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Union asks Hajj operators to suspend 2025 preparations over unpaid refunds

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By Francesca Hangeior.

The Association of Hajj and Umrah Operators of Nigeria has asked its members to suspend preparatory activities for the 2025 Hajj exercise, over the failure of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria to pay accumulated refunds.

National President of AHUON, Abdullateef Ekundayo, gave the directive in a statement in Abuja on Friday.

Ekundayo urged members who had made payments for the 2025 Hajj not to submit until a counter directive was given, while also asking members who had submitted forms and made payments to send the names of their companies to the Zonal Vice President.

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According to the statement, NAHCON did not respond to letters of request submitted by the Association until Tuesday, September 24th, 2024, with the excuse that Hajj processing should not be delayed in line with the Saudi Hajj calendar.

The statement described this as the commission’s usual tactic over the issue.

“Dear esteemed members of our great association, it is with a deep sense of responsibility that we write to issue this directive that all actions for the Hajj 2025 preparation be suspended until further notice. Members who have made payment for the Hajj 2025 form should not submit it until a counter directive is given. Members who have collected the form submitted it and made payments should send the name of their company to the zonal VP.

“The NEC has met with our BOT members, and we all agreed that this action is necessary to ensure that all our requests before NAHCON are duly met, especially our accumulated refunds over the years. It is worthy of note that NAHCON responded to our several letters of request only on Tuesday, 24th September 2024, giving an excuse that Hajj processing should not be delayed to align with the Saudi Hajj calendar. This, to us, is their usual tactics over the years with regards to the issues of accumulated refunds with them and can no longer be tolerated”, the statement read.

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In a counter statement signed by the Assistant Director of Public Affairs, Fatima Usara, for the Acting Chairman, NAHCON urged the association not to derail plans for the 2025 Hajj exercise.

The commission noted that it remained committed to addressing all legitimate concerns while reassuring AHUON and the public that the Commission had no intention of downplaying or neglecting the issue of refunds.

“The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria has noted with concern the recent directive by the Association for Hajj and Umrah Operators in Nigeria instructing their members to suspend participation in 2025 Hajj preparations. NAHCON wishes to reassure AHOUN and the general public that the commission has no intention of downplaying or neglecting the issue of refunds. On 24th September 2024, NAHCON communicated with AHOUN regarding the urgency of aligning with the Saudi Hajj calendar to avoid disruptions in the 2025 Hajj preparations, a position we still maintain as critical.

“Recently, the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah directed that only 20 lead companies would organize Hajj from Nigeria for ease of coordination and proper regulation. However, in good faith, NAHCON has agreed to mergers and consolidation to allow all interested parties to remain in business but with the interest of serving pilgrims satisfactorily in mind. Thus, as regulators, NAHCON strongly believes that open dialogue and continued collaboration are the best ways to resolve these matters without causing unnecessary disruptions that could affect the pilgrims and operators alike. NAHCON remains open to further discussions with AHOUN to iron out any lingering concerns and work towards a swift resolution,” the statement read.

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NAHCON also said that its doors were open for discussions while advising the leadership of AHUON and its members to allow ongoing arrangements to yield results without impeding the timely plans and preparations for the 2025 Hajj operations.

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Religion

Giving back to society: Live for Christ Church, Kubwa distributes food stuffs, household items to alleviate hardship(Photos/Video)

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Live for Christ Church, LFC, located in Kubwa, a satellite town of Abuja last Sunday distributed food stuffs, household items to the less privileged to help alleviate hardship in Nigeria.

Lead Pastor of LFC, Godwin Osagie Elim showered encomiums on the youth wing of the church who embarked on the project of giving back to society.

Photos/Video below:

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Vatican announce Archbishop Michael Francis Crotty, as new Apostolic Nuncio to Nigeria

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By Francesca Hangeior.

His Holiness, Pope Francis, has appointed Archbishop Michael Francis Crotty, as the new Apostolic Nuncio to Nigeria.

Lucius Iwejuru UGORJI, Archbishop of Owerri and President, CBCN disclosed this on Tuesday.

He said: “Today, Tuesday, 16 July 2024, the feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, His Holiness Pope Francis has appointed His Excellency the Most Reverend Michael F. Crotty, Titular Archbishop of Lindisfarne, as the new Apostolic Nuncio to Nigeria”.

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In his reaction Archbishop Michael Francis Crotty, noted that: “My appointment as Apostolic Nuncio to Nigeria is a cause of great joy for me and of profound gratitude to His Holiness Pope Francis for the honour that he has bestowed upon me. I pledge my utmost to serve to the best of my abilities as the Holy Father’s representative to all Nigerians, regardless of their religious or ethnic backgrounds.

