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Pray for Nigeria’s progress, envoy urges pilgrims, hails Lagos team

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L-R: Chairman/CEO, National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) Alh. Zikhrullah Kunle Hassan; Consular General, Nigerian Embassy in Saudi Arabia/Ambassador of Nigeria to Sudan, Ambassador Bello Kasaure; former Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Islamic matters, Alh. Ahmad Abdullahi Jebe; Ambassador of Nigeria to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Ambassador Yahya Lawal and Lagos State 2023 Amir-ul-Hajj, Prince Anofiu Olanrewaju Elegushi, during the courtesy visit of the Ambassador and NAHCON team to the Lagos tent in Mina, Saudi Arabia, on Thursday.

Pray for Nigeria’s progress, envoy urges pilgrims, hails Lagos team

 

Nigeria’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Amb. Yahya Lawal, has urged the pilgrims performing this year’s Hajj to pray for the progress, stability, peace, security and well-being of Nigeria.
Ambassador Lawal gave the charge when he led a delegation including the Consular-General and Nigeria’s Ambassador to Sudan, Amb. Bello Kazaure; the Chairman/CEO National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) Alhaji Zikhrullah Kunle Hassan, on a courtesy visit to the Lagos tent in Mina, Saudi, last Thursday.
He described Lagos State pilgrims as one of the most disciplined during the 2023 Hajj.
This is contained in a statement by Assistant Director, Public Affairs, Lagos State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Taofeek Lawal.
The diplomat extended the best wishes of President Bola Tinubu to the entire pilgrims from the state.
He also said that the delegation paid the visit based on the directive of the President.
He said, “The President requested that the team should visit the pilgrims and we are impressed with their exemplary conduct which was a reflection of the effective and efficient work the Amir-ul-Hajj and other officials of the state government have put in place”.
On his part, the Chairman/CEO of NAHCON, Alhaji Hassan, absolved Lagos State of any blame in respect of the challenges faced by the pilgrims over inadequate allocation of bed spaces and meals in Mina.
He said neither NAHCON nor the state officials had any blame.
The NAHCON boss however apologised to the pilgrims for all the shortcomings and difficulties they had passed through.
He prayed that Allah would accept their Hajj as act of ibaadah and reward them with Aljanat Fridaus.
On the $700 Basic Travelling Allowance (BTA) given to each of the pilgrims, Hassan explained that it was not peculiar to only Lagos but every Nigerian pilgrim.
He stressed that because of the war going on in Sudan and the demand for increment in airfare by the airlines, NAHCON had to deduct $100 from the initial $800 the pilgrims were expected to collect as BTA.
He affirmed that although Flynas, a Saudi Arabia-based airline that flew the 3,662 Lagos pilgrims did not ask for any increment, NAHCON decided to also deduct the $100 from each of its pilgrims for the sake of equity and fairness.
He said the agency on its part added $250 for every pilgrims across the country.
The state Amir-ul-Hajj, Prince Anofiu Elegushi, said the pilgrims had been so enduring despite the bed space issue and the kind of meals served by the Saudi caterers engaged by the service providers.
He appealed to NAHCON to prevail on the Saudi authorities to hand over the kitchen to each of the participating states, saying that they are in the best position to provide local delicacies for their pilgrims through reputable caterers during subsequent exercises.
He also expressed the hope that NAHCON would ensure that airlifting of the pilgrims back to Nigeria commences as soon as possible and seamless.
Meanwhile, the pilgrims board has organised a special prayer session to round off the Mina activities.

The prayer session which is usually done annually before pilgrims depart Mina for Makkah on the third day of throwing pebbles at the Jamarat, was designed to specifically pray to Allah to accept the Hajj exercise, the supplications of the pilgrims, pray for the administration of Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, his deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, and the good people of the state as well as for peace and tranquility in Nigeria as a whole.
Government functionaries present at the prayer session are the Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Kazeem Alogba; Amir-ul-Hajj, Prince Elegushi, and former Special Adviser to the Governor on Islamic matters, Alhaji Ahmad Abdullahi Jebe.
Others included the Board Chairman, Imam (Engr.) Shakiru Ayinde Gafar; Prof. AbdulKabir Paramole (Badagry); Dr. (Mrs.) Faosat Dabiri (Lagos); Alh. Yusuf Ara (Epe); Hon. AbdulWaheed Shonibare (Ikeja) and Alh. Mojeed Sanni (Ikorodu); Board Secretary, Mr. Olayiwola Saheed Onipede; Alh. Monsur Olowoshago; Dr. Animashaun of LASU.

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Just in: Factional Zamfara assembly leaders want governor to represent budget

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April 24, 2025

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Just in: Factional Zamfara assembly leaders want governor to represent budget

A factional House of Assembly has emerged in Zamfara state with members demanding the re-presentation of the 2025 Appropriation Bill by Governor Dauda Lawal.

The group, made up of nine lawmakers who were suspended in February 2024 over allegations of misconduct, conspiracy, and illegal sitting, convened in Gusau, the state capital, and declared the formation of a parallel legislative body.

At the session, the lawmakers elected Hon. Bashir Aliyu Gummi as Speaker of the factional assembly.

During the sitting, the faction addressed several issues, including the state’s deteriorating security situation, economic challenges, and the recent reports of mass sackings within the state civil service allegedly carried out by the Lawal administration.

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The group further demanded that Governor Lawal re-present the 2025 budget, arguing that the process followed in its initial passage was flawed. The governor had originally submitted the N545 billion Appropriation Bill to the widely-known State House of Assembly led by Speaker Bilyaminu Ismail Moriki in December 2024. The bill was passed and signed into law that same month.

