Nigeria has recorded its first and second flights on the return leg as scheduled as FlyNas departed with 423 pilgrims from Federal Capital Territory, Abuja at about 8: 20am Saudi time yesterday. Another, Flynas flight XY7004 departed Jeddah to Abuja at 02:58hrs with 424 FCT Pilgrims. In two days this weekend, 847 are now at home.
According to the Head of Aviation Division, Engr. Goni Sanda, pilgrims departure from the holy land will be in line with their arrival into the Kingdom.
Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Alhaji Zikrullah Kunle Hassan, advised State Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards to ensure that their pilgrims’ travel documents are ready, their luggage checking and clearance should be concluded in good time ahead of pilgrims’ departure time to avoid flight delays.
The NAHCON chairman advised pilgrims to avoid stocking their luggage with contraband items that may necessitate their bags being opened for removal of such contraband items.
Alhaji Zikrullah also advised Nigerian pilgrims to resist the temptation of overloading their luggage beyond the approved kilograms. He reminded them of the consequences of excess luggage which is losing some of their items especially those in the hand luggage.
Meanwhile, pilgrims have been advised to reach out to Cargo Zeal and Sokodeke for transportation of their excess luggage to Nigeria.
The President of the United States of America (USA), Joe Biden has expressed worry over what he called “influence of China, Russia and, crucially, Iran” vowing to reduce such influence.
He expressed the desire to engage with the Middle East to push back against the influence of China, Russia and, crucially, Iran.
The US President, who spoke today, July 16 as his Middle East tour drew to a close.
Biden singled out Iran as the target of his criticism, even as he offered regional support against Tehran in its dealings with Saudi Arabia, Iraq, international shipping and nuclear negotiators.
“Let me say clearly, that the United States is going to remain an active engaged partner in the Middle East,” Biden said at the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) meeting in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
“We will not walk away and leave a vacuum to be filled by China, Russia or Iran,” Biden stressed. “The United States is invested in building a positive future in the region, in partnership with all of you, and the United States is not going anywhere.”
The GCC is the most important political and economic alliance in the region. Its members are the Gulf states of Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia, which has a dominant position in the group.
The Council met today in an expanded format (GCC+3), with Iraqi Prime Minister, Mustafa al-Kadhimi and Egypt’s President Abdel-Fattah al-Sissi, whom Biden both met privately. Jordan’s King Abdullah II also attended.
Biden has since returned to Washington today after also visiting Israel and the West Bank which is his first Middle East trip as president.
Biden wants the US to better protect international shipping in the Middle East, in a clear reference to Shiite Iran, which Sunni Saudi Arabia, among others, sees as a major threat.
“The United States will not allow foreign or regional powers to jeopardize freedom of navigation through the Middle East,” he said.
The free movement of goods, including through the Bab al-Mandab Strait and the Strait of Hormuz off Iran are a “lifeblood,” he added.
He reaffirmed the US will not allow Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon and gave his backing to al-Kadhimi. Iran heavily influences policy in Iraq, as it does in war-torn Yemen and Syria.
But Iran was not his only target at the GCC meeting.
He stressed the importance of open societies and freedom of expression to the assembled Arab leaders.
Biden held talks with Saudi Arabia’s King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah on Friday after geopolitical developments necessitated a renewal of the two countries’ long ties despite the president’s previous criticism of the regime.
Saudi Arabia warned the US not to interfere in the dispute regarding the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi by Saudi operatives in 2018.
“Imposing values by force generates counterproductive results,” the Saudi-funded al-Arabiya news channel quoted a top official as saying.
The crown prince, accused by some of ordering the hit, assured Biden he had “taken the necessary measures on the Khashoggi incident” after it was raised by the president.
The Saudis should meanwhile be supported in defending “its people and territory against external threats,” a joint statement read.
Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen have repeatedly attacked targets in Saudi Arabia, including key oil facilities.
An attack in 2019 temporarily crippled about half of Saudi oil production – around 5% of global oil production.
A senior US official said it was taken as a “very positive sign” that the Saudis want to extend a current ceasefire in Yemen, where they have been leading an alliance against the rebels since 2015.
The US also wants to boost food security in the Middle East and North Africa with about $1 billion of aid.
GCC leaders are also pledging $3 billion during the next two years for projects related to a global infrastructure initiative.
