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Hajj: Five States With $383m Debt Budget N9bn For Pilgrims

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Five states; Kogi, Kebbi, Jigawa, Bauchi and Kano states, have subsidised Hajj fares for 10,260 intending pilgrims for the 2024 exercise, with a combined sum of N9,120,997,990 billion.

The subsidy payments by the various states’ governments follow the announcement of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, asking already registered pilgrims to pay an additional sum of N1.9m to balance up fares for the 2024 exercise, in accordance with current foreign exchange rates.

With the deadline for the payment given as March 28, the 48,414 pilgrims had only about 72 hours between the time of the announcement of the increase to either come up with the funds to secure their seats or apply for a refund of their money.

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In the days that followed the expiration of the deadline, Kogi State Government under Governor Ahmed Ododo was the first to announce full payments of the sum for its 460 pilgrims.

READ ALSO: Nigerians React As FG Subsidises Hajj Fare With N90bn

The Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, also announced a N500,000 subsidy for each of its 2,906 pilgrims, followed by Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, who announced a subsidy of N959,000 for the 2,290 pilgrims in the state, while Jigawa and Kebbi state governments also subsidised fares with N1m each for its 1,260 and 3,344 pilgrims respectively.

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There are also reports that the Rivers State Government paid the total fare for the intending pilgrims, while the Osun State Government subsidised the fares with an undisclosed amount.

The subsidies given by the states are beside the N90bn subsidy allegedly given by the Federal Government to reduce the burden of the fares on the intending pilgrims.

Meanwhile, the states have a combined debt profile of $382.9m, with Kogi indebted to the tune of $54.3m, Kebbi $40.8m, Jigawa $26.2m, Bauchi $170.4m, and Kano $101.3m, as of June 2023, according to the official website of the Debt Management Office.

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READ ALSO: Tinubu Approves 3 Airlines For 2024 Hajj Pilgrimage

This, however, will not be the first time governors have sponsored citizens on pilgrimage.

Between 2022 and 2023, 13 state governors spent N14.84bn to sponsor about 4,771 persons on both Muslim and Christian pilgrimages.

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A resident of the FCT told our correspondent on the condition of anonymity that “all in all, N5bn set aside for thousands of students and N90bn earmarked for pilgrim subsidy. This can only happen in a country where leaders have no regard for quality education but believe in presenting fake certificates”.

Another respondent, who simply identified himself as Michael, expressed annoyance with the development, stating, “It’s annoying to see government on this path. Why subsidise for the rich who can afford to go on pilgrimage, either Christian or Muslim? Instead subsidise the price of food and transportation, which is what mostly affect the masses”.

READ ALSO: Why Many Nigerian Pilgrims Fell Ill During Hajj — Official

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Meanwhile, the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria has disclosed that over 50,000 pilgrims have completed payments for the 2024 Hajj exercise under the government quota.

NAHCON made the disclosure in a statement by the Assistant Director, Public Affairs, Fatima Usara, on Saturday.

According to the statement, the official number of pilgrims now stood at 51,477 after the close of registration for the year’s exercise.

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A breakdown of the numbers revealed the sub-total from Borno, Adamawa, Yola, Taraba and Yobe states as 5,492 pilgrims; northern sub-total, 36,261 pilgrims; Southern sub-total, 6,310 pilgrims, while the remaining 3,384 pilgrims were from the Hajj Savings Scheme and others, making the total 51,447.

Usara thanked the Federal Government for its “leading role” and “numerous sacrifices”, towards easing the burdens of the intending pilgrims, while also appreciating State governors and other stakeholders for providing support.
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Israeli Mission To Bolster Wellbeing Of Orphans In Nigeria

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The Israeli Embassy in Nigeria has promised to bolster the wellbeing of orphans in Nigeria.

Deputy Chief of Mission of the embassy, Inbar Garden stated this in Abuja while donating food items to the Hope for Survival Orphanage, Gishsiri community, Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

She said aside helping to promote collaboration between Nigeria and Israel, the mission is committed to supporting the wellbeing of the orphans.

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Garden said, “We just want to ensure the orphans have a better future and not taken for granted.

READ ALSO:Israel Begins Ground Offensive In Gaza Despite International Criticism

“It takes a person with a giant heart to give themselves to the society and make other peoples life matter.

