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HAJJ! Saudi Arabia releases fresh 2025 rules, bars kids, updated visa policies

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By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

Saudi Arabia has announced fresh changes to the 2025 Hajj pilgrimage, including a new restriction barring children from participating.

The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah stated that the move aimed to protect children from potential dangers posed by heavy crowds during the pilgrimage.

The decision is part of broader efforts to ensure a safer and more seamless Hajj experience.

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According to the ministry, the large crowds during Hajj pose serious risks to children, making this precautionary measure necessary.

Additionally, priority for the 2025 Hajj will be given to first-time pilgrims to allow more Muslims the opportunity to undertake this religious obligation at least once in their lives.

● Changes in visa regulations

Starting February 1, 2025, Saudi Arabia will issue only single-entry visas for pilgrims from 14 countries, including India, to prevent unauthorized Hajj participation.

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Authorities noted that unauthorized pilgrimages had contributed to overcrowding at key sites, making crowd management and safety more challenging.

The updated visa policy aims to improve the overall Hajj experience by controlling the number of attendees.

Saudi authorities continue to refine Hajj regulations to make the pilgrimage safer and more organized.

Pilgrims are encouraged to register through official channels and follow the new guidelines to avoid complications.

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Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia had also introduced significant changes to its visa policy, effective February 1, 2025, limiting travellers from 14 countries to single-entry visas.

This move aims to address concerns over unauthorized Hajj pilgrims entering the country on long-term visit visas.

● Affected Countries

The new regulations target travellers from the following nations: Algeria, Bangladesh, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Morocco, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sudan, Tunisia, and Yemen. As part of the policy shift, the Saudi government has indefinitely suspended the one-year multiple-entry visas for tourism, business, and family visits from these countries.

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●¡Hajj registration and new payment options

Saudi citizens and residents can register for the 2025 Hajj season via the Nusuk app or the official website. Applicants are required to verify their personal details and register their travel companions.

A new instalment-based payment plan has also been introduced for domestic pilgrims. Payments can be made in three stages: a 20% deposit within 72 hours of booking, followed by two 40% instalments due by Ramadan 20 and Shawwal 20. The ministry clarified that reservations will only be confirmed once the final payment is received.

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UNUSUAL! Without invitation, Police declared me wanted — Daughter of ABC Transport owner

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Ihuoma Julia Nneji, 34, daughter of the owner of ABC Transport, claimed over the weekend that she was declared wanted by the police without any prior invitation or notification of a petition against her.

She was recently listed in a Special Police Gazette Bulletin issued by the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF NCCC), Abuja, for criminal defamation, injurious falsehood, and cyberstalking.

In a statement, she insisted she never defamed or blackmailed anyone on her verified social media pages or elsewhere.

Instead, she claimed she is the victim of blackmail and threats from her former boyfriend, Henry Uzochukwu, the complainant in the case.According to her: “I met Henry Uzochukwu in April 2024, and we started getting to know each other. Unfortunately, things didn’t go as planned”.

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“This conflict began in August 2024 when I called off our wedding, scheduled for November 2024, due to unresolved issues regarding Henry’s sexuality. I found incriminating evidence suggesting he is gay and decided not to proceed with the marriage.

“Further investigations revealed not only his interest in men but also that he had been engaged multiple times without disclosing the reasons for the failed marriages. I discovered that the woman he was to marry before me left him a week before the wedding over the same issue.
“I was deceived and manipulated by the many lies he told.
“After I canceled the wedding, he began to harass me, threatened my life, and falsely accused me of operating an Instagram page spreading rumors about him — a claim that is speculative and untrue.”

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Just in: EFCC Uncovers N1bn in Jewelry, Cash at Aisha Achimugu’s Home as Hunt for Missing $250m Gathers Momentum

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has intensified its investigation into a massive financial scandal involving businesswoman Aisha Achimugu Sulaiman, after discovering luxury items and large sums of cash in her Abuja residence linked to a missing $250 million.

Acting on a court warrant, EFCC operatives stormed Achimugu’s home at No. 61 Hassan Usman Katsina Street, where they uncovered a staggering haul: N30 million in cash, $50,000 in foreign currency, and boxes containing gold, diamond, and silver jewelry valued at over N1 billion. The discovery is part of a broader investigation into alleged money laundering and misappropriation of political campaign funds.

Sources close to the investigation revealed that the $250 million in question was reportedly entrusted to Achimugu by Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu as part of his 2027 campaign preparations. Insiders claim the funds were meant for safekeeping but were allegedly moved across multiple accounts and may have been squandered.

“The issue is deeper than most people know. Sanwo-Olu put himself in a mess when he went and kept that $250 million in an account belonging to Aisha. Aisha has messed with the funds and cannot account for it anymore,” a source familiar with the case disclosed.

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The EFCC has reportedly frozen 136 bank accounts linked to Achimugu across ten banks. Investigators also discovered she operates over 20 companies registered with nearly identical addresses—suggesting a network of shell corporations possibly used to move funds.

Achimugu, currently believed to be in London, was summoned by the EFCC to appear at its Port Harcourt office on March 25, 2025. She has since failed to show up and is now officially wanted by the anti-graft agency.

Details shortly…

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Gov Oborevwori’s top aide suddenly resigns from govt

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In a shocking political move, Harrison Gwamnishu, Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the Delta State Governor on Civil Society and Youth Mobilization, has tendered his resignation, citing deep dissatisfaction with the government’s handling of escalating insecurity across communities in the state. Gwamnishu submitted his resignation letter on Friday, April 25, 2025, addressed to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, Executive Governor of Delta State. He emphasized that his decision followed “considerable reflection” and was driven by a “deep sense of disappointment” over the administration’s failure to act on security concerns he consistently raised.

In his letter, Gwamnishu detailed his efforts to draw the government’s attention to the worsening security situation, including numerous messages, calls, and submission of blueprint documents proposing actionable solutions.

However, he lamented that all attempts were “thrown out,” and meaningful solutions were “not being accepted” by the administration.

“As a civil rights leader, I accepted this appointment as a commitment to serve and protect our community,” Gwamnishu wrote. “However, the continuous escalation of insecurity and the persistent lack of action to provide effective resolutions have rendered me unable to fulfil my duties with the integrity and effectiveness that I believe are essential.” He further stated that his resignation is intended to serve as a wake-up call to the administration, urging it to prioritize the safety and security of Delta State citizens.

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