost covering return flight ticket, hotel accommodation, three-course meal per day, and tours of holy sites in executive luxury buses for six nights and seven days, was exclusive of pilgrims’ travelling allowances while states and private pilgrims were expected to meet up with payments before the last day of January 2024.
Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu, on Wednesday, approved the appointment of nine members to serve on the board of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission.
Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, revealed this in a statement titled ‘President Tinubu appoints new board of Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission.’
The new appointees include Colonel Aloche Adole as Chairman, Dr. Stephen Adegbite as Secretary, Mrs Omowumi Ogunlola as member, South-West, Clement Nweke as member, South-East and Prince Wosu as Member, South-South.
Others are Prof. Joseph Mamman as member, North-West, Dr. Toma Ragnjiya, member, North-East, Dr. Simon Dolly, member, North-Central and Raphael Nwankwo representing the Christian Association of Nigeria.
According to Ngelale, the President charged the new appointees to “consider their appointment as an opportunity to serve the nation and, as such, wholly commit themselves to this important purpose.”
Israel-Hamas: Pilgrims commission dumps Jerusalem for Rome, Greece
News
Yahaya Bello govt spending third term in office through Ododo – Clark
Yahaya Bello govt spending third term in office through Ododo – Clark
Elder statesman, Chief Edwin Clark, says the former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, administration was nothing to write home about.
This is even as he asked the embattled former governor to surrender himself to the authorities.
Bello has been in the news for days on end over money laundering and financial impropriety.
He was declared wanted after he evaded the economic and financial crimes commission (EFCC) who had stormed his Abuja residence to apprehend him.
Speaking on Bello’s time as the governor of the middle belt state, Clark, who is the leader of the Pan Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF, stated that state sponsored violence, corruption, civilian repression and political killings were rife when Bello was in office.
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Clark also pointed out that Bello is still running the show in Kogi state as he is currently spending third term in power through the incumbent governor, Ododo, who he planted in office.
“Yahaya Bello is just being stubborn. He has been living very very rough…having a very rough government, corruption, killing of people in the place during elections and so on,” Clark said during an interview on Arise TV on Thursday.
“There’s time for everything and it has come for him to answer questions. He should go to court. He should go to court to answer the substance of the case, where did he get the money from?
“Is it true or not that the money he paid to the American school belongs to him or belongs to the government of Kogi State?
“The behaviour of the new Governor shows Yahaya Bello is in power for the third time. Ahmed Ododo is just running after him.
“I just want to plead with Ododo to do the needful so that the youth in this country will have something to fall upon.”
Yahaya Bello govt spending third term in office through Ododo – Clark
News
‘Unfounded accusation’ – Obi slams Umahi over instigation of Igbo against Tinubu claim
‘Unfounded accusation’ – Obi slams Umahi over instigation of Igbo against Tinubu claim
Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi, says he is not in the business of whipping up ethnic sentiments or amplifying Nigeria’s fault lines to gain socio-political mileage.
Obi said this reaction to comment made by the Minister of Works, David Umahi, at an event on Wednesday on the Lagos-Calabar road project.
Obi has been vocal in his criticism of the road project, calling it a misplaced priority as it is not what Nigeria needs at a time of lean resources and plethora of challenges begging for drastic solution.
Umahi while speaking at the event said Obi’s position on the Lagos-Calabar coastal road project amounted to pitting Nigerians of Eastern extraction, who are majorly Igbos, against the government of President Bola Tinubu.
He also accused Obi of demolishing property without compensating those affected when he was Anambra governor, Obi was inciting South Easterners against the government
“When His Excellency Peter Obi was the governor. He made a statement saying, “Any infrastructure that stands in the way of the road must go. And there would be no compensation paid.” That’s what he said,” Umahi said.
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“And I think he’s inciting some of the South-East people that are not well informed. He is inciting them. And gets them into trouble,” he added
Reacting to Umahi’s allegation of divisiveness and sedition in a statement on Wednesday, Obi opined that he is a preacher of peace and advocate of unity who always wants what is best for the country.
Obi, who described criticisms that he is inciting Igbo against Tinubu’s government as baseless, stated that he won’t wallow in the murky water of divisive ethnic politics like many of his contemporaries and opponents do.
He stated, “My focus is on fostering constructive dialogue and inclusivity, rather than engaging in divisive politics, Claims of incitement are baseless distractions. I have always advocated unity and advancement, refusing to partake in reactionary divisive politics.
“I refuse to be reduced to the level of those who wallow in ethnic politics. Worse still, I have never and can never descend so low as to base my political aspirations on any sectional or ethnic interest.”
The former Anambra governor also said there were no comparisons between the demolition he did when he was governor and what the Tinubu-led government was currently doing.
‘Unfounded accusation’ – Obi slams Umahi over instigation of Igbo against Tinubu claim
News
NDIC jacks up deposit insurance cover from N500,000 to N5m
NDIC jacks up deposit insurance cover from N500,000 to N5m
The Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) has announced a significant increase in the maximum deposit insurance coverage levels for Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) and other financial institutions, effective immediately.
During a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, NDIC Managing Director Bello Hassan disclosed, “For Deposit Money Banks, the increase of the maximum deposit insurance coverage from N500,000 to N5,000,000, would provide full coverage of 98.98% of the total depositors compared with the current cover of 89.20%. In terms of the value of deposit covered, the revised coverage would increase the value of deposits covered by deposit insurance to 25.37% compared with the current cover of 6.31% of the total value of deposits.”
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Hassan further explained, “The increase of the maximum deposit insurance coverage for primary mortgage banks from N500,000 to N2,000,000 would provide full coverage of 99.99% of the total number of depositors and would increase the value of deposits covered by deposit insurance to 43.10% of the total value deposits from the current cover of 40.60%.”
Additionally, Hassan noted, “The increase of the maximum deposit insurance coverage for subscribers of Mobile Money Operators from N500,000 to N5,000,000 per subscriber.”
NDIC jacks up deposit insurance cover from N500,000 to N5m
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