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New Zealand has implemented new regulations tightening visa rules for Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) holders, specifically targeting individuals in certain job classifications.
The changes, announced on the Immigration New Zealand website, restrict AEWV holders in jobs classified at levels 4 and 5 of the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) from sponsoring visa applications for their partners and dependent children, unless they have a pathway to residency.
Already effective from June 26, these amendments are part of broader reforms reverting the AEWV scheme to settings akin to the previous Essential Skills Work Visa framework.
The government clarified that affected partners and dependent children can still apply for visas independently, such as the AEWV or international student visas, provided they meet requisite criteria.
However, the new rules exempt individuals already holding visas as partners or dependents of AEWV holders, as well as those in ANZSCO level 4 and 5 roles with residency pathways like the Green List or sector agreements.
Workers also earning at least 1.5 times the average salary threshold for the Skilled Migrant Category remain unaffected.
This move follows previous adjustments made to work visa policies earlier this year, including a language proficiency requirement for low-skilled job applicants under ANZSCO levels 4 and 5.
These changes aim to ensure that foreign workers understand their rights and can effectively address employment issues.
Despite these stricter measures, New Zealand continues its efforts to attract and retain highly skilled workers, particularly in sectors experiencing shortages such as secondary education.
The government’s recent immigration statistics highlight significant visitor entries and resident numbers, underscoring ongoing efforts to manage migration sustainably.
Immigration Minister Erica Stanford emphasized the reforms’ goals of enhancing economic adaptability, attracting top talent, supporting international education, and improving risk management within the immigration framework.
Tiri Gyan David, a lecturer with the Federal University Dutsinma (FUDMA) in Katsina State, has been killed by bandits.
Tiri, the Head of the Department of Agricultural Economics, Extension, and Rural Development at the university, was killed in a fresh bandits attack in the early hours of Tuesday.
An eyewitness who spoke with Channels TV said the incident occurred at about 1:30 am at the lecturer’s residence in the Yarima Quarters, Low-Cost Estate, Dutsinma Local Government Area of Katsina State.
He said the bandits invaded the community with sophisticated weapons, shooting sporadically to scare the residents.
According to the eyewitness, the bandits also abducted two of the lecturer’s children.
Confirming the incident, the Katsina Police Command spokesman, Abubakar Sadiq, said the command will soon release a detailed statement about the attack.
Dutsinma is among the ten security frontline local government areas grappling with frequent bandit attacks almost daily despite efforts by both the state government and security agencies to restore peace in the state.
A popular tap-2-earn app, Tapswap has left people apprehensive after postponing its token allocation again.
The TON Blockchain powered tap-2earn app postponed token allocation to users to quarter three of the year.
The app, which required users to repeatedly tap the icon in the centre of the Telegram Tapswap bot screen to mine coins, recently gained momentum among Nigerians tapping on their phone screens in pursuit of financial earnings and has amassed over 50 million users since it launched on February 15, 2024.
The management said it decided to move the share-to-token exchange event scheduled for July 1st to the third quarter to better serve its players.
In a series of threads created on X, on Monday, to share what it described as ‘bad and good news’ for its players, the management said it is in active talks with tier 1 exchanges around the world to price the highly ranked game from the prey of scammers and leaders in web3 industry who are moved by the successes the game had attracted.
“We’ve got some bad and really good news for you at the same time: our team has decided to move the date for the Shares-to-Token exchange event. You might wonder, what’s good about that? Just FUD?
“Not exactly. The whole point is that you’ll benefit from this. Let us explain how:
Recently, there’s been a lot of buzz around Tapswap, especially about listing on tier 1 exchanges, a massive drop, and more. And it’s no surprise: the project has become one of the major players globally, ranking at the top. This kind of attention attracts not just scammers but also leaders in the web3 industry.
“So, not all rumours are just rumours. The Tapswap team is actually in active talks with tier-1 exchanges!
And they are thrilled with you – our community! Isn’t this what we’ve been tirelessly working towards together?”
The management further reiterated its effort to devote a high level of attention to the task, which requires much more detailed work on tokenomics and the right launch strategy.
