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2015 Hajj Stampede: FG commends Saudi Arabia over Compensation

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2015 Hajj Stampede: FG commends Saudi Arabia over Compensation

2015 Hajj Stampede: FG commends Saudi Arabia over Compensation

By: Michael Mike

The Federal Government of Nigeria has commended Saudi Authority over compensation of Nigerians who died in the 2015 during the annual pilgrimage to Holy sites in the Islamic country.

Five Nigerians lost their lives and two sustained various degree of injuries, however the Saudi Authority has compensated those affected.

The Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to Nigeria, Faisal Al-Ghamdi, on Wednesday handed over on behalf of the Saudi government the cheques to five representatives of those who lost their lives and the other two Nigerians who sustained injuries 

Director, Consular and Legal Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bolaji Akinremi, led the Nigerian delegation in the company of the Chairman/CEO, National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Zikrullah Hassan, to the Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Abuja. 

The Saudi Arabian Ambassador, who spoke in Arabic, prayed for the repose of the souls of the departed and prayed that God continue to console their families. 

Ambassador Akinremi commended the Saudi government and appreciated them for the kind gesture and the hand of fellowship extended to the family of the affected Nigerians. 

He said: “On behalf of the Nigerian government, we want to commend the Saudi authorities, particularly the Ambassador here who during his own tenure, one year of arrival here, he took this up, I remember several meetings we held together in Foreign Affairs, with His Excellency Geoffrey Onyeama, His Excellency  Zubairu Dada,  and His Excellency Tanimu Aduda where we  brought this to their attention that this is pending.”

He praised the effort of the Ambassador of Saudi, the Ambassador took it up, “even his predecessor, may his soul rest in perfect peace he did his own best.  We must also give kudos to Ambassador Yahaya Lawal, our Ambassador in Riyadh, who took up the challenge as well, I think this credits goes to everyone.”

2015 Hajj Stampede: FG commends Saudi Arabia over Compensation

His said: “Nigerian government is saying our friendship with Saudi will continue, we are also encouraging people not to be discourage that one accident is not enough to stop people from performing their spiritual responsibility. We will continue to relate very well with the Saudi authority, we will continue to promote our friendship and we look forward to having good news from the families of the beneficiaries, we don’t expect this to lead to fracas where they will not be able to amicably share this among themselves, but rather going to make their faith in God get stronger and their family bond to get stronger”

Ambassador Bolaji said, “we really excited by this news, we are here we have seen it the checks has been issued in the names of the representatives of the victims, as you know 5 people died, they cannot be here physically, so the families of those 5 people sent representatives, 2 others sustains various level of injuries and they were all compensated. This have great significant, number one, the Saudi Authority fulfilled their promises, also despite the fact that the ugly incident was not called by anybody, the Saudis authorities still compensate the people as they recognized that the people left the country for pilgrimage and not intention to go and die. “

Also Read: SEMA donates relief materials to victims of Kaura attacks

According to the Bolaji, the compensations were in two grades, those who died that is permanent lose, compensation cannot bring them back but they have families and responsibilities, they were given 1 Million  Saudi riyal, those who sustained injury are given half a million Saudi riyal.

On his part, Zikrullah Hassan, the Chairman/CEO, National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) said, we “7 people were compensated, 5 representatives of the dead and 2 who suffered injuries. I want to commend everyone for this effort, the Hajj Commission, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and our Ambassador in Saudi Arabia who has worked round the clock to ensure that today becomes a reality.”

The NAHCON Chairman advice those intended to go the Hajj this year to upgrade the techonology skills, in his words, “we advise those who want to go to Hajj to queue in and get ready because Hajj this year will be technologically moderated. It is not going to be as usual, we are ready at the Hajj Commission and all the States are up to it”

In September 24, 2015, during the annual Muslim pilgrimage an accident occurred near the holy city of Mecca, in Saudi Arabia, that stands as the deadliest in the long history of hajj disasters. 

At least 717 people taking part in the Hajj pilgrimage were killed in a stampede near the Islamic holy city of Mecca, officials in Saudi Arabia says. Another 863 people were injured in the incident at Mina, which occurred as two million pilgrims were taking part in the Hajj’s last major rite. It is the deadliest incident to occur during the pilgrimage in 25 years.

2015 Hajj Stampede: FG commends Saudi Arabia over Compensation

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Tinubu Says Resources Need to be Mobilized to Achieve Nation’s Climate Goals

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Tinubu Says Resources Need to be Mobilized to Achieve Nation’s Climate Goals

By: Michael Mike

President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday called for collaborate efforts from all stakeholders and insist that there is need to accelerate and mobilize the necessary resources to achieve the nation’s climate goals.

The President stated this at a Climate Security Summit in Abuja organized by the National Council on Climate Change Secretariat in collaboration with stakeholders and development partners.

Represented by the Minister of Regional Development, Abubakar Momoh, the president noted that climate poses threats to the world including Nigeria.

