The annual Hajj pilgrimage to the Holy lands of Makkah and Medina is expected to see Nigerian pilgrims spending over N725.1 billion. The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has issued a directive urging pilgrims to pay an additional N1.9 million balance, reflecting current foreign exchange rates, before the March 29, 2024 deadline. In a statement by NAHCON’s Assistant Director of Public Affairs, Fatima Usara, it was explained that delays and non-remittances of fares had forced the commission beyond the deadline set by the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah. The government intervened, appealing for cost reductions. Previously registered pilgrims,…
Author: Editor Francis
Following a brief afternoon downpour, the recently constructed Ochanja market road, overseen by Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s administration, has reportedly been washed away, barely a week after its completion. Situated in the Onitsha South local government area of the state, Ochanja market road succumbed to the elements, with a viral video surfacing on Tuesday morning, shared by Onyebuchi Nwafor. The footage depicts the asphalt coating peeled off, scattered in pieces, and waterlogged sections along the road. Expressing dismay, a voice in the video highlighted concerns over the substandard quality of the project despite substantial expenditure from taxpayers’ funds. The accompanying post…
Desirée Cormier Smith, the United States Special Representative for Racial Equity and Justice, embarked on a visit to Vilnius, Lithuania, from March 25 to 27. During her visit, she will deliver opening remarks on behalf of the United States at the OSCE High Commission for National Minorities’ expert roundtable focusing on the effective participation of national minorities in social and economic life. Accompanied by EPA Principal Deputy Administrator Theresa Segovia, Special Representative Cormier Smith will engage with local government officials and civil society leaders, including members of marginalized racial and ethnic communities such as the Karaite, Tatar, Jewish, and Roma…
In a concerted effort to sustain progress in the fight against HIV/AIDS, Ambassador Dr. John Nkengasong, U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator and Senior Bureau Official for Global Health Security and Diplomacy, announces the launch of the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) Nursing Leadership Initiative The initiative aims to bolster the capacity of nurses leading the charge against HIV/AIDS in Botswana, Côte d’Ivoire, Eswatini, Malawi, Nigeria, South Africa, and Zambia. With an allocation of $8 million for the year 2024, PEPFAR’s Nursing Leadership Initiative focuses on empowering nurses with the skills and resources necessary to drive the delivery of…
Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairperson/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), extends warm congratulations to Prof. Senayon Olaoluwa on his appointment as the pioneer Director General of the Diaspora Centre of Excellence, Africa’s premier establishment of its kind. The Diaspora Centre of Excellence, a groundbreaking initiative funded by TETFUND and spearheaded by NIDCOM in partnership with the University of Ibadan, heralds a new era of collaboration and innovation in diaspora studies and engagement. In her personally penned congratulatory message, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa lauds Prof. Senayon Olaoluwa’s renowned expertise in diaspora affairs, expressing full confidence in his ability to steer the…
Fifteen members of the Ondo State House of Assembly have thrown their weight behind the current governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, in his bid to secure the All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket and emerge victorious in the forthcoming November 2024 gubernatorial election. Led by Speaker Olamide Oladiji, the lawmakers expressed their endorsement of Aiyedatiwa, citing his effective continuation of the late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu’s legacies despite his relatively brief tenure. This declaration of support follows a recent vote of no confidence passed against the Speaker by some Assembly members, stemming from his public assurance of backing Aiyedatiwa’s candidacy to about 18 lawmakers…
Early results from Sunday’s presidential elections in Senegal show opposition candidate Bassirou Diomaye Faye is in the lead, prompting his supporters to celebrate on the streets of the capital Dakar amid hope the new administration will address persistent poverty and corruption. The governing coalition’s candidate, former Prime Minister Amadou Ba, on Monday conceded defeat to Faye hours after saying he was ready for a run-off vote. A candidate requires more than 50 percent of votes to prevent a run-off. The electoral body has yet to release details about the results as vote counting is under way. Official results are expected…
The Federal Government has summoned controversial Islamic cleric, Ahmad Gumi, for questioning regarding his recent remarks on the activities of bandits within the country. According to the Minister of Information and Orientation, Mohammed Idris, who addressed journalists at the State House in Abuja on Monday, Gumi’s comments have prompted the government to take action. Idris emphasised that Gumi is not exempt from the law and that the government finds it necessary to interrogate him. Gumi had previously called on the Tinubu-led government to collaborate with him in negotiating with bandits, cautioning against repeating what he labelled as the ‘mistake’ made…
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has recently issued a circular addressed to Bureau De Change (BDC) operators, detailing the sale of $10,000 to each BDC at a fixed rate of N1,251/$1. This directive, signed by Dr. Hassan Mahmud, Director of the Trade and Exchange Department at the CBN, was disclosed on Monday via a circular accessible to GOVIMA According to the circular, each BDC is instructed to sell the allocated dollars to eligible customers at a rate not exceeding 1.5% above the purchase price, effectively capping the maximum sale price at N1,269/$1. This move follows the CBN’s announcement in…
The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has issued a mandate for the redesign of the Onitsha bypass concerning the construction of the 2nd Niger Bridge. This decision comes in light of identified flaws and overestimations in the initial design, potentially saving the nation a staggering sum of N300 billion. The Minister made this revelation during an inspection visit to the Enugu-Port Harcourt dual carriageway section IV (Aba-Port Harcourt), managed by the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation Ltd (CCECC). Accompanied by notable figures such as Deputy Chief Whip Onyekachi Nwaebonyi, and leaders from various political backgrounds in the Southeast, Umahi emphasised…
The Children, Sexual and Gender-based Violence Court in High Court, Awka, Anambra State, handed down a 10-year prison sentence to Kenneth Nwangu, a middle-aged man found guilty of defiling his nine-year-old daughter. The verdict, delivered on Monday, followed a rigorous prosecution by the state government, supported by compelling evidence establishing Nwangu’s culpability in the heinous crime. Nwangu faced a three-count charge, resulting in a seven-year imprisonment for the first count of engaging in sexual intercourse with a minor, as per Section 34 of the Child Rights Law of Anambra State. He received two years for inflicting physical harm and one…
France President, Emmanuel Macron, on Monday, said France has information that Islamic State (IS), carried out Friday’s attack in a Moscow concert hall, warning Russia against exploiting the attack by blaming it on Ukraine. France has intelligence that “it was an entity of Islamic State that planned the attack and carried it out,” Macron told reporters after arriving on a trip to the French South American region of French Guiana. He added that “this particular group made several attempts (at attacks) on our own soil.” Macron however warned Russia against any “exploitation” of the attack, saying it would be “cynical…