The federal government has approved only three airlines for the airlift of intending pilgrims for the 2024 hajj exercise.

The approved airlines are Airpeace, MaxAir and FlyNas.

A statement by the The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) Assistant Director on Public Affairs, Farima Sanda Usara, on Friday said, “the Federal Government of Nigeria under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has officially granted approval to three distinguished airlines to serve as exclusive carriers for the 2024 Hajj pilgrimage, they are Air Peace Ltd., FlyNas and Max Air.”

Usara stated that the government also approved three other air cargo companies that will airfreight pilgrims’ excess luggage. “They are Cargo Zeal Technologies Ltd, Nahco Aviance and Qualla Investment Limited.”

She stated that the approval reinforces the government’s commitment to ensuring a seamless and secure pilgrimage experience for Nigerian intending pilgrims.

She said, “Consequently, the Federal government concurrently approved allocation of pilgrims from various states to each of the approved airlines as follows: Air Peace is to transport intending pilgrims from: Abia, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, FCT, Imo, Kwara, Ondo and Rivers States.

“FlyNas will airlift Muslim pilgrims from Borno, Lagos, Osun, Ogun,Niger, Sokoto, Kebbi, Yobe and Zamfara States.

“Max Air with the highest allocation will be responsible for moving pilgrims from: Bauchi, Benue, Kano, Katsina, Kogi, Nasarawa, Adamawa, Oyo, Taraba, Kaduna, Armed Forces, Gombe, Jigawa and Plateau States.”

Usara stated that the allocation of pilgrims to the airlines was in line with the subsisting Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia on airlift of pilgrims under government quota.

“However, state governments may choose to designate any of the approved freight companies to convey their pilgrims’ excess luggage. Should any state enter such exclusive arrangement, the decision should be communicated to the Commission accordingly.”

She added that the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, is set to lead a delegation from NAHCON to partake in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the 2024 Hajj pilgrimage on 7th January 2024.

“The Chairman of the commission Malam Jalal Arabi congratulated the approved airlines on their selection and called on them to gear up to facilitating smooth pilgrimage in 2024 season. NAHCON remains dedicated to upholding the highest standards in pilgrimage organization, with a focus on the safety and satisfaction of pilgrims,” she said

The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Tunji Alausa, has revealed that President Bola Tinubu is concerned with the recent hike in the price of drugs and the recent scarcity of essential medicine in the country.

Speaking with reporters after the official commissioning of a new clinical complex at the Federal Medical Centre, Ebutte Metta, Lagos, the minister revealed that the president was having sleepless nights over the current situation detailing that the high cost of drugs and the exit of some multinational pharmaceutical companies from Nigeria were key issues the president was working tirelessly to address.

Recall that multinational British pharmaceutical and biotechnology corporation, GlaxoSmithKline made the announcement that it was leaving Nigeria in August of 2023.

In the aftermath of GSK’s exit, prices of medicine produced by the company went up as their products became scarce.

Naija News reports that the minister stressed that the president was determined to build sustainable, durable and comprehensive healthcare systems for Nigerians.

He said, “Mr. President is having sleepless nights on this drug scarcity. He has discussed with us what we need to do. What President Bola Ahmed Tinubu wants for this country is sustainable, durable, comprehensive health care. He just doesn’t want us to scratch the surface.

“He (Tinubu) is very real and very truthful to Nigerians. He wants to fix the healthcare system, and he is working to deploy his time and resources of the country into our healthcare system. I know things are hard, but Nigerians should bear with us. Things will be turned to get better in the not-too-distant future.”

“It is a multifaceted solution that we have to provide to this problem. Number one, we have the problem of counterfeiting as well. We are working with NAFDAC and Customs to reduce the importation of counterfeit drugs into our country. We are also working with some of the local pharmaceutical companies to increase production.

“And some of the companies that are planning to leave, we are talking to them to bear with us not to leave. We are also working on various forms of integrations where we can encourage local manufacturing in our country.”

The Surulere Federal Constituency I bye-election notice has been officially published by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Lagos State.

The INEC Public Affairs Officer in Lagos State, Adenike Oriowo, who confirmed the development to journalists on Friday, said the notice had been displayed at the commission’s headquarters in Sabo-Yaba for public viewing since Thursday.

According to her, the notice had also been posted at the INEC Surulere Local Government Area Office, adding that the electoral commission had already commenced the implementation of activities and the timetable for the upcoming elections.