He listed some of the efforts towards addressing climate change to include Nigeria’s Paris Agreement pledge which is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent by 2030.

He lamented that: “The climate crisis is no longer looming threat but a present and undeniable danger inflicting devastation upon our nation.”

The President added that “it’s merciless actio. Is evidence nationwide from the relentless surge of the sea level threatening our coastal communities to creeping drought that ignores farmers/herders crisis that has brought insecurity upon Nigeria.

“The frequent and extreme weather effect such as flood and heatwave and harsh weather effect that have ravaged our economy and displaced vulnerable populace and destroyed infrastructure.”

He said: “Climate crisis are existential threat to our nation, continent and indeed the entire world. It is a threat that increase problems in our development plan,” stating that “with urgency, we must act now to address this very crisis.”

He however noted that: “Recognizing this urgent challenge, Nigeria has demonstrated its commitments to climate action through various initiatives most notably our promise through Paris Agreement.”

Also speaking the Director General, National Council on Climate Change, and the Special Presidential Envoy on Climate Change, Dr Nkiruka Maduekwe noted that the law provides for the establishment of climate change fund to enable Nigeria to strengthen her resilient and safeguard the people from the impact of climate change, but Nigeria is yet to operationalize the fund.

She noted that one of the reasons for the meeting was to bring together stakeholders to plan useful strategies that would ensure Nigeria is able to benefit from the fund.

She equally noted that the meeting would device Nigeria’s strategies at the upcoming COP 29, insisting that Nigeria should expect positive outcomes from the global meeting.

Maduekwe said already in place a trained negotiators which would be on attendance at the COP 29 for Nigeria so that the nation can come out from the meeting with goodies.

Tinubu Says Resources Need to be Mobilized to Achieve Nation’s Climate Goals

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Tinubu’s Daughter Appointed Ambassador for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children’s Education

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Tinubu’s Daughter Appointed Ambassador for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children’s Education

By: Our Reporter

The first daughter of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Iyaloja-General of Nigeria, Chief Dr. Mujidat Folasade Tinubu-Ojo has been appointed Ambassador of the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children’s Education (NCAOOSCE).

This announcement was made by the Executive Secretary of the commission, Dr. Muhammad Sani Idriss Elbulaturee during a courtesy visit to the Iyaloja-General’s palace in Lagos.

Dr. Idris cited Chief Tinubu Ojo’s passion for supporting disadvantaged communities, particularly almajiri and out-of-school children, as the reason for her appointment.

He praised her efforts in promoting trade and commerce, ensuring market women’s access to resources and opportunities.

Chief Tinubu-Ojo expressed excitement and gratitude for the honour, pledging to alleviate the plight of these vulnerable Nigerians.

She emphasized her father’s commitment to education as a lasting legacy for Nigerian children, evident in his own children’s lives.

She commended the Executive Secretary for his service to Nigeria and prayed for him to succeed in the task ahead.

As Ambassador, Chief Tinubu Ojo is expected leverage her position to expand services to almajiri and out-of-school children, aligning with the commission’s goals.

Tinubu’s Daughter Appointed Ambassador for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children’s Education

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Kebbi Gov. signs N75,000 minimum wage, gives 72 hours implementation directive

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Kebbi Gov. signs N75,000 minimum wage, gives 72 hours implementation directive

By: Our Reporter

The Kebbi State Governor, His Excellency, Comrade Dr Nasir Idris, Kauran Gwandu has signed into law a new minimum wage of N75,000.

The governor also directed the State Accountant General, Ministry of Finance and Ministry for Local Government to ensure implementation of the new wage within 72 hours.

The new minimum wage was signed into law before the National President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and his executive members who were in Kebbi State for a meeting.

Speaking shortly after signing the wage at Government House, Birnin Kebbi, Gov. Idris said all categories of workers would benefit from the new minimum wage and “it must start from this month of October.”

The governor recalled that right from the onset, he promised not to disappoint labour, saying that the labour have now started harvesting what they have planted.

“I want to use this medium to thank the NLC president and the labour for supporting me to win my election.

“The national leadership was here in Kebbi State in support of my election and by their support, I won my election and at the same time, I won my cases in different court of law.

“I promised you that I will never fail you and I promised that I will not fail Kebbi workers also. I reiterate my commitment and sincerity to using the Kebbi resources judiciously, with fear of God and I will not fail you, and will not fail Kebbi workers.

“In my administration I don’t owe salaries, I don’t owe pension, I don’t owe gratuity, I don’t owe death benefit and I pay leave grant up to 2023,” he confirmed.

The governor said he was supposed to be the first governor in Nigeria to implement minimum wage but there was no template to lay hand on.

He explained that the new wage was the outcome of a joint committee comprising representatives of both labour and the state, who arrived at three different wages of N70,000, N72,00.

Kebbi Gov. signs N75,000 minimum wage, gives 72 hours implementation directive

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