“As a native of Ireland, I can say that Nigeria is well known to the Irish people, particularly through the bonds of faith and friendship established by many generations of Irish missionaries. I take this opportunity, therefore, to pay tribute to the enduring legacy of Irish missionaries: bishops, priests, religious sisters and lay missionaries. Of course, side-by-side them, there have been countless other missionaries from many other countries.

“From 2017 to 2022, H.E. Archbishop Jude Thaddeus Okolo was the first Nigerian to serve as Apostolic Nuncio to Ireland and today I have the great joy to be the first Irishman to serve as Apostolic Nuncio to Nigeria.

“My appointment as Apostolic Nuncio to Nigeria today providentially coincides with the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel to whose maternal and loving care, I entrust my new mission. I invite all Nigerian Catholics, through the intercession of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and Saint Patrick, patron of Ireland and Nigeria, to pray for the Holy Father Pope Francis”.

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Curriculum Vitae of Archbishop Michael F. Crotty
Archbishop Michael F. Crotty, a native of Mitchelstown, Co. Cork, Ireland, was born on 26 March 1970.

On 3 July 1994 he was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Cloyne (Ireland). After his priestly ordination he continued postgraduate studies at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, where he obtained Licentiates in Ecclesiastical History and Canon Law and a doctorate in Ecclesiastical History.

On 1 July 2001, he entered the diplomatic service of the Holy See and was assigned to the Apostolic Nunciature in Kenya, Nairobi. He subsequently served in the Apostolic Nunciature in Canada, Ottawa (2004-2007); the Apostolic Nunciature in Iraq and Jordan, Baghdad and Amman (2007 – 2009); the Secretariat of State at the Vatican – Section for the Holy See’s Relations with States (2009-2017) and in the Apostolic Nunciature in Spain, Madrid (2017-2020).

On 1 February 2020, His Holiness Pope Francis appointed him Apostolic Nuncio to Burkina Faso and raised him to the archiepiscopal dignity granting him the titular see of Lindisfarne. Subsequently, on 25 April 2020, he was also appointed Apostolic Nuncio to Niger.

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On 15 August 2020, he was ordained to the episcopate in St Colman’s Cathedral, Diocese of Cloyne, Ireland. Since September 2020 he has been serving as Apostolic Nuncio to Burkina Faso and Niger with residence in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.

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No amount of anointing can fight sexual temptation – Adeboye

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By Francesca Hangeior.

The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has said he is still wary of sexual immorality despite his ‘anointing’ and years in the ministry.

Adeboye said despite his age, he runs faster than before to avoid any form of sexual temptation, noting that no amount of anointing can fight such temptation.

The cleric also warned ministers of the gospel to be wary of sexual immorality and the erroneous belief that their ‘anointing’ could help them withstand any temptation.

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He stated these during a sermon at the just concluded Ministers & Workers Conference of RCCG America 1, which consists of North, Central & Caribbean with the theme: “The Glory Ahead”.

During the sermon shared on his YouTube page on Friday, Adeboye noted that Samson, who was a judge in Israel, fell into sexual immorality despite the anointing over him.

He said, “Somebody says, at your age, why are you still running? I run faster than before because the closer you get to the finishing point, the more careful you must be.

“Some of you can say, ‘Daddy, what are you saying, are you still running?’ I run fast.

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“‘With all your anointing?’ Does anointing turn your body to stone? Samson was anointed. Single-handedly, he killed a thousand soldiers. A woman finished him. I hope the boys are listening.

“You can say, ‘Is anybody still interested in an 82-year-old man?’ She is not interested in you but interested in putting an end to all the great works God has done through you.

“You see that woman smiling at you everywhere you go, she is there smiling, and she is not your wife, run.”

Adeboye also counselled youths to be careful of lust, urging them to run away from anything that looks like sin.

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He added, “And you girls, when you see a boy smiling at you saying, ‘Where have you been all my life? It looks as if the sun has just come out.’

“He is calling you sunshine. By the time he finishes with you, you won’t even know the difference between sunshine and sunset. You may laugh but mark my words.

“I do warn my children, particularly the boys. I said if the devil comes against you, tell the devil to get lost, but when you see a girl smiling at you in a funny way, run because you can’t win the battle.

“Didn’t you read a report that a man committed an offence about 42 years ago, and now his ministry is finished? Anybody who tells you that whatever you do is hidden, it’s hidden until the wind begins to blow.

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“The Bible says, flee youthful lust. It did not ask you to say grace would be sufficient. There is no grace for what God says you should run from. Maybe grace to run.”

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