Hajj: NAHCON proposes May 6 for inaugural airlift

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has proposed May 6th for the inaugural airlift of Nigerian pilgrims for the 2025 Hajj.

Speaking at the signing of agreement with selected airlines to participate in the Hajj operations, on Monday in Abuja, NAHCON’s Commissioner for Operations, Inspectorate and License, Prince Anofi Elegushi, said this is to prepare the airlines for premium service for Nigerian pilgrims during the airlift operations.

It would be recalled that the commission had announced Max Air, Air Peace, UMZA Airline and FlyNas as the selected airlines to airlift the 52,000 pilgrims under the state allocation.

Speaking during the event, Elegushi urged the airlines to ensure no hiccup in the exercise.

He added that this year’s operations would see payment made promptly but will be in naira for Nigerian carriers and Saudi riyal for the sole Saudi carrier.

“We are trying to do away with the dollar component. What we want to do is to pay in the local currency of all the airlines. And the payment will be made according to the current rate per dollar during the instalment payment period.”

“So, as the chairman promised earlier, that payment will be made promptly. The tenure of you waiting endlessly for you to get your payment is over.

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“Also, the percentage of payment that will be made will be enough for you to finish the operation and after the operation, a little reconciliation, and then the balance will be paid immediately as we too are much more concerned about, you know, sudden increments in the dollar rates. So that’s why we’ll make all the payment very snappy within the period.”

Speaking earlier, NAHCON’s Chairman, Prof. Abdullahi Usman Saleh, said the airlift of pilgrims is one of the most significant aspects of the Hajj operation.

“It requires absolute professionalism, efficiency and dedication. This process is not just about transportation; it is about fulfilling a spiritual obligation with dignity, safety and comfort.”

He said the airlines engaged have undergone a thorough selection process based on merit, reliability and proven capacity.

“NAHCON was careful in ensuring that only the most competent, well-equipped and passenger-friendly airlines are entrusted with this noble task.

“Your experience and track record in handling large-scale operations, especially Hajj-related services, have given us confidence in your ability to deliver a smooth Hajj airlift.”

He reminded them that pilgrims’ comfort, safety and convenience remain paramount from pre-boarding services to in-flight experience and post-arrival logistics, adding that” We expect nothing short of excellence.”

Hajj: NAHCON proposes May 6 for inaugural airlift

Nigeria, UAE meet over visa restrictions

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced that the Federal Government and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will resolve issues related to visa procurement for Nigerians seeking to travel to the UAE.

The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Mrs Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, made this known in a statement following the visit of Amb. Salem Alshamsi, the UAE Ambassador to Nigeria.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu explained that the decision was made during a meeting with Alshamsi.

She acknowledged that Nigerians had faced difficulties in obtaining UAE visas, especially tourism visas.

This challenge, according to her, persisted in spite of the warm diplomatic relations and strategic partnerships between the two countries.

“Nigeria has remained committed to the relationship. The city of Dubai in the UAE has become a popular destination for many Nigerians.

“Officially, about 12,000 Nigerians live in the UAE, ranging from unskilled workers to professionals and students across various institutions,” she said.

She noted that in 2015, nearly a million Nigerians visited the UAE, particularly Dubai, spending between 100 million dollars to 150 million dollars on visas alone, and more than 1 billion dollars on shopping, school fees, tourism, and other activities.

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Odumegwu-Ojukwu stressed the need for a more balanced economic relationship between both countries.

The minister further mentioned concerns regarding the current visa status for the UAE, noting that even some top Nigerian government officials had raised their concerns.

She also pointed out that a joint commission between the two countries was due after the one hosted by the UAE in 2022.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu expressed appreciation to the UAE government for their recent donation of relief materials to flood victims in Nigeria, as well as vaccines for chickenpox patients to support Nigeria’s health institutions.

“There is a need to communicate the new visa policy, if any, to Nigerians.

“We want to reciprocate by hosting the joint commission in Nigeria, where we will address various bilateral issues, including power, renewable energy, and more,” she said.

Alshamsi congratulated Odumegwu-Ojukwu on her appointment and lauded the progress made in the 50-year Nigeria-UAE relationship.

He acknowledged that visas for both government officials and private individuals had been issued over the past year and a half, with the process handled by an appointed agent.

He assured that the UAE was committed to resolving the visa challenges faced by Nigerians and emphasised that both countries would work together to foster stronger economic partnerships.

“We have issued more than 700 tourism visas since July 2024, and I have had zero visa rejections since I assumed office,” Alshamsi stated.

He also promised to continue signing agreements to further strengthen bilateral ties, with a major agreement expected to be signed ahead of the Nigerian president’s visit to the UAE in the second quarter of 2025.

Nigeria, UAE meet over visa restrictions

(NAN)

Only Anambra rejected bad W”Bank loan, 35 states shared $438m – Soludo

Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Charles Soludo, has stated that he pulled the state out of the World Bank loan arrangement because it is not of Anambra’s interest.

Soludo made this revelation over the weekend when the leadership of the late Ifeanyi Ubah political groups, along with some Nollywood actors and actresses, toured the ongoing construction of the Government House in Awka North Local Government Area.

Addressing the groups, the governor said Anambra is the only state in Nigeria that pulled out of the existing World Bank loan arrangement.

According to him, the terms and conditions of the loans were not favorable to the people of Anambra.

“When I came in as governor and looked at the terms and conditions of those loans, I said it was not favorable to our people. This is a bad deal for my people. However, one could say, ‘Let me collect the loans; after all, it is the next generation that will pay.’ I don’t have that kind of conscience. I felt the terms were a bad deal for Ndi Anambra, and I told them we don’t need it. Late last year, they shared 438 million dollars among 35 states in Nigeria, but Anambra State was the only state that did not collect. We don’t need to continue to mortgage the state with such loans,” he said.

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Soludo emphasized that he needs money to fund government projects, but not the kind that mortgages the future of the state and its unborn children.

He also pointed out that Anambra State is the only state in Nigeria where the governor’s lodge is located outside the capital, and the government house has been in a makeshift building provided by a construction company for 34 years.

According to him, the present government house is owned by the company that constructed the Enugu-Onitsha expressway.

Soludo further stated that for 34 years, Anambra had no government house and no governor’s lodge.

However, the state is building one of the best government houses, with 34 buildings sitting on 23 heactres of land, noting that the building can last for 250 years.

He also disclosed that he has not borrowed any money to fund the construction of the ongoing government house and other projects in the state, adding that any money handed to him on behalf of the state must be judiciously utilized for the good of the people of Anambra State.