Police operatives in Anambra State on Wednesday at upper Iweka, Onitsha nabbed an armed robbery suspect in a commercial bus en route to Onitsha. (more…)
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Eid-el-Kabir: FRSC deploys 641 personnel in Niger
The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) in Niger has deployed 641 personnel, 25 patrol vehicles and three ambulances to ensure a smooth flow of traffic and safety during the Eid-el-Kabir.
Mr Joel Dagwa, the FRSC Sector Commander in the state, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Minna.
Dagwa said that erring motorists would be apprehended and sanctioned.
“There will be more mobile courts just to ensure qualified and dully certified drivers and vehicles ply the highways during and after the festivities in the state,” he said.
He said that the personnel had been deployed to the Minna-Bida, Mokwa-Suleja, Tafa-Kaduna, Lambata-Agaie, and Lapai-Bida highways.
Other strategic areas, he said, include the Suleja and Minna- Kontagora highways.
“We have stationed one heavy duty truck at Mokwa-Jebba highway.
”Our special patrol for the season will not spare drivers without driver’s licence, vehicle particulars, under-aged drivers and those with worn-out tyres.
”We will be visible on all the major federal highways to ensure that road users obey traffic rules and regulations during and after the festivities,” he said.
Dagwa called on commercial drivers and other motorists to put their vehicles in good condition before embarking on any journey during and after the celebrations. (NAN)
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PTAD Pays N784,377,933.27 Pension Arrears to 502 Beneficiaries
The Federal Government through the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) has paid 502 Civil Service Pensioners the sum of N784,377,933.27 (Seven Hundred and Eighty-Four Million Three Hundred and Seventy-Seven Thousand Nine Hundred and Thirty-Three Naira Twenty-Seven Kobo) as pension arrears.
The category of pensioners who received this payment include 262 verified eligible pensioners with complaints of non-payment of pension arrears from the North East, South East, North West and South South Zones. They received a total of N370,162,701.77 (Three Hundred and Seventy Million, One Hundred and Sixty-Two Thousand Seven Hundred and One Naira Seventy-Seven Kobo).
41 pensioners who were part of the 24,021 suspended in April 2018 for non-verification but have now been verified and restored to the monthly pension payroll with pension arrears for the months of April 2018 – June 2019 have received the sum of N15,543,703.96 (Fifteen Million Five Hundred and Forty-Three Thousand Seven Hundred and Three Naira Ninety-Six Kobo).
In the same vein, N398,671,527.54 (Three Hundred and Ninety-Eight Million Six Hundred and Seventy-One Thousand Five Hundred and Twenty-Seven Naira Fifty Four Kobo) was paid to 199 verified eligible pensioners added to the pension payroll in July 2018 from the South West and North Central Zones.
The Directorate wishes to assure verified eligible pensioners awaiting payment of their pension arrears, that in line with restoring hope in pension administration under the Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS), outstanding arrears will be cleared.
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Arafat: 80 Islamic scholars enlighten Nigerian pilgrims on hajj ethics
By Dada Ahmed
No fewer than 80 Ulamas (clerics) will preach to Nigerian pligrims on hajj ethics as they joined over 1.8 million other pilgrims from across the world in Muna on Friday.The pilgrims would be in Muna for three days to under go series of hajj rites culminating in Arafat on Aug.10.
The Coordinator of the National Ulama team, Imam Ahmed Sahad, disclosed this on Friday in Makkah during the 2019 Hajj Pre-Arafat meeting with stakeholders.
The occasion was organised by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) to brief the public on the journey so far in the course of the 2019 pilgrimage.
According to him, the team has carried out series of programmes to enlighten the pilgrims, to ensure they keep in tune with the principles of Islam.
In his opening remarks, the acting Chairman of the commission, Alhaji Abdullahi Muhammad, listed Alhaji Abdullahi Abubakar among the clerics.
He said that President Muhammadu Buhari ordered the membership of Abubakar into the team in appreciation of his gesture.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 84-year-old Imam of Yelwa central mosque hid about 300 victims of a Jos crisis thereby saving them from being killed.
Muhammad urged members of the team to enlighten the pilgrims on the ethics of hajj to ensure an acceptable pilgrimage.
“Hajj is multi institutional and needs the support of other stakeholders in the society to succeed.
” I urge you to work as a team, to give the pilgrims teaching that will not confuse them, no scholarly debate, don’t involve the pilgrims beyond their comprehension.
“This is to make sure the pilgrims get value for their money,” he said.
The acting chairman, who said that the commission had concluded arrangement for a successful Hajj this year, called on the stakeholders to join hands with it to accomplish the task.
He also called on the pilgrims to tolerate one another in Arafat and imbibe the preaching of the clerics to have a satisfactory pilgrimage.
” There may not be enough space for every pilgrim, therefore, it becomes important that pilgrims must tolerate one another in ensuring they attain acceptable Hajj,” he said.
The Head medical team in the commission, Dr Ibrahim Kana, advised pilgrims to take adequate water to avoid dehydration and other related challenges.
