WordPress

Category: Foreign

  • Digital hajj operation a sure check against illegal pilgrims – NAHCON

    Pilgrims

    By Salisu Sani-Idris

    Mina (Saudi Arabia), June 15, 2024 (NAN) The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), says the introduction of digital hajj operation by the Saudi authorities has prevented illegal pilgrims from gaining access to hajj camps this year.

    Its Executive Chairman, Malam Jalal Arabi, stated this during a Special National Prayer Session held at the plain of Arafat in Mina, Saudi Arabia, on Saturday.

    Arabi said that the digital hajj was the best way to guard against infiltrators and would ensure the pilgrims got value for their money.

    “In 2023 or 2022 hajj, you could see faces that were not eligible to be here who must have found their ways in.

    “But with some of the technologies introduced, you can’t come in here unless you are a genuine pilgrim.

    “What people tend to forget is that any illegible pilgrim that has found his way here is displacing an eligible pilgrim; in other words, all the pilgrims that are here paid their money for the services.

    “The money they paid covers where they will sleep, the bus they will ride and the food they will eat. So, imagine people coming to displace such people.

    “I like this innovation that was introduced that says you must have to have a card that gives you access; you have to carry your visa, which will be scanned before even getting to your accommodation.

    “The bus is labelled in so many ways. With the improvement in the services in the tent, you will know that things are working according to plan; you are bound to have your space and enjoy without any hindrance. ”

    On the significance of the national prayer, Arabi said that prayer had become part and parcel of any successful pilgrimage.

    According to him, organising special national prayer for Nigeria has been the tradition of NAHCON which he met on ground.

    “But this time around, because of the volume of those that have been invited to join the team of scholars, you could see that it has wider spread.

    “We spent much more time than in the past. I think that is a good sign,” he said. (NAN)

    SSI/ETS

    ===≈==/

  • Nigerian pilgrims converge at plain of Arafat for hajj rite

    Arafat

    By Salisu Sani-Idris

    Mina (Saudi Arabia), June 15, 2024 (NAN) No fewer than 65,000 Nigerian pilgrims on Saturday joined their Muslims counterpart from around the world who observe Arafat Day at Muna, Mecca, Saudi Arabia.

    They converge at the plain of Arafat to perform the core hajj rite.The ritual at Mount Arafat, known as the hill of mercy, is considered the peak of the Hajj pilgrimage.

    It is often the most memorable for pilgrims, who stand shoulder to shoulder, feet to feet, asking Almighty Allah for mercy, blessings, prosperity and good health. The mount is about 20 kilometers southeast of Mecca.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that pilgrims marched to Arafat under comprehensive security arrangements coordinated by the officials of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) and Saudi authorities.

    The security personnel ensured the smooth flow of both vehicles and pedestrians by securing routes and implementing transportation and dispatching plans.

    The security also provided guidance and ensured the safety of the pilgrims.

    NAN reports that both officials of NAHCON and Saudi authorities provide numerous services in the Arafat area.

    The services include medical, emergency, and food services, catering to the needs of pilgrims who have traveled from all corners of the world to fulfill the fifth pillar of Islam.

    Addressing pilgrims in Hajj rite, Dr Abdallah Gadonkaya, enjoined Nigerian pilgrims to use the opportunity of Arafat to seek divine forgiveness and solutions to their personal challenges.

    The cleric also admonished pilgrims to prayed for the restoration of peace and economic prosperity to some parts of Nigeria that are facing security challenges.

    He emphasised the need for pilgrims to conduct themselves and exhibit good behaviour with a view to projecting the image of Nigeria positively. (NAN)

    SSI/ADA

    Edited by Deji Abdulwahab

  • Kaduna pilgrim dies in Makkah

    Dead
    By Muhammad Lawal
    Arfat (Saudi Arabia), June 15, 2024 (NAN) A female pilgrim from Kaduna State, Hajiya Asma’u Muhammad-Ladan, died at the King Fahad Hospital in Makkah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on Friday after a brief illness.
    This is contained in a statement by the Public Relations Officer (PRO), Kaduna State Pilgrims Welfare Agency, Malam Yunusa Muhammad-Abdullahi, issued to newsmen in Arfat on Saturday.
    The PRO, who did not indicate her Local Government of origin, however, said that the deceased was registered at the headquarters of the agency.
    The statement said the family of the late pilgrim had been notified, adding that the management and staff of the agency commiserated with them over the incident. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
    KLM/BRM
    ==============
    Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani

  • Sallah: I ‘ll never disappoint Kebbi people – Gov. Idris

    Sallah
    By Muhammad Lawal
    Arfat, (Saudi Arabia), June 15, 2024 (NAN), Gov. Nasir Idris of Kebbi, has promised not to disappoint the people of the state in his efforts to take the state to the next level of development.
    Alhaji Ahmed Idris, Chief Press Secretary to the governor disclosed this in a statement issued to newsmen in Arfat, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on Saturday.
    Idris quoted his principal as saying this in his Sallah message to mark the 1445 Eid-el-Kabir celebration.
    The governor said his desire for Kebbi to be one of the best states in Nigeria was beyond someone’s imagination.
    Idris observed that his coming into the position of authority was by the will of God Almighty, who influenced the minds of the Kebbi people to support and vote him into power.
    “Therefore, I am ready to serve you better and by His (Almighty) grace, I will never disappoint you people.
    ”Let me reiterate that my mission and vision for the state is for the good of all, not for my personal aggrandizement,” he assured.
    While appreciating the good people of Kebbi for rallying round his administration,  Idris solicited for more support and cooperation from all and sundry to enable him give the state a befitting outlook.
    He felicitated the Muslim Ummah in Kebbi, Nigeria and around the globe for yet another Eid-el-Kabir celebration and prayed for a blissful, peaceful and successful Sallah celebration.
    To the pilgrims, the governor rejoiced with them over a successful and peaceful Hajj exercise and prayed for an acceptable Hajj (Hajj Mabrur) to each pilgrim.
    He then commended the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) and the Kebbi Pilgrims Welfare Board for their tireless efforts towards a successful Hajj operations.
    Idris appealed to both organisations to sustain the gigantic efforts for a successful  Hajj exercise.
    The governor thanked the different Hajj  committees in the state for working round the clock to achieve the successes recorded so far and urged them to improve on what they have done in the subsequent years. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
    KLM/BRM
    ============
    Edited by Bashir Rabe Mnai

  • CCJ digitalisation ’ll enhance transparency, speed in justice delivery —Asante


    Justice Edward Asante, President, ECOWAS Court of Justice, speaking at the event. 

    Digitalisation

    By Mark Longyen

    Abuja, June 14, 2024 (NAN) Justice Edward Asante, President, ECOWAS Court of Justice (CCJ) says the court’s digitalisation scheme of adopting Electronic Case Management System (ECMS), will facilitate access, efficiency, transparency, and speedy justice delivery.

    Asante stated this at a sensitisation and training programme for lawyers on CCJ’s newly introduced ECMS in Accra, Ghana, on Friday, the court said.

    He said that the adoption of ECMS, which was in line with the 2020 Practice Directions on Electronic Case Management and Virtual Court Sessions, marked a significant shift towards technological solutions.

    “These innovations have now become permanent features, including online filing of legal documents, electronic service of documents, and virtual court sessions via platforms such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams, the president explained.

    “The introduction of the ECMS represents a further commitment to modernising judicial processes, aiming for greater efficiency and accessibility.

    “The system supports electronic filing, automatic electronic service, and comprehensive electronic management of cases.

    “With 24/7 access through a user-friendly portal available in English, French, and Portuguese, the ECMS facilitates real-time case information, court notifications, and hearing schedules, enhancing transparency and reducing costs,” he said.

    The President recalled that the court’s efforts to enhance access to justice through digitalisation, was accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

    He said that the week-long programme would enable practitioners to navigate the court’s innovative digital platform, and encourage them to fully engage with the training to harness its benefits.

    Justice Asante recalled that CCJ was established by the Lagos Treaty of 1975, became operational in 2001, and its jurisdiction was expanded in 2005 to include human rights cases within the community.

    He described the inclusion of human rights cases as crucial in upholding fundamental human rights, the rule of law, and good governance in West Africa.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Accra programme is the second of three planned events, following a similar one in Lomé, Togo, with the final one holding later in Praia, Cape Verde.