At its summit in Germany in June, the group of seven (G7) leading democratic industrialized countries launched a “Partnership for Global Infrastructure.” The GCC states now also want to contribute.
The project is seen as an alternative to the “New Silk Road” project launched by China in 2013, with which the country is opening up new trade routes to Europe, Africa, Latin America and Asia.
The UN fears a hunger crisis against the backdrop of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, a crucial wheat exporter.
No fewer than six senior medical consultants have successfully performed surgery on Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, to treat the recurrent pain caused by a fracture in his leg.
Those who took serious part in the surgery which was conducted today, July 16, are Dr. Wallace Ogufere (Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon), Dr. Om Lahoti (Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon), Dr. Babajide Lawson (Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon), Dr. Ken Adegoke (Consultant in Anaesthesia & Critical Care), Dr. Oladimeji Agbabiaka (Consultant Anaesthetist) and Dr. Adedoyin Dosunmu-Ogunbi (Consultant Physician & Medical Director).
In a statement by the Vice President’s spokesman, Laolu Akande, the Medical Director of Duchess International Hospital, Ikeja, Lagos, Dr. Adedoyin Dosunmu-Ogunbi said: “the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, GCON, was admitted to the Duchess International Hospital GRA, Ikeja, Lagos, today on account of a fracture of his right femur (thigh bone), possibly related to a longstanding injury associated with a game of squash.”
“He had a surgical operation performed by a team of specialist doctors.” According to the medical director, the operation was successful and he would be discharged within the next few days.
Saudi Arabian government has entered into agreement with the United States of America on 18 fields, including Space, Investment, Energy, Communications, Health and others.
The agreements, signed by the Saudi’s Ministers of Energy, Investment, Communications and Health, are aimed at unlocking new avenues for joint cooperation in investment, energy, ICT, space and health and are in line with Saudi Vision 2030.
A statement today, July 6, by a government spokesman, Abdulhamid Faheem, said that the agreements were sealed during US President Joe Biden’s visit to the Kingdom and were signed with the Ministry of Investment, the Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu, as well as numerous private sector companies.
The agreements also include a group of leading American companies, such as Boeing Aerospace, Raytheon Defense Industries, Medtronic and Digital Diagnostics, IKVIA in the healthcare sector, and many other US companies across the energy, tourism, education, manufacturing and textiles sectors.
Faheem said that Saudi Space Authority also signed the Artemis Accords with US Space Agency (NASA), which would allow it to undertake the joint exploration of the Moon and Mars in cooperation with the American space agency, while granting the Kingdom a seat in the international coalition, preparing for the civil exploration and use of the Moon, Mars, comets and asteroids for peaceful purposes.
He said that Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) signed a memorandum of cooperation with IBM, a leading digital tech company, to upskill 100,000 young women and men over 5 years within 8 innovative initiatives that can position the Kingdom as a hub for technology and innovation in the Middle East and North Africa region.
The ministry also signed a memorandum of cooperation with the US National Communications and Information Administration (NTIA), which includes cooperation between the two countries on 5G and 6G technologies.
“The agreement targets accelerating the growth of the digital economy and enhancing the pace of research, development and innovation in the Kingdom’s digital ecosystem.
“The Ministries of Energy in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United States of America signed a partnership agreement on clean energy, which includes defining areas and projects of cooperation in this sector, alongside cooperation in on civil nuclear energy and Uranium, while reinforcing the efforts of the two countries in promoting clean energy and climate action.
“The Saudi and US ministries of health also signed a memorandum of cooperation on public health, medical sciences and research. The memorandum aims to support and bolster existing relations in public health among individuals, organizations and institutions.
“It also seeks to consolidate joint efforts in addressing public health issues and medical, scientific and research challenges, as well as the exchange of information, expertise and academics. “The memorandum also seeks to organize joint training for workers in the health and medical fields, while addressing the proper application of health information systems, research and development and health innovation.”
The Kano State Ministry of Health has shut down no fewer than 25 “illegal” Private Health Training Institutions (PHTIs) operating across the state.
A statement by the Ministry’s spokesperson, Hadiza Mustapha-Namadi, said that the action followed the proliferation of the PHTIs in the state without recourse to the extant regulations governing the operation of such schools.
According to the statement, some of those un-recognized institutions lack definite sites and offer dubious programs against the established course curricula.