In his address of welcome, the Nigerian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, retired Justice Issa Dodo, lauded NAHCON and its staff “for a good job” in Hajj activities and called on them to enhance the tempo.
A member of the National Ulama team, Khadijah Gambo, stressed the need for NAHCON to ensure that pilgrims were enlightened, on the ethics of hajj, three months before pilgrimage to avoid “embarrassing situation.”
The Commissioner in charge of operations in the commission, Alhaji Abdullahi Saleh, said the number of Nigerian pilgrims to Saudi Arabia this year, increased by 15 per cent.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that many Islamic scholars and top members of staff attended the occasion.
NAN
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NCAC Director-General, Olusegun Runsewe Condemns Lekki Naked Dance, Says It’s A Negation Of Nigerian Culture
Director General National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), otunba segun Runsewe has thrown his weight behind Lagos government decision to fish out brains behind the Lekki public naked dance, saying the show negates the beauty of Nigerian culture and way of life.
Runsewe who has zero tolerance for attitudes and culture unbecoming of well brought up nigerian young persons, described the lekki public show as unacceptable, Jezebelistic and sin against nigerian culture which must be condemned, rediculed and rejected by Nigerians from all works of life.
The NCAC boss whose major forte is to reposition the true gains and pictures of Nigeria’s diverse cultural history and impact, noted that the Lekki debacle must be used as an example to officially clamp down on promoters and influencers of strange entertainment from the pit of hell, adding that Nigeria will never succumb to imported cultural pastime or to blackmail, tailored to destroy centuries old and rich Nigerian culture.“This dizzying madness cant and would not be allowed to turn nigeria to destination for sex and illegal drugs tourism. Enough is enough, and for God sake, where is this coming from?” Runsewe laments
Alluding to various reports and calls to his office on certain alleged offences against Nigerian culture promoted by a pay TV station, the hardworking culture exponent who also doubles as Africa president of World Craft Council, disclosed that his office is investigating the allegation against the TV company and would work with other relevant government agencies to find lasting solutions to any foreign cultural infractions and subtle attempts to colonize the minds of the Nigerian young persons.
He called on traditional rulers to join hands with government to check the open rage and rape against nigerian culture with possible consequences of the unimaginable.
“(In Nigeria, we love and respect our mothers and sisters, women in general and therefore will not condone deliberate acts or actions that would betray the values of our culture and make our heroes past to turn angrily in their graves)”, Runsewe explained.
Runsewe also sent a strong message to state governors to create and empower agencies and departments of culture to arrest the organised assault against established and respected Nigerian way of life, adding that we must be proudly Nigerian and resist vigorously attempts to insult the Nigerian women. -
2 million expected in Mecca for hajj in Saudi Arabia
The annual hajj pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia’s city of Mecca is one of five pillars of Islam that all Muslims who are able to are expected to complete at least once.
More than two million believers from across the planet converge for several days of rituals beginning on Friday that retrace Prophet Mohammed’s last pilgrimage to Mecca.
Here is a rundown of the steps of the hajj, which is one of the largest gatherings in the world and closed to non-Muslims.
Pilgrims must first enter a state of purity, called ihram, which requires special dress and behavior.
Men wear a seamless shroud-like white garment that emphasizes unity regardless of social status or nationality.
Women must wear loose dresses, also often white, exposing only their faces and hands.
Pilgrims are prohibited from wearing perfume, cutting their nails or trimming their hair or beards, or arguing.
First rituals
The first ritual requires walking seven times around the Kaaba, a large black cube structure at the center of Mecca’s Grand Mosque.
Made from granite and draped in cloth, the Kaaba stands nearly 15 meters (50 feet) tall.
Believed to have first been built by Adam and then rebuilt by Abraham 4,000 years ago, it is towards the Kaaba that Muslims turn to pray wherever they are in the world.
Pilgrims next walk seven times between two stone spots in the mosque.
They then move on to Mina, around five kilometers (three miles) away, ahead of the main rite of the pilgrimage at Mount Arafat.
Mount Arafat
The climax of the hajj is the gathering on Mount Arafat, about 10 kilometers from Mina, where it is believed that Prophet Mohammed delivered his final sermon.
Pilgrims assemble on the 70 meter-high hill and its surrounding plain for hours of prayers and Koran recitals, remaining there until evening.
After sunset they head to Muzdalifah, halfway between Arafat and Mina, where they gather several dozen pebbles to perform the symbolic “stoning of the devil”.
‘Stoning of the devil’
The last major ritual of the hajj is back at Mina where pilgrims throw seven stones at each of three huge concrete walls representing Satan.
The ritual is an emulation of Abraham’s stoning of the devil at the three spots where it is said Satan tried to dissuade him from obeying God’s order to sacrifice his son, Ishmael.
After the first stoning rite, the Eid al-Adha feast of sacrifice begins, marking the end of the hajj.
Sheep are slaughtered, in reference to God’s provision of a lamb for sacrifice instead of Ishmael, in a ceremony also held at the same time around the world.
Men then shave their heads or trim their hair while women cut a fingertip-length off their locks.
The pilgrims can change back into normal clothing, returning to circumambulate the Kaaba and complete their stone-throwing rituals before heading home.