    The programme, which is conducted in hybrid format, and in the three official languages of ECOWAS -English, French and Portuguese, draws participating lawyers from across ECOWAS member states, both in person and online.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

    YEN/AMM

    ========

    Edited by Abiemwense Moru

  • Organisation advocates adequate investment in knowledge exchange among Africans

    Organisation advocates adequate investment in knowledge exchange among Africans

    Education

    By Fortune Abang

    Abuja, June 14, 2024 (NAN) The African School of Diplomacy and International Relations (ASDIR) has underscored the need for cooperation and knowledge exchange among Africans through peer-to-peer education.

    The Vice-Chairman/CEO of ASDIR, Tunji Asaolu, disclosed this on Friday in Abuja, while briefing reporters on the African peer-to-peer education conference and tour, scheduled to be held from July 28 to 31, 2024 in Kigali.

    The event with the theme: “Promoting the Spirit of Pan-Africanism Through Education, Experiences and Interactions”, was organised by the school in collaboration with Rwanda Cooperation and the Queens University Belfast, UK.

    According to him, the educational tour in Kigali will help advance the African Union (AU’s) agenda and ensure a brighter future for the African youth, who are forerunners of transformative change in the 21st century.

    Asaolu said, “Our tour has three primary objectives. Firstly, to facilitate knowledge exchanges by engaging participants in dynamic dialogues on diplomatic practices and international relations within Africa.

    “Secondly, to offer a deeper understanding of post-conflict reconciliation through Rwanda’s remarkable journey, serving as a model for positive transformation.

    “Lastly, to foster collaboration and networking among participants, creating a platform for impactful change and innovation in diplomacy and international relations.”

    Asaolu, who is also Deputy Secretary-General of African Affairs and Special envoy to the AU, said not less than 1000 students across various fields globally have so far affiliated with the ASDIR school founded in 2018.

    He said that the peer-to-peer education conference opened for Nigerians to participate, and would feature the award of an honorary doctorate and interaction on Rwanda’s foreign policy.

    He added that it would also provide a platform for diaspora engagement and regional integration within the East African Community (EAC) while urging relevant stakeholders to work closely with the organisation to achieve the targets.

    “I invite all stakeholders, policymakers, educators, and advocates for education to join hands in realising the transformative potential of education, as the catalyst for sustainable development and inclusive growth in Africa.

    “Let us heed the call to promote education and skill in Africa in the 21st Century; join us on this extraordinary journey to Kigali, Rwanda, as we embrace the spirit of Pan-Africa towards a brighter future,” he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

    FEA/AMM

    ==========

    Edited by Abiemwense Moru

     

  • UNICEF seeks more investments in education for African children

    UNICEF seeks more investments in education for African children

    Education

    Nairobi, June 14, 2024 (Xinhua/NAN) United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said massive investments in basic education for African children are required to help the continent realise its long-term transformation agenda.

    Etleza Kadili, UNICEF regional director for Eastern and Southern Africa, said in a statement issued in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital ahead of the Day of the African Child that will be marked Sunday.

    It said education financing on the continent remains dismal.

    It added that less than one in five countries have dedicated 20 per cent of their public budgets to enhancing foundational skills for their children.

    “To ensure prosperity in Africa we urgently need to see a continental revolution where commitments are turned into concrete action so children can attain the foundational skills necessary for them to progress to higher forms of education.”

    The theme of the 2024 Day of the African Child, which is observed annually on June 16, will be “Education for all children in Africa: the time is now,” underscoring the urgency to realise universal childhood literacy in the continent.

    UNICEF said in spite of its role in building human capital to propel Africa’s growth, education financing in the continent has slackened, preventing millions of children from acquiring the basic literacy and skills that they require to thrive.

    In spite of significant efforts by African governments over the last decade to boost primary and secondary school enrolment, schools continue to lack basic amenities, are overcrowded, and have insufficient teachers, according to UNICEF.

    The UN agency noted that four out of every five African children aged 10 years are unable to read and understand a simple written text, highlighting the dismal learning outcomes on the continent.

    UNICEF estimates that about 183 billion U.S. dollars are required annually to support children’s education in Africa and achieve the Sustainable Development Goal on education.

    However, available resources currently stand at 106 billion U.S. dollars, leaving a financing gap of over 40 per cent.

