Nigeria has got her first-ever deputy director general for the Department of State Service (DSS) in the person of Folashade Adekaiyaoja.

An indigene of Kogi State, Adekaiyaoja was appointed following an approval by President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday, January 14.

First of its kind, Adekaiyaoja appointment has been met with commendation from serving and retired officers of the secret police.

Sources said Adekaiyaoja’s appointment is in line with the plan to reverse DSS’ structure for better and effective leadership structure which comprises of three deputy directors.

Her appointment, some operatives have said is based on a recommendation from the agency’s Director-General through Nuhu Ribadu, Nigeria’s National Security Adviser.

A popular hotel in the Garki area of Abuja, Focus Holiday Inn, has been engulfed by fire.

Eyewitnesses said the fire, which began around 3 am, started from a section of the building before engulfing the three-storey structure

It was gathered that officials of the hotel were alerted when a guest ran down to the reception unclad to notify workers about the fire.

The fire, which started from a section of the three-storey building, extended to other parts of the complex, causing panic among guests and staff members.

At the time of this report, fire service officials had arrived and were trying to put out the fire.

Founded in 2022, Focus Holiday Inn describes itself as an upscale and luxurious home away from home in Abuja, Nigeria’s federal capital.

The cause of the fire is unclear and no casualty has so far been reported.

Jigawa State Pilgrims Welfare Board has fixed 30th January as deadline for registration of intending pilgrims for the 2025 Hajj.

A statement from the Director General, Jigawa State Pilgrims Welfare Board, Alhaji Ahmed Umar Labbo said the new deadline was as a result of adjustment by National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) of the 2025 calendar directing states pilgrims welfare boards and agencies to remit all collections by the 1st of February.

Labbo added that the Jigawa State Board has so far exhausted over 40% of its allocation for this year’s Hajj since the commencement of the registration in September last year.

He called on the intending pilgrims to utilize the opportunity to make deposit for the Hajj before the new deadline to benefit from the Board’s outstanding services in Hajj operations.

To register, intending pilgrims are required to pay a deposit of N8.4 million before the deadline. This amount is pending the official announcement regarding the total fare for this year’s Hajj by NAHCON.

It is crucial for those interested from Jigawa State to act promptly as registration operates on a first-come, first-served basis, ensuring fairness in securing seats for the pilgrimage.

Reports have it that NAHCON has allocated 1,518 seats to the state for the 2025 Hajj.