By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

President Bola Tinubu on Monday swore in eight newly appointed federal permanent secretaries and 18 commissioners of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC).

The brief ceremonies were held inside the Council Chambers of the State House, Abuja, just before the commencement of the first Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting.

The swearing-in, which was conducted in two batches of four each, was anchored by the director of media in the office of the president, Abiodun Oladunjoye, who read the citations of the appointees.

The new permanent secretaries include Onwusoro Ihemelandu (Abia State), Ndiomu Philip (Bayelsa State), Anuma Nlia (Ebonyi State), Ogbodo Nnam (Enugu State), and Kalba Usman (Gombe State). Others are Usman Aminu (Kebbi State), Oyekunle Nwakuso (Rivers State), and Nadungu Gagare (Kaduna State).

Similarly, President Tinubu swore in 18 newly appointed federal commissioners of the RMAFC, alongside a federal commissioner for the Federal Character Commission and a member of the National Population Commission.

The RMAFC commissioners, whose appointments were confirmed by the Senate last August, include Linda Oti (Abia), Akpan Effiong (Akwa Ibom), Enefe Ekene (Anambra), Prof. Steve Ugba (Benue), Chief Eyonsa (Cross River), Aruviere Egharhevwe (Delta), Nduka Awuregu (Ebonyi), Victor Eboigbe (Edo), Wumi Ogunlola (Ekiti), Ozo Obodougo (Enugu), and Kabir Mashi (Katsina).

Others are Adamu Fanda (Kano), Dr. Kunle Wright (Lagos), Aliyu Abdulkadir (Nasarawa), Bako Shetima (Niger), Nathaniel Adejutelegan (Ondo), Saad Ibrahim (Plateau), Modu-Aji Juluri (Yobe), Bello Garba (Zamfara), and Mohammed Usman (Gombe).

Also sworn in was a member of the Federal Character Commission, and a member of the National Population Commission.

Also, former Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Financial Crimes, Hon. Kayode Oladele, was sworn in as a member of the Federal Character Commission (FCC), representing Ogun State

Mrs. Olukemi Victoria Iyantan (Ondo), was also sworn in as commissioner National Population Commission (NPC).

President Tinubu urged the newly inaugurated permanent secretaries and commissioners to uphold diligence, innovation, and commitment in the discharge of their duties, emphasizing the importance of their roles in advancing the administration’s governance and development agenda.

The upper chamber approved the appointments after considering the report of its Committee on National Planning and Economic Affairs, presented by its chairperson, Abdullahi Yahaya.

Yahaya, the senator representing Kebbi North Senatorial District, said the nominees have been screened at the committee level and that they possessed all the requirements for the positions.

He said the appointments would ensure fairness and federal representation in all the geo-political zones.

“This confirmation brings the commission to its full complement, with every state having representation,” Mr Yahaya added.

The swearing-in ceremony was followed by the commencement of the FEC meeting.

Just before the FEC commenced, members of the Council observed a minute of silence in honour of former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Jeremiah Useni, who passed away on January 23, 2025.

Present at the Council meeting were the Vice President, Kashim Shettima, the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, the Head of Service, Didi Walson-Jack, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, as well as Ministers.

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Prof. Abdullahi Saleh Usman, has urged the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to waive the two per cent charge imposed on pilgrims’ funds to further reduce the hajj fare.

Speaking in Abuja, Saleh said one of his major priorities since assuming office was to reduce the cost of hajj and make it more affordable for Muslims across the country.

“I am confident that lowering hajj fares will bring relief to our pilgrims, leaders, and the entire Muslim Ummah,” he said.

Saleh announced that he had engaged key service providers, including airliners, Masha’ir service providers, accommodation providers, and transportation companies, in collaboration with the Forum of State Pilgrims Welfare Agencies to make hajj operations more convenient.

The NAHCON chairman said the negotiations had yielded significant reductions in service costs.

Commenting on Masha’ir services, he said pilgrims were charged 4,770 Saudi Riyals last year, but following discussions, NAHCON secured a reduction of over 700 Saudi Riyals per pilgrim.

He added: “On accommodation in Madinah, the cost per bed space was 5,000 Riyals last year, but a reduction of 200 Riyals per pilgrim has been achieved. Last year’s transportation cost stood at 1,300 Riyals per pilgrim, but this year, we successfully negotiated a 130 Riyal reduction per pilgrim.

“We have worked on the airfare. Given Nigeria’s geographical diversity, airfare costs vary across regions. However, we have secured a $399 reduction per pilgrim.

These reductions have significantly impacted the overall hajj fare, and we are still expecting further adjustments.”

Stressing that NAHCON was not asking for government’s subsidies, Saleh urged authorities to consider selling dollars to the commission at the official government exchange rate.

The agency chairman noted that the request, if approved, would further lower hajj fares and take a lot of burden off the shoulders of pilgrims.

“We have estimated the dollar exchange rate at N1,550, N1,600, and N1,650. But given the fluctuations, we settled on a moderate rate. If we secure a reduction in forex rates, we will refund any savings to the pilgrims,” he said.

Saleh urged governors to support pilgrims’ boards in their states by providing loans for them to settle payments with NAHCON before the final payment deadline set by Saudi Arabian authority.

The NAHCON chairman explained that the commission has no control over payment deadline but could only appeal to the Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj for an extension, if necessary. He urged intending pilgrims to complete their payments promptly to avoid any last-minute issues.

Saleh also urged states’ pilgrims’ welfare agencies and other stakeholders to intensify public enlightenment campaigns to ensure that intending pilgrims understand the importance of timely payment and proper preparation to have a successful hajj pilgrimage.

The Nation

The team bus of a Nigerian football club, Abubakar Bukola Saraki (ABS) Ilorin FC was involved in an accident on Monday morning along the Ogbomoso-Ilorin Expressway in Oyo State.

The team is owned by Abubakar Bukola Saraki, a former Senate President and former Governor of Kwara State.

It was learned that the team was returning to Ilorin, Kwara State from Lagos State after a league match against Sporting Lagos.

An official of the team who confirmed the incident to SaharaReporters said no life was lost but some players and officials were critically injured.

“We thank God no life was lost. Those injured are currently receiving medical attention. We have taken them to nearby hospitals,” the team official said.

ABS is not the first football club in Nigeria that has had bad tales to tell while using highways in the country in the course of their trade.

In June 2024, it was reported how several players were injured when the team bus of Doma United was involved in an accident on along the Makurdi-Lafia Expressway in Benue.

It was gathered that the bus lost control and somersaulted several times along the expressway but no life was lost to the accident.

It was also reported In 2020 how Ifeanyi George, a player of another football club from the country, Enugu Rangers Football Club, was killed in a car accident.

The incident left two other players of the club critically injured.