It said that most of the illegal health outfits engage in extorting and charging exorbitant fees on students and their parents, describing the trend as detrimental to the people, educational development and efficiency of the entire health system in the state.
“Kano state Ministry of Health has noticed with serious concern, the incessant proliferation of illegal Private Heath Training Institutions (PHTIs) in the State without recourse to extant regulations governing the establishment and operation of such schools as specified by regulatory bodies and other relevant authorities.
“It is of serious dismay to realize that some of those un-recognized institutions lack definite sites and offer dubious programmes against the established course curricula, while also extorting exorbitant fees on students and their parents.
“Suffice to indicate, this ugly trend is at the detriment of the people, educational development and efficiency of the entire health system.
“Consequently, the general public are hereby informed of the instant shut-down of all illegal Health Training Institutions (HTIs) in the State, pending the outcome of necessary investigations.”
The statement called on the general public to patronize only the dully registered institutions and accredited courses, warning that subscription to un-recognized schools is tantamount to self-subjection to security risks, doom academic and career prospects, as well as financial deceptions.
“The Ministry will cooperate with all stakeholder agencies to ensure regular monitoring and inspection of the Health Training Institutions (HTIs) across the state for sanity and safety.”
Senator Kashim Shettima, running mate to the Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has advised Nigerians to look at the larger picture as the nation goes into elections next year, 2023.
Speaking today, July 15 as he hosted members of APC Professionals` Forum on a congratulatory visit at his residence in Abuja, Shettima, a former two-term governor of Borno State, said that Nigerians should be more concerned about how to develop the country, rather than engaged in religious sentiments.
According to him, the world had gone past religious sentiment, saying: “now, we are in the knowledge driven age. In other climes, people are talking of nano technology, biotechnology, and quick data and of artificial intelligence.
“While we are busy here talking about headsmen, farmers/herders clash, rural banditry, kidnapping and battling with Boko Haram and talking about religious mix.
“The task before us is to transform this nation into a just and fair society where everyone will have a sense of belonging. We should learn to accommodate and embrace each other.”
According to him, hunger and insecurity knows no religion or ethnicity just as poor infrastructure knows no region. Nigeria is a great nation.”
Shettima said that the Tinubu/Shettima ticket had more to do with the desire to provide quality leadership to Nigerians than any religious sentiment.
“I want to reassure Nigerians that; they are accusing him (Tinubu) of an attempt to Islamising the country out of ignorance: has he started with Islamising his own family?
“Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, yes, his Vice-Presidential running mate might be a Muslim, but his life mate for over 40 year is not only a Christian, but a pastor at the Redeemed Christian Church of God.
“He did not enforce his own Islamic faith on his own children, he was the first governor to hand-over mission schools to the owners, and he has groomed people from all works of life.
“One of his Commissioners while he was governor of Lagos State was from Katsina State and another one was from Delta. He also had a special adviser of an Igbo extraction”
Shettima assured that the party and its presidential candidate would reach out to all interest groups ahead of the 2023 general elections.
He added that while comments are free, facts are sacred, saying: “people can distort facts, embellish reality, but truth will always triumph over falsehood.”
He said that Tinubu is a very decent man that is committed to the Nigerian project.
“We will support him in whatever way we can, so we can together; push the nation to a higher pedestrian”
Shettima commended the forum for the visit and expressed delight that it is made up of accomplished Nigerians of different backgrounds from different works of life, assuring that he would identify with it, going forward.
He said that he is delighted that the APC Professionals Forum is solidly behind the party and Tinubu as its 2023 presidential candidate.
Earlier, former Nigerian Ambassador to the U.S, Mohammed Hassan, who led the delegation, said that its members are open to work with Shettima and his principal.
He said that the forum which he described as “an intellectual bank” with members within and outside the country is a conglomerate of over 107 associations and could deliver in any aspect of governance and social life.
He said that the forum plans to organize a town hall meeting where it intends to feature the APC presidential candidate and his running mate to unveil their blueprint to Nigerians.
“The aim and objective of the town hall meeting which has been fixed for September is to provide a venue where all the professionals as represented, will gather.
“You and our presidential candidate will be there to enlighten and answer questions from the professionals and Nigeria as a whole on what your intensions and plans for the country are for the country.”
