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Breaking: NAHCON Formulas Work For Outbound Flights

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The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) is hopeful it will conclude airlift of its 2024 Hajj pilgrims on or before 10th of June 2024. Yet to be airlifted are Sokoto with 568 pilgrims, Katsina with 1,107 pilgrims and Niger with 1,528 as at the time of writing this report totaling 4,025 pilgrims awaiting airlift.
A breakdown shows Max Air has 1,150 pilgrims on ground. The airline has three aircraft with a combined capacity of 1,540 passengers. FlyNas on the other hand positioned three aircraft, each with 432 seats, equaling 1,296 seats. FlyNas is to conclude Sokoto and Niger airlifts. Air Peace operated two aircraft one with 315 capacity and the other with 270 seats. But for a slight delay experienced yesterday with the last batch of Kwara pilgrims, Air Peace would have concluded its operation by now.
Among the successes recorded in the 2024 airlift is the spontaneous movement of pilgrims for take-off after screening. However, few incidents of sleepover in the camps were recorded, one being a Kaduna flight that witnessed less than 24 hours delay. Another was in Lagos and a third in Kwara after their plane experienced a technical hitch. Pilgrims in all cases were supplied with hot meals and mattresses to recline before movement to the airport for take-off.
Another success is the commitment of the airlines by keeping to the contract terms agreed upon before engagement. All carriers positioned the agreed number of aircraft and conveyed the pilgrims as scheduled.

Complete production of visas before commencement of the airlift removed pressure from pilgrims’ officials at state and federal levels. This eliminated delays associated with fishing out pilgrims with available visas to include in the manifests. It provided a clear picture of expected number of pilgrims to travel when due. Thanks to Malam Jalal Ahmad Arabi, the NAHCON Chairman’s insistence to maintain an end to visa production. The Chairman’s argument was that the Commission needed a number to work with no matter how few. He allowed visa production to end despite the allure of more numbers of pilgrims pleading to pay N8.3m.
Thus, the accuracy in number of registered pilgrims in turn facilitated real time planning leading to ample utilization of all hotel accommodations in Madinah, curtailing waste due to surplus rooms without arrival of commensurate number of pilgrims; or overcrowding due to inaccurate data.
The afore mentioned achievements resulted in NAHCON attaining 91% movement to Madinah in the first phase of the year’s operation. It is hoped that this percentage will be 100% by the end of airlift exercise.
Similarly, a deliberate cooperation between NAHCON’s aviation unit with Saudi Arabia’s General Authority for Civil Aviation (GACA) in reviewing flight schedules weekly based on available slots removed previously experienced unstable airlift schedules. To date, among the few flight cancellations is a Maiduguri FlyNas trip that was postponed from 5th to 7th. The current Kwara flight was also shifted from late hours of 6th to 7th due to technical exigencies. All other rescheduled flights were at the behest of the states that appealed for it to allow them mop up before departure.

Timely issuance of Yellow Cards is another factor that facilitated a hitch-free airlift this year. Malam Arabi, in collaboration with the office of the Minister of Health ensured that the cards and vaccines were administered to pilgrims before commencement of the airlift. Flights had in the past been cancelled due to unavailability of Yellow Cards as evidence of vaccination. Yellow Card is mandatory for entry into the Kingdom.

Meanwhile last leg of Kwara pilgrims will be airlifted by Max Air tonight in agreement with Air Peace. The pilgrims have already been screened and awaiting signal to proceed.
Usara is Assistant Director, Public Affairs,

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Just in: Gov Soludo reveals those behind kidnapping in SE, says it’s now a lucrative biz

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… better than oil and drug peddling

Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra State on Saturday disclosed that arrested Finland-based self-acclaimed Biafra agitator, Simon Ekpa “has continued kidnapping for ransom.

Soludo said kidnapping is currently a business that is more lucrative than drugs and oil.

The governor who spoke in Awka, the state capital, said before he became governor, eight local government areas in the state were being controlled by gunmen.

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Soludo also recalled how his father was kidnapped in 2009.

 

He said: “Kidnapping is not new, my father had been kidnapped as far back as 2009. GU Okeke, Pokobros and many others have fallen victim too.

 

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“Before I assumed office, about eight local government areas were being controlled by gunmen.

“They killed policemen and collected guns, attacked and burnt down police stations and went into the bush to label themselves liberators.

We came in and went to work and cleared them and we recovered the eight local government areas that were under siege. These gangs claim to be Biafra freedom fighters. IPOB has dissociated themselves from it, but one Simon Ekpa has continued kidnapping for ransom.

 

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“Kidnapping for ransom is now the most lucrative enterprise, even more lucrative than drugs and oil. For every one naira reported as payment for ransom, five to six naira was not reported.

 

“With a culture that celebrates wealth without craft, even the kidnappers amongst us are now celebrated. Idolatry which these criminals have converted to have become the fastest growing religion in the South-East. Nothing is sacred to them anymore.”

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Just in: Obi angry over exorbitant charges by POS operators despite hardship

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Ex-governor of Anambra State and presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, in the 2023 general election, Mr Peter Obi has protested the level of hardship faced by the poor in Nigeria.

The former governor spoke during a visit to the Archbishop Province on the Niger and Bishop of Awka Diocese of Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion, His Grace Alexander Ibezim.

He said: “The hardship in Nigeria is too much, how can the ordinary people survive. The woman who sells pepper by the road side has to pay huge charges to get her own money. How much is her profit margin and how much will remain after paying charges?

“No country is run like that. Don’t bother to interview me on that, I will write officially to the President on this and state all these things.

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“These (POS Charges) is too much, no country is run like this,” Obi told journalists who approached him to speak on the matter.

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Oborevwori expresses sadness over Edna Ibru’s passage

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Delta State Governor, Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, has commiserated with the Ibru family of Agbarha-Otor in Ughelli North Local Government Area of the State on the death of their wife and mother, Mrs. Edna Ibru.

Mrs Ibru, who reportedly died after a brief illness, was the wife of late Olorogun Senator Felix Ovuodoroye Ibru, first Executive Governor of Delta State.

A former Miss Nigeria, Mrs Ibru in 1964, died in London after a brief illness on Wednesday.

In a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Sir Festus Ahon, the governor described the demise of Mrs Ibru as sad and painful, adding that she was a loving wife and mother who supported her husband and family in all his noble endeavours.

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He said, “On behalf of the government and people of Delta, I mourn the passing of a great woman of substance, a caring mother and loving wife, Mrs Edna Ibru.

“The news of her death came to me as a shock, especially now that the family members needed her motherly and wise counsel.

“She was a woman of faith who devoted her time in supporting her husband’s political career which culminated in his election as the first Executive Governor of Delta State.”

Oborevwori prayed to God to accept the soul of the deceased and grant fortitude to the family and friends she left to bear the loss.

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