    The agency further noted that African governments spend around two per cent of their education budgets on pre-primary education, while 20 per cent is allocated to tertiary learning. (Xinhua/NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

    UMD/AMM

    =========

    Edited by Ummul Idris and Abiemwense Moru

     

     

     

  • Putin demands Ukrainian troop withdrawal in exchange for peace

    Putin demands Ukrainian troop withdrawal in exchange for peace
    Troops
    Moscow, June 14, 2024 (dpa/NAN) Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday said the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the territories annexed by his country is a prerequisite for any settlement of the ongoing war.
    Putin said this during a visit to the Foreign Ministry in Moscow ahead of the Ukraine peace summit in Switzerland at the weekend.
    If Ukraine also renounces membership of NATO, Russia would be prepared to cease fire and enter negotiations immediately.
    His speech was clearly aimed at the current G7 summit in Italy and the Ukraine event opening on Saturday in the Swiss mountain hotel resort of Bürgenstock.
    The affiliation of the Ukrainian regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhya and Kherson to Russia is no longer in question, Putin said.
    Ukraine should withdraw its army from the parts of these regions that it still controls, he added.
    The Kremlin leader said he was stating Russia’s minimum demands in order not to freeze the conflict but to resolve it once and for all.
    At the same time, Putin repeated the demands he made when he ordered the invasion of the neighbouring country in February 2022: The creation of a neutral, non-aligned and nuclear-free Ukraine.
    The country should also be disarmed and “denazified,” said Putin, using a term widely interpreted in the West as meaning the instalment of a Russia-approved leadership in Kiev.
    Russia currently occupies around a fifth of Ukraine’s territory, including the Crimean peninsula, which it illegally annexed in 2014.
    Ukraine has so far adhered to its stated goal of retaking the occupied territory, including Crimea.
    President Volodymyr Zelensky is also calling for the prosecution of Russian war crimes and Russian reparations for the destruction caused. (dpa/NAN) (www.nannes.ng)
    UMD/EAL
    ======
    Edited by Ummul Idris/Ekemini Ladejobi

  • Putin denounces G7 deal on frozen Russian assets

    Putin denounces G7 deal on frozen Russian assets
    Assets
    Moscow, June 14, 2024 (dpa/NAN)  Russian President Vladimir Putin has on Friday blasted an agreement by G7 leaders to use frozen Russian assets to help Ukraine as “theft” and promised retaliation.
    He said Western powers were still trying to “create at least some legal basis” for the decision taken on Thursday.
    “But in spite all the fuss theft will remain theft. It will not go unpunished,” he said in a speech at the Foreign Ministry in Moscow.
    The G7 summit began on Thursday in southern Italy with a deal to lend Ukraine 50 billion U.S. dollars using the interest generated from frozen Russian state assets.
    The money is to be made available to Ukraine by the end of the year.
    The U.S. government says around 280 billion U.S. dollars of Russian central bank money has been immobilised in Western countries due to sanctions imposed since the full-scale Russian attack on Ukraine more than two years ago.
    The bulk of the money is within the European Union.
    Kiev is set to use the money to strengthen its defence, pay for the reconstruction of infrastructure and fund the state budget.
    But before it can be disbursed teams from the G7 countries Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States must clarify the outstanding technical and legal details.  (dpa/NAN) (www.nannes.ng)
    UMD/EAL
    ======
    Edited by Ummul Idris/Ekemini Ladejobi

  • Saudi, Chinese firms conduct air taxi trial

    Saudi, Chinese firms conduct air taxi trial
    Taxi
    Riyadh, June 14, 2024 (Xinhua/NAN)  Saudi and Chinese companies have carried out a successful test trial of the first unmanned air taxi in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.
    The demonstration was carried out by the Front End Limited Company, a Saudi firm specialising in integrating advanced technology across various sectors, in partnership with EHang, a Chinese autonomous aerial vehicle technology platform company.
    The trial aims to enhance travel speed, efficiency, and sustainability during Hajj, an annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, the holiest city for Muslims.
    Abdulaziz Al-Duailej, president of the General Authority of Civil Aviation of Saudi Arabia, said the trial marks a major advancement in integrating Advanced Air Mobility solutions into Saudi Arabia’s aviation landscape. (Xinhua/NAN) (www.nannes.ng)
    UMD/EAL
    ======
    Edited by Ummul Idris/Ekemini Ladejobi