The Presidency has called on Nigerians to stay safe from what it called “a deadly virus” in form an online newspaper, Peoples Gazette.
“We wish to advise well-meaning Nigerians to ignore a laughably puerile report by an apparently pirate online newspaper seeking to sow division and chaos on the choice of Governor Kashim Shettima as the Running Mate of our Party’s Presidential Candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”
In a three-paragraph statement today, July 15, senior special assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari, Malam Garba Shehu said that the so-called newspaper “is like a deadly virus.”
Garba Shehu advised Nigerians to “stay safe by keeping away from its toxic reports.”
Peoples Gazette had, earlier in the day, reported what it called: “a classified document” by the Department of State Service (DSS), addressed to President Buhari about the dangers looming in the country on the decision the Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to nominate a fellow Muslim as vice-presidential candidate for 2023 presidential.
The document, which the newspaper claimed got to the President through the National Security Adviser (NSA), retired General Babagana Monguno, said that Tinubu should consider security implications of his selection before making it public.
“The NSA looked at the report and added it for security briefing to the president.”
The online newspaper went on to narrate what is contained in the secret document thus: “Simply put, our understanding is that the alliance will destabilise Nigeria and embolden attacks on Christian citizens from their fellow Muslim citizens.
“The distrust Christians are likely to harbour against a presidency occupied by two Muslims won’t make our work easy at national security level.”
Former President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Cardinal Anthony Olubunmi Okogie, has frowned at those who have been attacking the Presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a Muslim, for picking another Muslim, Kashim Shettima as his running mate for the 2023 election.
Okogie, who reacted to the criticisms and fireworks that trailed Tinubu’s choice of the former Governor of Borno State as his running mate, insisted that competence should determine who governs the country and not ethnoreligious sentiments.
The vocal cleric advised the electorate to vote for political parties and their candidates in the 2023 general elections based on the impression of them.
Okogie said: “Put simply, competence should be the defining factor for any government and not ethnoreligious sentiments. Unfortunately, ethnoreligious sentiments play a key role in Nigeria’s politics.
“In the final analysis, the voters make the choice, so whatever impression and/or expression about any of the candidates and political parties should be expressed by either voting for or against them.”
The Kaduna State Government has spent a total of N158.1 billion out of the N225.1 billion budgeted for the education sector between 2017 and 2021, the sector budget trend analysis has shown.
The analysis, indicating a 70.2 per cent performance, was conducted by the Kaduna Basic Education Accountability Mechanism (KADBEAM), in Kaduna yesterday, July 14, to determine the level of investment in the sector.
The analysis was supported by Partnership to Engage, Reform and Learn (PERL), a governance programme of the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).
The analysis showed that N64.8 billion was allocated to the education sector in 2017 of which N14.6 billion was spent, representing 22.4 per cent.
It also showed that N51.7 billion was budgeted in 2018, with actual spending standing at N23.5 billion, representing 45.5 per cent; N42.4 billion was budgeted in 2019 with eventual expenditure of N32.7 billion representing 77.2 per cent.
In 2020, a total of N66.1 billion was allocated to the sector of which N32 billion was spent, representing 48.5 per cent while in 2021 the sector got N62.1 billion of which N55.2 billion was spent, representing 88.9 per cent.
Chairman, Evidence Technical Working Group, KADBEAM, Mr Martins Dangwa, said that despite the 70 per cent budget performance in the list five years, the sector was still faced with infrastructural decay.
Dangwa identified other challenges as noted by the state education policy to include limited qualified teachers in core science subjects, and inefficiency in education data management system.
PERL’s State Partnership Facilitator, Istifanus Akau explained that the trend analysis was conducted to assess the state government commitment in providing quality education services.
“The objective is to understand the budget trend of public sector investment in the education sector, look at the provisions the sector was able to access and implement education programmes.
“This will enable us to identify priority areas of investment in the sector and gain insight on alignment of policy and fiscal performance in the last five years,” he said.
The Citizens’ Co-Chair, KADBEAM, Tijjani Aliyu, commended that level of partnership and collaboration among critical education stakeholders in the state working to improve the quality of education serviced delivery.
Aliyu said that the budget trend analysis would reveal interventions that were starved of funds for the organised civil society to advocate for improved funding and timely release of allocated funds.