“However, this success comes with some ‘inconveniences’. This level of attention requires much more detailed work on tokenomics and the right launch strategy. And that means extra time.
“But know that this is all to ensure that our launch in Q3 is fair and, more importantly, profitable for all of you who stand by us no matter what,” it added.
Tapswap, however, charged its players to be happy about the bigger news in the future while appreciating the support and feedback gotten from them.
So, as you can see, there are plenty of reasons to be happy about this change. And very soon, we’ll give you some even bigger news about our future, tier 1 partnerships, and the drop itself!
We really value your support. And we truly listen to your feedback, so don’t forget to share it in the comments. Together, we’ll keep reaching higher and higher levels!
Recall that Tapswap had earlier postponed its token launch date, which was scheduled for July 1st, indefinitely.
This was disclosed by the Head of Communications of the gaming firm, John Robbin, on June 20, 2024.
Before the aforesaid disclosure, it announced that its coin allocation date would be July 1st after it couldn’t establish a date in May because of too many bot accounts that they are working on separating from the authentic gamers.
According to Robbin, the method of token allocation has not yet been ascertained, stressing that the processes cannot be communicated before the allocation.
“The token launch was postponed from July 1. The new date will be communicated.
“We will allocate a significant part of the tokens to the community to retain the tappers. We want you all to be part of the tapswap community.
“We need a token airdrop to be a win-win for all of us. We have started communicating with many exchanges and platforms,” he said.
Nigerian comedian Sabinus has written an appreciation post to Burna Boy for allowing him crack jokes at his sold-out London show.
Burna Boy’s ‘I Told Them’ tour made history at the 80,000-capacity London Stadium, and videos on social media show Sabinus warming up the crowd with his comedy set before Burna Boy’s performance.
Sabinus warmed up the crowd with hilarious jokes, generating lively laughter and applause before Burna Boy’s highly anticipated performance.
On July 1, the comedian took to Twitter to share photos from his opening set, humbly describing it as the most significant moment of his career thus far.
He wrote …
“??❤️ !!! Biggest 1 minute of my career !! Thanks Burna Boy ?”
See photo below:
Marketers Express Fear As Dangote Petrol Set To Hit Local Markets, Say It Might Be Too Expensive
Admin
Petroleum marketers have expressed fear over the price of petrol from Dangote Petrochemical Refinery.
Naija News understands that the product is set to hit the Nigerian local market in two to three weeks.
However, petrol marketers do not seem to look forward to the development as they claim that the product’s price may be higher than expected.
They spoke against the backdrop of the 650,000-capacity refinery’s failure to get feedstock locally from the international oil companies.
Dangote Refinery has continued to import crude oil from the United States and other countries at a higher cost.
This development has reportedly made its diesel and aviation fuel not very attractive to some local marketers due to price reasons.
Speaking in an interview with Punch, the National Vice President of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Hammed Fashola, said crude imports would jerk up the price of Dangote petrol.
According to Fashola, the refusal of IOCs to sell crude oil to Dangote will be a big challenge to the $20bn refinery, even as he acknowledged that the IOCs also have other business commitments.
According to him, “The non-supply of crude is a big challenge for Dangote. You know Dangote cried out too. The international oil companies too will have their reasons; you know they have their commitments too. It’s not like they will start feeding Dangote only. People should understand that.
“I think Dangote should consider that. I know this prompted Dangote to go outside the soil of Nigeria to seek crude oil. You know when he keeps bringing crude oil from the United States, that is another cost. That is another problem we are scared of because it will still boil down to the high cost of petrol, unlike where he can source the crude locally in Nigeria.”
To resolve this, the IPMAN leader asked the Federal Government to assist Dangote with the supply of crude oil. This, he said, would solve the problems Nigerians face with fuel availability and affordability.
“I will advise that the government should assist Dangote in the supply of crude oil. If Dangote can get an adequate supply of crude oil locally, I think the whole problem will be solved somehow. I don’t think there will be any need for anybody to go and bring in petrol again, especially if Dangote is selling at a reasonable price,” he added.
Fashola, however, enjoined Dangote not to monopolise the petroleum if he eventually got the support of the government, saying the refinery must sell PMS at a reasonable price.