Oriowo emphasized that INEC’s preparations were in full swing to ensure strict compliance with the relevant laws and guidelines governing the poll.

She assured that the commission was committed to delivering a credible bye-election in the constituency.

It could be recalled that INEC had announced the schedule for re-run and by-elections in nine states, including Surulere Federal Constituency in Lagos State, to take place on Feb. 3, 2024.

As per the poll timetable, the party primary elections, along with the resolution of any disputes arising from them, will be held between Jan. 5 and Jan. 9.

The public campaigns conducted by political parties will begin on Jan. 18 and conclude on Feb. 1, Naija News understands.

The vacancy in the Surulere seat occurred due to the resignation of the former occupant, Femi Gbajabiamila, who was appointed as the Chief of Staff by President Bola Tinubu after his victory.

Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State on Friday called on the people of the state not to allow their ethnic, political, and religious differences divide them.

He also stressed that as a people, their strength lies in their unity.

Mutfwang spoke during the presentation of staff of office to the new Ngolong Ngas, at the Pankshin township stadium, Pankshin LGA of the state.

“I charge all Plateau people not to allow our ethnic, political, and religious differences to divide us.

“Like I have often remarked; our strength is in our unity and there is no force no matter how formidable a united people cannot overcome,” he stressed.

Earlier, the governor said, “It is my privilege to address you on this long-awaited occasion of the coronation and presentation of the staff of office to the new Ngolong Ngas, His Royal Highness Nde Jika Golit, on First Class status.

“This occasion is unique and very dear to my administration, as we all know the traditional institution is vital to the preservation of our cultural heritage and the promotion of our co-existence as a people who share a common identity.

“We value the continuous maintenance of the norms, traditions, and practices that serve the greater interest of the people.

“You are all aware that almost a decade ago, God the creator in His divine way called home the late Ngolong Ngas, Nde Joshua Dimlong of blessed memory, to eternal glory to join his ancestors.

“This loss created a vacuum and by the special grace of God, a successor who will take over from where he stopped emerged in a peaceful process.

“Today, by the grace of God, he will be crowned and presented with the staff of office to continue the good works of his predecessor.

“I therefore wish to congratulate the Ngolong Ngas, Nde Jika Golit, on his ascension to the throne of his ancestors. His selection by the kingmakers, through a peaceful and rancour-free atmosphere, is worthy of emulation by other ethnic groups in the state.

“Let me say at this point that it has become very expedient for us to hold this remarkable occasion at this crucial period of our collective existence.

“As you are aware that a week of mourning was declared in honor of our beloved people who were gruesomely murdered during the cruel Christmas Eve attacks and the days that followed, in Bokkos, Mangu, and Barkin-Ladi Local Government Areas.

“Therefore, this occasion is low key and won’t involve the usual processions, glamour and celebrations, as it should be the case, in observance of the week of mourning. May their souls rest in peace and may the Lord comfort us, most especially those directly affected.”

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited says it will complete test runs at the Port Harcourt refinery this month.

Femi Soneye, NNPC’s spokesperson, in an interview with Reuters on Thursday, said testing will be concluded soon.

“Testing will conclude shortly, ensuring the refinery’s efficient operation. That phase will be completed this month,” he said.

The Port Harcourt refinery, which was shut in 2019, is among the state-owned refineries that have remained moribund for years.

The federal government, in March 2021, approved the sum of $1.5 billion for the rehabilitation of the plant.

In December 2023, the NNPC said it completed the mechanical phase of the turnaround maintenance at the Port Harcourt refinery.

Speaking on the timeframe of operations, Heineken Lokpobiri, minister of state for petroleum resources (oil), said production would commence after phase one of the rehabilitation of the refinery is completed.

“This is just to announce to Nigerians that in fulfilment of our pledge to bring on stream phase 1 of the PH refinery by the end of 2023 and the subsequent streaming of phase 2 in 2024, we heartily announce the mechanical completion and flare up of the refinery on the 20th of December 2023,” he had said.

Lokpobiri, in August 2023, had said the Warri refinery would also come on stream by the end of the first quarter (Q1) of this year, promising that Kaduna refinery will also come on board towards the end of 2024.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has approved the launch of the Nigerian naira (cNGN) stablecoin.

The cNGN, which will be launched on February 27, 2024, is powered by the Africa Stablecoin Consortium (ASC), a consortium of Nigerian financial institutions, fintechs, and blockchain experts.

