NEWS
2023 Hajj: NAHCON Reiterates Commitment to Transport all Pilgrims
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), has reiterated its commitment to transport all pilgrims that registered for the 2023 Hajj within the season’s time frame.
The commission’s Assistant Director, Public Affairs, Mrs Fatima Usara, gave the assurance in a statement on Sunday.
She advised prospective pilgrims in Lagos, currently agitating, to calm down and await their transportation to Saudi Arabia.
Usara said that the commission understands the reason for their agitation, but reassured of a strategic plan to move every intending pilgrim on ground before closure of Jeddah airport.
He said that the information reaching the commission from the Private Tour Operators’ sector, especially from the Lagos axis, calls for concern.
“The commission is not unaware of the situation and had before now deployed all its resources to arrest the situation before it becomes irredeemable.
“NAHCON is about to seal a fresh deal that would see all pilgrims from the private sector transported by Arik Air to Saudi Arabia as planned.”
She revealed that NAHCON entered into agreement with Arik Air to transport about 7,000 pilgrims registered with the private travel agencies for the 2023 hajj.
“Arik, on its part, signed a deal with a Saudi-based airline to ferry its allocation using two aircraft to be stationed in Lagos, Kano and Abuja.
“The said airline actually provided the agreed aircraft but having conveyed the first set of pilgrims to Saudi Arabia, it never returned to finish its job. This led to pilgrims feeling abandoned.
“In fairness to both Arik and its partner, funds that were supposed to be advanced for the engagement are yet to be released at the time of transporting the pilgrims.
“This is due to certain financial restrictions, a development that crippled the agreement despite NAHCON’s assurances.”
Usara said that the commission injected resources to keep the contract alive as well as exploring other options of engaging more local and foreign airlines to conclude the transportation of private tour operators’ pilgrims.
According to her, the discussions have been positive with a couple of them about to sign agreements for the movement to continue.
“No doubt, the commission made this charter arrangement on behalf of private hajj operators to cushion the effect of the dwindling number of scheduled airlines plying the Nigeria-Jeddah route.
“With 20,000 slots allocation, it was obvious the sector would do better with an organized charter arrangement to apprehend a frenzy situation during the peak hajj period.
“Otherwise, it is the sole responsibility of private tour companies to ferry their pilgrims successfully,” she added. (NAN)
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has asked all of his Cabinet secretaries to submit their resignations on Thursday in what he called a “bold reset” of his administration following last week’s mid-term elections.
The elections saw more opposition candidates win crucial Senate seats, signaling shifting political tides.
Marcos, the 67-year-old son of the late Philippine dictator overthrown in 1986, won the presidency in a landslide in 2022, a stunning political comeback marked by a call for national unity.
However, his vice-presidential running mate, Sara Duterte, also widely popular, later distanced herself from Marcos in a falling-out that had sparked intense political discord.
Marcos had since emerged as one of the region’s most vocal critics of China’s aggression in the disputed South China Sea, bolstered by support from the United States and other allies. Domestically, he continued to face significant challenges, including high inflation, unfulfilled promises to lower rice prices, and growing concerns over kidnappings and other crimes.
“This is not business as usual,” Marcos said in a government statement.
“The people have spoken and they expect results, not politics, not excuses. We hear them and we will act.” (AP/NAN)
The House of Representatives has resolved to set up an ad hoc committee to investigate operational issues related to driver’s licence issuance, revenue generation and usage within the last three years.The resolution was sequel to the adoption of a motion by Rep. Victor Ogene (APC-Bayelsa) at the plenary on Wednesday.
Moving the motion, Ogene said that a tripartite arrangement between Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), State Boards of Internal Revenue (BIR) and the Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO) led to the digital issuance or renewal of a driver’s license. He said that the approving signature on a driver’s licence typically comes from a designated officer at the Motor Vehicle Administration Agency (MVAA) in the state where the licence application originated.He explained that a learner’s permit for driving a vehicle was first issued at a prescribed fee by Motor Vehicle Administration Agency (MVAA) in the relevant state before the release of a driver’s licence.According to him, FRSC operates a Very Important Person (VIP) centre, ostensibly for the renewal of a driver’s licence, which is reportedly being used for issuing fresh driver’s licences that are not preceded with a learner’s permit.Ogene said that the Joint Tax Board (JTB) reviewed the fees payable for a five-year and three-year driver’s licence to N21,000 and N15,000 respectively for a vehicle, N11,000 and N7,000 respectively for a motorcycle or tricycle since Nov. 1, 2024.“FRSC is alleged to use its Information Processing Centre (IPC) for warehousing data for driver’s licences and shortchange the state Boards of Internal Revenue (BIR) and the Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO) in the collection and usage of fees for processing driver’s licences.“Worried that FRSC is reportedly controlling and receiving accounts for drivers’ licence fees, the yearly revenue generated from chargeable fees which amounts to hundreds of billions of naira, is also allegedly unaccounted for by the VIO and various state boards of internal revenue.“Disturbed that the processing of drivers’ licences is unexplainably being delayed for upward of two to three years after the biometric data capturing of applicants.“Also disturbed that the huge debts the FRSC owes Galaxy Backbone Ltd. and other system consultants who are the network providers and maintainers of the biometrics data capturing system are responsible for the system slowdown and the resultant long delay in the issuance of driver’s licences,” he said.Ogene also expressed the need to clearly ascertain which public agency had the legal responsibility of designing, producing and issuing a driver’s licence.In his ruling, Speaker of the House, Rep. Abbas Tajudeen said that the committee, when constituted, would report its findings within four weeks for further legislative action. (NAN)
Mr Lere Olayinka, spokesman to the FCT Minister Nyesom Wike says those waiting for the minister’s political downfall will wait endlessly.Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant to the FCT Minister on Public Communications and Social Media, made the remarks while reacting to comments by former governor of Ebonyi Sam Egwu.
Egwu had in a statement on Tuesday, said that Wike was living on borrowed time, adding that the FCT minister’s influence would soon burn out. Reacting, the spokesman said in a statement in Abuja on Wednesday, that those waiting for Wike’s downfall would wait forever.He argued that Wike’s political progress was based on personal hard work, dedication, commitment and most importantly, God’s grace.Olayinka also faulted Egwu’s challenge to Wike to make it possible for the suspended governor of Rivers, Siminalayi Fubara to return to office.He also described allegations that the FCT Minister now exercises the powers of President Bola Tinubu and the National Assembly in Rivers as absurd.“This type of statement should not come from a former lawmaker,” he said.The Wike spokesman also dismissed the threats by a faction of the South East leaders of the PDP to withdraw their support for the party.According to him, it was illogical for people who could not deliver anything substantial in terms of votes to the PDP in the 2023 elections to be threatening to withdraw their support for the party.“The PDP constitution is clear as to who is the National Secretary of the party. His name is Senator Samuel Anyanwu, and anyone saying or doing anything contrary is only interested in the collapse of the party.” (NAN)
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