Four other pillars
The hajj is the last pillar of Islam and required by every Muslim at least once in their lifetime, if they are healthy enough to do so and have the means.
The four other essential pillars are: profession of the Muslim faith; daily prayers; alms-giving; and fasting from dawn to dusk during the holy month of Ramadan.
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Bombing anniversary: Nagasaki mayor urges Japan to join nuclear ban treaty
The south-western city of Nagasaki on Friday urged the Japanese government to be party in a UN treaty banning nuclear weapons.
The call came as Japan paid tribute to the victims of the U.S. atomic bomb attack on the city 74 years ago.
Nagasaki Mayor Tomihisa Taue gave the advice in the annual peace declaration at a ceremony marking the anniversary.
“As the only country in the world to have experienced the devastation caused by nuclear weapons, Japan must sign and ratify the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons as soon as possible,” he said.
The treaty was adopted by 122 countries in July 2017, but it has yet to be in force as it has not been ratified by the required 50 countries.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe attended the annual event at the city’s Peace Park, which drew around 5,900 people, including survivors, bereaved families and representatives from 66 countries, broadcaster NHK reported.
The anniversary comes just a week after the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty between Russia and the U.S. ended.
“The present world situation involving nuclear weapons is extremely dangerous.
”The opinion that nuclear weapons are useful is once again gaining traction,” Taue said.
“The atomic bombs were built by human hands and exploded over human heads. It follows that nuclear weapons can be eliminated by an act of human will.”
The bombing of Nagasaki killed 74,000 people and came three days after the first atomic bomb dropped by a US B-29 bomber was detonated over the western city of Hiroshima.
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Tiv/Jukun crisis: NYSC redeploys corps members serving in affected communities
The National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) has redeployed corps members serving in crisis affected communities in southern part of Taraba.
Mrs Florence Yakuugh, NYSC Coordinator in Taraba, told a correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Jalingo that the decision became imperative to provide safety for the corps members.
She said:” we received directives from our national headquarters to redeploy our youth corps members serving in these crisis affected communities.
”We redeployed them out of those places and took them to local government headquarters in Wukari, Donga and Takum for their safety.
” We are appealing to the warring factions to embrace peace and allow development of their communities.
“NYSC is a unifying institution and it is when there is peace that they can contribute their quarter to the development of their father land”.
The NYSC coordinator enjoined those local government areas that are located across rivers to acquire ‘life jackets’ for the safety of corps members posted to those areas.
Yaakugh said that the directive has become necessary to safeguard the corps who were not conversant with crossing large volume of water.
NAN reports that on July 31,authorities of Federal University, Wukari, Taraba, closed down the institution, following alleged abduction and killing of some students and staff of the institution due to the Jukun/Tiv ethnic crisis.
NAN
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Eid-el-Kabir: Maiduguri Residents Decry Hike In Ram Prices
Some residents of Maiduguri in Borno have decried the hike in prices of ram, as Muslim Faithful prepare to celebrate Eid-el-Kabir on Sunday.
Eid-el-Kabir is an annual event observed by Muslim faithful in which they sacrifice ram, sheep, cows and other livestock.
A check by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at Kasuwar Shanu and other various sale outlets in the metropolis, indicated that prices of the livestock have shot up by over 50 per cent compared to last year.
A small size of ram sells for N18, 000 and a medium size goes for N35, 000, while a well-bred ram attracts between N80, 000 and N150, 000; as against previous prices of N10, 000, 20, 000 and N80, 000, respectively.
The cost of sheep also indicated similar increase in prices as an average one is being sold for N20, 000 and big size, N45, 000, as against previois price of N15, 000 and 30, 000.
However, cattle prices remained unchanged in spite of high patronage of the animals during the festive season.
An average-size cow sells for N80, 000 while well-bred bull costs as much as N300, 000.
Traders at the market attributed the hikes to the increase in the demand of the livestock.
Malam Kabiru Umar, a ram dealer, said that prices hike was as a result of high cost of transportation and animal feeds.
Umar said that the animals were been supplied to the market from some villages in Nigeria, Chad and Niger Republics.
“The animals are supplied from neighboring communities in view of the improvement in the security situation.
“We spent a lot money on transportation and animal feeds, which resulted in the hike in price,” he said.
Umar expressed the hope that prices would go down in view of the increase in supply of the animals.
Alhaji Shettima Ali, a resident, however, blamed the traders for the unilateral hike in prices.
Ali said that he bought a ram at the cost of N45, 000, which caused a heavy drain in his pockets.
“I bought the same size of ram at N25, 000, during the previous festive season.
“The traders are taking advantage of the period to exploit buyers,” he said.
Another resident, Buba Ibrahim, noted that most families in the area would not be able to slaughter ram this season due to exorbitant prices.
Ibrahim called on the traders to reduce the prices to enable faithful to celebrate the Eid in a happy mood.
NAN also reports that Gov. Babagana Zulum had approved N773.8 million for payment of leave grants, pension and gratuities to enable workers and pensioners buy ram and celebrate Sallah. (NAN)