Stablecoins are cryptocurrencies specifically designed to maintain a constant value. They are often pegged or tied to another currency, commodity or financial instrument.

In a statement on its website on Thursday, the ASC said the cNGN stablecoin has met the regulatory standards and requirements as established by the CBN, the Nigerian Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU).

The ASC said it is committed to enhancing secure and compliant financial interactions, revolutionising the way people transact and engage with their money securely and seamlessly.

“This ushers in a new era of financial fluidity, bridging the Nigerian Naira with the global market through blockchain technology,” the statement reads.

“Backed 1:1 by Naira reserves held in designated commercial banks, the cNGN Stablecoin transforms the Naira into a dynamic tool for worldwide remittances, commerce, trade, and investment.

“More than just a currency, cNGN shortens settlement times, enabling payments that traverse the globe swiftly, mirroring the speed of a text message and at a fraction of the cost.

“This breakthrough paves the way for instantaneous financial transactions, seamlessly connecting Nigeria’s vibrant economy with international markets and offering unprecedented efficiency in both domestic and global financial interactions.”

WHAT CAN BE DONE WITH THE NAIRA STABLECOIN

According to the ASC, people can pay for anything, anywhere, and at any time. With a seamless tap, users can shop the world and pay in naira without the traditional challenges of currency conversion and hefty international transaction fees.

The consortium also said “supporting your loved ones back home becomes as simple as a quick tap on your phone” with the new innovation.

“No more standing in lines. With cNGN, funds land directly in their wallets within seconds, ready to fuel their dreams and brighten their days. No more distance, no more delays, just the magic of compliant virtual assets bridging the gap between hearts,” the ASC added.

“Cut out the red tape and sky-high fees of traditional international trade. With cNGN you can send and receive payments across the globe instantly enabling you to transact with national & international partners in any stablecoin currency, fueling economic growth and global success.

“Get paid, anywhere, instantly. Ditch the limitations of location and outdated payment systems. With cNGN, you can freelance for the world, right from your desk in Nigeria. Your talent knows no borders, so why should your income? Skip the bank queues and paperwork.”

The unveiling of the cNGN is coming over two years after digital currency transactions were banned by the apex bank.

In February 2021, CBN directed deposit money banks (DMBs), non-bank financial institutions (NBFIs), and other financial institutions (OFIs) to close accounts of persons or entities involved in cryptocurrency transactions within their systems.

The regulator further warned local financial institutions against dealing in crypto assets or facilitating payments for crypto exchanges, citing money laundering (ML), terrorism financing (TF), cybercrime, and the volatility of cryptocurrencies as reasons for the ban.

However, the apex bank on December 22, 2023, issued fresh operational guidelines on virtual assets service providers (VASPs) to all banks and OFIs — signalling a shift from its initial position which restricts crypto transactions.

VASPs are entities that conduct exchanges between virtual assets (cryptocurrencies) and fiat currencies and transfers of virtual assets.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has dropped its charges of fraud, bribery and conspiracy against a former attorney-general of the federation, Mohammed Bello Adoke.

This is in response to the no-case submission filed by Adoke, who was listed as the first defendant in the charges all related to the OPL 245 transaction of 2011.

The anti-graft agency said it does not have evidence to support its charges of fraud, bribery and conspiracy against Adoke.

The EFCC also informed the FCT high court that it would not oppose Adoke’s application, alongside that of the other defendants in the case which include Aliyu Abubakar, Rasky Gbinigie (Malabu Oil & Gas Ltd company secretary), Malabu Oil & Gas Ltd, Nigeria Agip Exploration Ltd, Shell Ultra Deep Nigeria Ltd, and Shell Nigeria Exploration Production Company Ltd (SNEPCo), over some of the charges.

However, the EFCC said that Gbinigie has a case to answer over the alleged forgery of company documents to remove the name of Mohammed Abacha as a director of Malabu Oil & Gas.

Recall that that the EFCC had charged Adoke before the FCT high court, Abuja, alleging that he received a bribe of N300 million from Abubakar over the OPL 245 resolution.

[ThisNigeria]

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp joked Friday that he is not wishing Mohamed Salah too much luck at the Africa Cup of Nations as he prepares for a crucial spell of games without his top scorer.

Salah is away with Egypt for the tournament in Ivory Coast while Japan captain Wataru Endo will be involved at the Asian Cup in Qatar, with both players expected to go deep in the respective competitions.

