Three hundred Christian pilgrims departed Nigeria on Thursday on a nine-day pilgrimage to the Holy Land.

They were drawn from Plateau, Kwara, Osun and Ekiti states.

Rev. Yakubu Pam, Executive Secretary, National Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC), charged them to abide by the rules and regulations of the exercise as they were departing from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja,

Pam was represented by the Director of Administration at the NCPC, Mr Sunny Ebiyabo.

He said the pilgrims were the 10th batch and the last for the year 2022.

He advised the pilgrims to regard the pilgrimage as an opportunity to get closer to God and urged them to offer prayers for the country while in the Holy Land.

“We are here to bid farewell to the pilgrims going to Jordan and Israel to visit holy sites of the teaching of Jesus Christ as recorded in the Bible.

“This is the 10th and last batch for year 2022. I encourage you to regard the pilgrimage as an opportunity to be closer to God and to offer prayers for the country.

“The pilgrims will visit holy sites in Jordan and Israel respectively, hoping that no-one regards the exercise as a jamboree, but as an opportunity to offer prayers for peace of the country,’’ he said.

In a short exhortation, Rev. Fr. Polycarp Lubo, Chairman of Plateau chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), noted that the pilgrimage was very vital in the life of every believer.

Lubo charged the pilgrims to be good ambassadors of Nigeria and consider the holy visit as time for prayers.

One of the pilgrims, Mrs Asabe Zore, thanked the government for giving her the opportunity to visit holy sites in Jordan and in Israel.

She promised to use the exercise to offer prayers for peace and unity in Nigeria. (NAN)

The World Bank Group’s Board of Executive Directors announced that Ajay Banga, a U.S. national, was the only nominee for the position of the next President of the bank.

This is contained in a statement issued by the World Bank  in Abuja on Friday.

“The World Bank Group’s Board of Executive Directors today confirmed that, as announced on Feb.

  22, the period for submitting nominations for the position of the next President of the World Bank Group closed on Wednesday at 6:00 pm ET. ”

“The board received one nomination and would like to announce that Ajay Banga, a U.

S. national, will be considered for the position.

“In accordance with established procedures, the Board of Executive Directors will conduct a formal interview with the candidate in Washington D.C., and expect to conclude the Presidential selection in due course,” the board said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that in February, US President Joe Biden nominated Banga to lead the World Bank saying that he is “well equipped” to lead the global institution at “this critical moment in history.”

No other country proposed an alternate candidate for the prestigious post.

Banga, 63, was born in India and is a naturalised U.S. citizen.

The former Mastercard Inc. chief, Banga currently serves as Vice Chairman at General Atlantic.

NAN reports that if confirmed, Banga would become the first-ever Indian-American to head either of the two top international financial institutions: the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.

Banga is expected to replace the current World Bank president David Malpass, who will step down in June, nearly a year before his term is scheduled to expire.

Malpass faced strong criticism over the bank’s commitment to climate action and over his personal views on climate change. (NAN)

By Laide Akinboade, Abuja 

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Thursday, said its commitment to ensuring the security of Abuja, was the utmost reason for the periodic demolition of shanties and other illegal structures that aided criminal activities.

Senior Special Assistant to FCT Minister on Monitoring, Inspection, and Enforcement, Ikharo Attah made this known to journalists during the cleanup exercise at the Idu area of the federal capital.

Ikharo also condemned the building of makeshift houses at road junctions and at green areas by the illegal occupants of Idu.

“Such structures shall be demolished,” he said.

According to him, the structures that were demolished contravened the city’s urban and regional planning acts, and the Abuja Environmental Protection Board Acts.

“People see every busy junction, empty lands, as a place where they can just put shanties, thereby endangering the lives of other legal residents.

“Worst still, is that some of these structures served as hideouts for criminals; so when we succeed in removing these illegal structures, we would not have only restored the city’s master plan, but we would have also won the war against crime,” added Ikharo.

Speaking, the Head, Monitoring and Enforcement, Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) Kaka Bello, decried the stealing and vandalization of public properties in the area.

“As we can see the drainage manholes have been stolen; these cost the government a lot of money to provide. Aside from that it portends negative implications for the environment. It is an eyesore for a city like this, and we won’t allow this!” Kaka vowed.

Also speaking, the Field Coordinator, FCT Special Ministerial Committee on Transportation and Public Nuisances Olumiji Peter, said the demolition being carried out was essential.

“Some criminals lurk in these shanties, and they come out at night to rob innocent people of their valuables,” he said.

An occupant of one of the demolished shanties Sadiq Abubakar, said he is a native of Zamfara State, married to two wives, and has six children.

“I want to appeal to the government to give us space to sell and repair things. I don’t want to go into kidnapping,” Sadiq said.