State Lead Facilitator, PERL, Adejor Abel, said that the governance programme would continue to support conversation between the government and citizens on service delivery.
Abel commended the state government for providing a space for citizens to make inputs into the State Education Policy, Quality Assurance Policy, and other strategic documents to improve the quality of education services.
Also, Mubarak Siraj, State Reform Facilitator, Partnership for Learning for All in Nigeria (PLANE) programme, a seven-year FCDO education programme lauded stakeholders’ support to the education sector.
Siraj said that was supporting the state government and the private sector to ensure effective and inclusive education by getting the foundation for improved learning outcomes.
Secretary, Civil Society Steering Committee, Open Government Partnership, Joshua James, said that it is very important for citizens to keep tap with government to ensure that resources were expended in areas of needs.
James said that the trend analysis would determine if the government was making the right investment in the education sector or not.
Other issues identified include poor investment on Information and Communication technology, reduced budgetary allocation for overhead cost and poor teacher recruitment and deployment processes.
The Independent National Electoral Commission ((INEC), taking advantage of the judgment by a Federal High Court on July 13, has suspended the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR).
The judgment came following a suit filed by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) seeking an extension of the exercise beyond June 30 this year. The Court affirmed that INEC is at liberty to appoint a date of its choice to suspend the CVR, provided it is not later than 90 days before the date fixed for the General Election as provided in Sec. 9(6) of the Electoral Act 2022.
A statement today, July 15 by the Commission’s National Commissioner and Chairman of Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, said that the decision to suspend the Continuous Voter Registration was taken at an extraordinary meeting today, adding that with the judgment of the Federal High Court, all legal encumbrances have now been removed.
“Accordingly, the Commission has taken the following decisions:
“The CVR is hereby extended for another two weeks until Sunday 31st July 2022, thereby bringing the total duration of the extension to 31 days (1st – 31st July 2022).
“The exercise has also been extended to eight hours daily from 9.00am – 5.00pm instead of the current duration of six hours (9.00am – 3.00pm) daily; and
“The exercise is also extended to include weekends (Saturdays and Sundays) as against only weekdays.
“We appreciate that the timeframe may be tight for many prospective registrants, but there is a lot that the Commission is required to do under the electoral legal framework in relation to voter registration and compilation of the register that will require time to accomplish. For instance, the Commission is required to:
“Clean-up of the register to remove multiple registrants using the Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS);
“Consolidate the national register of voters (existing voters and new registrants) and display same on Polling Unit basis for each of the 8,809 Registration Areas (Wards) across the 774 Local Government Areas nationwide for public scrutiny. This lasts for a period of one week. On the basis of a new projection of 95 million voters, on the basis of 10 voters per page, the Commission has to print 9,500,000 pages for the display;
“Print millions of Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) for all fresh registrants and applicants for transfer and replacement of lost or damaged PVCs;
“Ensure that there is ample time for voters to collect their PVCs ahead of the 2023 General Election;
“Print the final register of voters in triplicate for the 2023 General Election involving a projected 28,500,000 pages for accreditation and display at 176,846 polling units for national elections (Presidential and National Assembly) on 25th February 2023 and State elections (Governorship and State Assembly) on 11th March 2023; and
“Make copies of the updated national register of voters available to political parties not later than 30 days to the date fixed for the General Election.
“We appeal for the patience and understanding of all Nigerians as we conclude the exercise which will resume after the 2023 General Election.
“We observed that following the continuation of the exercise beyond 30th June 2022, many of the registration centres recorded low turnout of prospective registrants. With this two-week extension, we appeal to eligible citizens not to wait until the last few days before they inundate the centres again to register.
“We appreciate the interest of Nigerians to register and participate in the electoral process and once again reiterate our commitment to credible and transparent elections. This can only be achieved with the support and cooperation of all Nigerians
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Nigeria has recorded its first and second flights on the return leg as scheduled as FlyNas departed with 423 pilgrims from Federal Capital Territory, Abuja at about 8: 20am Saudi time yesterday. Another, Flynas flight XY7004 departed Jeddah to Abuja at 02:58hrs with 424 FCT Pilgrims. In two days this weekend, 847 are now at home.
No fewer than six senior medical consultants have successfully performed surgery on Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, to treat the recurrent pain caused by a fracture in his leg.