That could mean they will not be back until the second week in February but Klopp said he sent them on their way this week without wishing them too much success.

“I said if I wish you good luck it would be a lie,” Klopp said ahead of Liverpool’s FA Cup third-round tie at Arsenal on Sunday.

“From a personal point of view, I would be happy if they go out in the group stage but that’s probably not possible. They can go on and win it.

“So it was ‘Good luck and come back healthy’. We have to deal with it and we will deal with it. I am pretty positive that we will find a way.”

Klopp does not really have a suitable replacement for Salah, who plays on the right side of his attack and has scored 18 goals in all competitions this season.

Midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai was touted as a potential option but he has been ruled out for at least two matches with a hamstring injury sustained in the New Year’s Day win over Newcastle.

But Klopp, whose side are top of the Premier League, is confident Liverpool can fill the hole left by Salah.

“I think we played against West Ham (in last month’s League Cup quarter-final) without Mo on that side and Harvey Elliott played there,” he said.

“We have different offensive options who can all play that wing in a different way. Nobody else can play like Mo, it is not possible — we just have to use the boys with their skills.

“Do we want to play without Mo? No. In the past we didn’t have to do it often but we always found a way.

“But we play Arsenal and you can lose to Arsenal with Mo Salah so it’s possible to lose to them without him.”

Klopp said he was braced for a challenging January, even though there are fewer Premier League games due to a mid-season player break.

Liverpool’s game at the Emirates comes just two weeks after the title-chasing sides drew 1-1 at Anfield in the Premier League and will be followed by the first leg of their League Cup semi-final against Fulham on Wednesday.

“Some teams obviously don’t play that often in January,” he said. “We don’t have that, we have now with the semi-final, we have a proper rhythm.

“I think a re-match against Arsenal would really not be helpful, that’s how it is, because it just doesn’t fit in, would kill the winter break, stuff like this.”

[OpinionNigeria]

CABLE television service provider StarTimes has secured the rights to show the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Nigeria and other sub-Sahara countries.

StarTimes announced the rights acquisition today, two days after its rival SuperSport, who had broadcast the previous editions of the tournament, confirmed it would not be showing AFCON 2023.

The tournament will be held in from January 13 to February 11 across five cities in Cote d’Ivoire, with the Super Eagles of Nigeria one of 24 national teams taking part.

“In a groundbreaking move that promises to redefine sports broadcasting, media giant StarTimes has officially secured the rights to air the highly anticipated TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Cote d’Ivoire 2023 and all CAF events held in 2024 in Anglophone and Lusophone countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, including CHAN 2024 and AFCON 2025 Qualifiers,” StarTimes stated today.

“This strategic acquisition cements StarTimes’ commitment to delivering premium sports content to its viewers and reinforces its position as a leading player in the African media landscape.

“All the fifty-two matches will be aired exclusively on Sports Premium, Sports Life and Beta Sports channels.

“The Africa Cup of Nations, organised by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), stands as one of the most prestigious football tournaments on the continent.”

The Confederation of African Football had announced in November that it had sold the rights to AFCON and other competitions to New World TV, a relatively new outfit based in Togo, for the next three years.

New World TV in turn has redistributed the rights to channels across the continent, with StarTimes and some free-to-air stations set to show the matches of AFCON 2023 to Nigerians.

[NaijaTimes]

There is mounting pressure on Peter Obi to dump his presidential ambition and run as vice presidential candidate to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in 2027.

Obi was the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 general elections; where he was placed third in the result announced by the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu.

Obi is being lured to contest in a joint-ticket with Atiku on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2027 presidential election.

According to a notable member of the PDP, Uche Rochas, who is in the vanguard of mobilising for Atiku towards 2027, “There is time and process for everything. He should know that and should stop running faster than himself.”

Rochas had declared:

Arc Uche Rochas
@U_Rochas

“This is the only way that I can forgive Peter Obi my brother. I hope this message gets to him.

“There is time and process for everything. He should know that and should stop running faster than himself.”
Some stakeholders in the polity perceive Atiku/Obi joint ticket as a coming tsunami.

Meanwhile, some others are raising the question of what will become the place of former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, who was vice presidential candidate to Atiku in 2023.

Uche Rochas had steered the the political storm when he declared his support for Atiku to contest for the 2027 presidential election, arguing that the former vice president has the right to do so.

[NationalDaily]