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“I urge you, children at the Orphanage to be focused on your future, because you are not going to stay in this place forever.

“Just dream big and say it loud, and go get your dreams fulfilled.”

Also,the Proprietress of the orphanage, Ruth Ibrahim, thanked the embassy for the kind gesture,

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According to her, even for you to come here is not easy due to the deplorable road to the orphanage.

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We thank God for the FCT Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike’s intervention, the road was so bad, at least he has repaired it, such that we can easily come into the orphanage as against before.

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“God bless and enrich you for putting smiles on our faces, this is good, because we have never seen such a large cooking of meal like this in our orphanage,” Ibrahim said.

She decried lack of access to medical services and paucity of funds toward the construction of fence around the orphanage, to be major challenges they faced.

The orphanage have 67 children, with two having graduated from university and eight of them are currently in SS3, preparing for the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) exam.

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The highpoint of the event is a treat for the children at the orphanage to a buffet by the Israeli deputy chief of mission.

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Isokpan Sworn In As Egor LG Vice Chairman, Pledges Loyalty to Okpebholo’s SHINE Agenda

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The Egor Local Government Council Secretariat was abuzz on Monday as Hon. Kenny Isokpan was officially sworn in as the Vice-Chairman of the Council, in a colourful ceremony attended by party leaders, stakeholders, and community groups.

The event drew a large gathering, including the Deputy Chief of Staff to the Deputy Governor, Hon. Plus Alile, alongside other prominent political figures.

In his address, the Acting Chairman of the council, Hon. Osaro Eribo, described Isokpan as a vibrant and energetic youth whose emergence heralded renewed vigour in the Council’s leadership.

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He expressed confidence that the new Vice-Chairman would work closely with him to advance Governor Monday Okpebholo’s SHINE Agenda at the grassroots level.

Shortly after assuming office, Isokpan lauded Okpebholo for his developmental strides across the state and for providing him the platform to serve.

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He pledged unwavering loyalty to the governor, the party leadership, and Eribo, vowing to contribute his quota towards repositioning Egor in line with the progressive vision of the administration.

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The new Vice-Chairman also expressed gratitude to the State Chairman of the APC, Emperor Jarrett Tenebe, for his steadfast leadership, and commended party leaders at the state, local government, and ward levels for their support.

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He gave special recognition to a prominent Egor leader, Hon. Osahon Airhunmwunde, for standing by him during his most challenging moments.

Isokpan further acknowledged the solidarity of the Red Cross Society and the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), stressing that their support reflected broad-based confidence in the ruling party’s grassroots agenda.

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Dangote Group Agrees To redeploy Workers Sacked By Refinery

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After a peace meeting, the Dangote Group has agreed to redeploy the workers sacked by its subsidiary, Dangote Petroleum Refinery.

The resolution was announced on Wednesday by the ministry of labour and employment in a statement on the outcome of the reconciliation meetings held on Monday and Tuesday.

Aliko Dangote, founder of Dangote Group, and representatives of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) met on Tuesday with Wale Edun, the minister of finance and coordinating minister of the economy, and Mohammed Dingyadi, minister of labour and employment to resolve the labour dispute.

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READ ALSO:Dangote Refinery Dispute: PENGASSAN Suspends Strike After FG Intervention

Disclosing other agreements reached during the meeting, the ministry said the parties agreed that the disengaged workers will be absorbed by other subsidiaries in Dangote Group without loss of pay.

The Honourable Minister of Labour informed the meeting that unionisation is a right of workers in accordance with the laws of Nigeria and that this right should be respected,” the ministry said

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After examining the procedure used in the disengagement of workers, the meeting agreed that the management of Dangote Group shall immediately start the process of taking the disengaged staff to other companies within the Dangote Group, with no loss of pay.

READ ALSO:NAFDAC Orders Removal Of 101 Products, Warns against Sale, Use

“No worker will be victimised arising from their role in the impasse between Dangote and PENGASSAN.

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“PENGASSAN agreed to start the process of calling off the strike.

“Both parties agreed to this understanding in good faith.”

On September 26, PENGASSAN instructed its members to embark on a nationwide strike over the dismissal of workers by Dangote refinery.

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