Present at Wednesday’s session were Hon. Aliyu Ango Kagara (Talata Mafara South), Ibrahim Tudu Tukur (Bakura), Nasiru Abdullahi Maru (Maru North), and Faruk Musa Dosara (Maradun 1). Others included Bashar Aliyu (Gummi 1), Bashir Abubakar Masama (Bukkuyum North), Amiru Ahmed (Tsafe West), Basiru Bello (Bungudu West), and Mukhtaru Nasiru (Kaura Namoda North).

 

Just in: Factional Zamfara assembly leaders want governor to represent budget

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NLC to IMF: Your reforms inflict hunger, poverty on masses

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April 24, 2025

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President of the NLC, Comrade Joseph Ajaero

NLC to IMF: Your reforms inflict hunger, poverty on masses

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has taken a swipe at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) over its policy proposals to Nigeria and other African nations on how to rejuvenate their ailing economies.

Indeed, the NLC pointedly told the IMF that its conditionalities for giving loans to Nigeria and others were inflict pains of hunger and poverty on the masses.

The NLC President, Joe Ajaero, stated this when he received the IMF team team comprising the its Resident Representative for Nigeria, Christian H. Ebeke, and, Axel Schimmelpfennig from Washington, DC.

The purpose of the visit, it was learnt, was to assess how Nigerian workers and the general populace are being affected by the current socioeconomic environment and the hardship resulting from government policies.

The IMF delegation, led by Schimmelpfennig also sought insights from the NLC regarding the state of the labour market in Nigeria. According to them, the information gathered would contribute to the IMF’s annual country report for Nigeria.

Sources at the meeting disclosed that the IMF team acknowledged that the Nigerian government has been grappling with fiscal challenges since assuming office.

They emphasized that the IMF’s recommendations are purely advisory and not mandatory, based on the prevailing realities in each country.

The delegation expressed concern that, often, governments do not follow the IMF’s recommendations to the letter, instead adapting them to align with political objectives. In effect, the IMF attempted to distance itself from the adverse consequences of some recent economic reforms in Nigeria.

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Nevertheless, the IMF team requested continued engagement with the NLC going forward.

Ajaero made it clear that governance should prioritize citizens’ welfare over profit-making.

He criticized the austerity measures often recommended by the IMF, noting that they have worsened living conditions for Nigerians.

It was gathered that Ajaero particularly highlighted the removal of fuel subsidies, which he said has led to increased suffering, hunger, and poverty among workers and the general population.

The NLC president argued that there was no real subsidy to remove in the first place, as the government was already profiting from crude oil sales.

He described the “subsidy removal” as merely a justification for increasing fuel prices.

He equally questioned the use of the revenue purportedly saved from the subsidy removal, especially since the government continues to borrow heavily.

“He pointed out that the cost of essential services—such as education and transportation—has tripled, leading to widespread hardship.

He condemned the growing disparity between the worsening living conditions of citizens and the increasing wealth of government officials.”

Ajaero emphasized that genuine reforms should improve the welfare of the people, not enrich those in power.

He also criticized the government for not consulting key stakeholders before implementing the subsidy removal policy.

This exclusion, he said, had exacerbated the country’s economic challenges.

He noted that inclusive dialogue could have produced better strategies and outcomes, lamenting that the government has isolated itself from valuable advice.”

On the national minimum wage, the NLC president complained that the N70,000 wage is not being implemented sincerely across all levels of government. Instead, the government has continued to impose additional taxes, worsening the financial burden on citizens.

Ajaero urged the IMF to advise the government to ease this pressure and allow citizens to breathe.

He warned that rising poverty levels could lead to social unrest if left unaddressed.

NLC to IMF: Your reforms inflict hunger, poverty on masses

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‘Enough is enough’, Tinubu directs security chiefs to stop violent attacks

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April 23, 2025

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‘Enough is enough’, Tinubu directs security chiefs to stop violent attacks

 

President Bola Tinubu has ordered security operatives to end forthwith the violent attacks in some parts of the country, especially in Plateau, Borno, and Benue states.
He gave the directive during a meeting with security chiefs at the State House on Wednesday.
The meeting was attended by Nuhu Ribadu, the national security adviser (NSA); Mohammed Mohammed, director-general of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA); Emmanuel Undianeye, chief of defence intelligence; Oluwatosin Ajayi, director-general (DG) of the Department of State Services (DSS); and Femi Gbajabiamila, chief of staff (CoS) to the President.
Speaking with journalists after the meeting, Ribadu said Tinubu declared that “enough is enough” on the resurgence of violence in some parts of the country.
The NSA said the president directed security chiefs to work with the political authorities in states and at the grassroots level to find a lasting solution to the insecurity.
He said the security chiefs had acted on Tinubu’s previous instructions by meeting with political leaders in the affected communities and states.
The NSA said the meeting offered the security chiefs the opportunity to fully brief the president about the current security situation of the country.
“This time, we were able to sit with him for hours and give a proper briefing. We also took new instructions from him,” he said.
“Insecurity is not only a government problem.
“It also involves the subnational units — the communities, local governments, and especially the governors. The president directed that we work more closely with them.
“Some of these problems are community-related. While not entirely so, that element plays a significant role.
“Mr. President is working hard to ensure that Nigeria enjoys peace and stability. We are not relenting. We will not stop until we get the results he demands.”
On the resurgence of violent attacks in Borno, Ribadu said the terrorists were planting explosives during the period of relative peace in the state.
“This enemy does not give up easily. When there’s peace for a long time, they try to shock the public with an isolated incident,” he said.
The NSA said the security situation in the country is not yet at 100 percent, while noting that there is “significant improvement”.
Since the beginning of the month, many have been killed in some communities in Plateau State.
Benue State has also recorded violent attacks as over 50 people were killed in Ukum and Logo LGAs on April 18.

 

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