The Jigawa State Pilgrims Welfare Board has extended the deadline for intending pilgrims to complete their 2025 fixed Hajj fare registration.

According to the Director-General of the board, Alhaji Ahmad Labbo, the new deadline is now Tuesday, February 11, 2025.

Labbo, who made the announcement while briefing newsmen on Tuesday evening, explained that the extension was necessary to allow more intending pilgrims to complete their registration exercise.

“The board has already deposited the required advance fee with the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria as part of its early preparation for the Hajj exercise,” Alhaji Labbo said.

The DG also stated that this year, NAHCON has allocated 1809 slots to Jigawa State for the Hajj pilgrimage.

“To meet the NAHCON deadline, the board secured a loan of over N3 billion from the Jigawa State Government. This fund will be used to make the necessary deposits with NAHCON,” the DG disclosed.

Thus, he urged all intending pilgrims to take advantage of the extended deadline to complete their registration and assured them (pilgrims) that the board is working tirelessly to ensure a smooth and successful Hajj exercise.

The Director-General also commended the Jigawa State Government for its support and cooperation. He praised the government’s efforts in providing the necessary funds to facilitate the Hajj exercise.

Labbo further emphasised the importance of early preparation for the Hajj exercise. He noted that the board’s early preparation has helped to avoid last-minute rushes and its attendant usual complications.

However, he attributed the successes recorded by the board to its commitment to transparency, accountability, and efficiency.

“The board has also introduced several innovations to improve the Hajj experience for pilgrims from Jigawa State. These include the provision of comfortable accommodation closer to Haramain in Saudi Arabia, transportation, and medical care,” Labbo stated.

Additionally, the Jigawa pilgrim’s welfare board’s DG appealed to all stakeholders, including intending pilgrims, to cooperate with the board to ensure a successful Hajj exercise, assuring that “the board is committed to providing excellent services to all pilgrims.”

The Lagos State Ministry of Transportation, in collaboration with Huawei Technologies, has deployed four new Intelligent Transport System sites to monitor and detect speeding and manage traffic flows.

The Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi, announced this during a press briefing on Thursday, stating that the new installations would complement the existing Automatic Number Plate Recognition cameras and other Traffic Management Solution devices.

“The checkpoint sites are designed to detect overspeeding. One is located at Alapere, Ogudu Road, with a speed limit of 80km/h, while the other is installed at Nitel, Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way, with a speed limit of 60km/h. These checkpoint sites are strategically located to detect and deter overspeeding, which remains one of the leading causes of road accidents.

“On the other hand, the e-police sites for traffic violations are installed at Allen Avenue Road Junction and Nurudeen Olowopopo Road. These e-police sites are designed to detect a wide range of traffic violations, including running red lights, non-compliance with lane discipline, illegal U-turns and reverse driving on highways,” Osiyemi said.

While appealing to motorists for compliance, he stated that the fine for violating the red light is N20,000 and the fine for violating the speed limit is N50,000.

“It is important to also note that enforcement will commence immediately. Motorists who violate traffic laws as detected by the ITS will receive SMS notifications from the Vehicle Inspection Service department, detailing the nature of the violation and the corresponding fines to be paid.

“This system is not designed to be punitive but to encourage responsible driving behaviour and reduce the rate of accidents on our roads. The goal is simple: to save lives, protect property, and create an orderly transportation environment,” he added.

Present at the briefing included the Commissioner for Innovation, Science, and Technology, Olatunbosun Alake, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transportation, Olawale Musa, representatives from Huawei Technologies, and key directors from the ministry.

UK Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch’s recent proposal to extend the waiting period for British citizenship to 15 years has triggered significant backlash, particularly from Nigerians, who view the policy as unjust and overly harsh.

In her first major move as the Tory leader, Badenoch has put forth a plan to toughen immigration laws by raising the minimum period for migrants to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) from five to ten years. Under her new rules, individuals who rely on benefits, seek social housing, or have criminal records would be barred from securing permanent residency.

The proposed changes have sparked outrage among Nigerians, a key demographic within the UK’s migrant population. Many have expressed their frustration on social media, accusing the policy of unfairly penalizing hardworking immigrants who are simply trying to build stable lives in the UK.

Critics have also pointed out what they see as hypocrisy, accusing Badenoch of shutting the door to opportunities she once benefited from as an immigrant herself. Social media users have voiced their displeasure, with one user, @Ynw_szn, calling the proposal “too much” and another, @MESIGO422, questioning how Badenoch got her own citizenship and why she is now making it more difficult for others to follow suit.

Others like @abbello110 criticized the leader for “kicking against the system” after benefiting from it, while @ayodejiawonowo suggested that Badenoch’s actions were likely a response to her need to appeal to British voters, even at the cost of immigrant communities.

The debate continues as Nigerians and other immigrant groups voice concerns over the potential economic and social consequences of Badenoch’s proposed reforms.