“Dangote too should not see it as an advantage to start monopolising the market by raising fuel prices. Dangote has to come with a clean mind by selling at a reasonable price to the public,” he said.
[NaijaNews]
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s interventions may have failed to ease the country’s worsening economic hardship in the first half of 2024 despite the government’s Renewed Hope Mantra.
Economists and financial experts disclosed this in separate interviews with DAILY POST.
President Tinubu, a former Lagos State Governor, who celebrated his first anniversary in office on May 29th, 2024, has not found it easy to give Nigerians a vista of hope.
The development comes on the back of the recent approval by the Federal Executive Council for the disbursement of N555 billion to 100,000 families, with N50,000 payment for three months.
Recall that in October 2023, the President also approved the ‘Conditional Cash Transfer’, under the now-suspended minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu.
The scheme, which comes under the $800 million in loan support from the World Bank, was launched on October 17, 2023, by President Bola Tinubu.
Also, as part of the fiscal measure, the federal government recently approved zero tariffs, excise duties, and Value Added Tax on specialized machinery, equipment and pharmaceutical raw materials to bolster local production of essential healthcare products.
Other fiscal measures include a $3.3 billion crude oil-backed prepayment facility from Afreximbank, $2.5 billion World Bank loans to bolster Nigeria’s foreign exchange supply, and efforts by the Presidential Tax and Fiscal Policy Committee to increase taxes.
Despite the interventions, Nigerians have continued to groan over the impact of headline and food inflation which rose to 33.95 percent and 40.66 percent in May, 2024.
The implication is that the purchasing power of Nigerians has dropped in the face of the increasing misery index.
Worse, Nigeria’s debt burden rose to N121.67 trillion at the end of March 2024.
In the 1Quarter of 2024, the country spent $1.12 billion for servicing foreign debt on N3.94 trillion generated revenue in the same period.
This is as Naira weakened to N1508.99 per dollar at the official market on Monday amid several policies announced by the Central Bank of Nigeria; the latest was the discontinuation of the Price Verification System Portal for importers.
Speaking to DAILY POST on Monday, financial expert and the Chief Executive Officer of SD & D Capital Management, Gbolade Idakolo said Tinubu’s policies in the referenced period have not helped to alleviate the hardship on Nigerians.
According to him, welfare policies by the federal and the state governments were yet to be felt by Nigerians.
“My major concern about these measures is the parameters being used to determine those eligible for those grants for three months.
“These welfare policies of the Federal and the state governments have been seen not to get to the intended beneficiaries and the aim is always defeated in the long run.
“I also believe that this measure would not address the hardships being faced by the very poor citizens that these policies are targeted to assist because of continuous high food inflation and skyrocketing cost of living.
“The fiscal policies of Tinubu’s government in the first half of the year has not helped to alleviate the hardship introduced by its monetary policies. This has led to the unbearable situation the country found itself,” he told DAILY POST.
However, Muda Yusuf, the director, Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise, CPPE, said the government has carried out a lot of policies but more needs to be done that will impact the generality of Nigerians.
He urged that the government should roll out more fiscal interventions in the agro-allied industry, construction, Iron and steel, and mining sectors.
“There is a lot the government can do via the fiscal policy level. In terms of direct support to the farmers, it is better to do it directly than through the state governments. I think through that, there should be an impact in terms of food production. I hope the state government will commit to this with all sense of sincerity.
“The measure can help the supply side. I am aware that there are also plans to have similar interventions to the real sector.
“The real sector is responsible for Fiscal Policy measures rather than monetary policy. Fiscal policies are more potent in driving production”, he said.
Prof Godwin Oyedokun, a don at Lead City University in Ibadan, said the recent N555 billion cash disbursement approval is a significant fiscal measure aimed at addressing the inflation-induced hardship faced by many Nigerians.
Oyedokun, however, explained that injecting a large sum of money into the economy could exacerbate inflationary pressures if not accompanied by measures to increase supply and stabilize prices.
“The fiscal measures introduced by President Tinubu, including the N555 billion cash transfer program, demonstrate a proactive approach to addressing the immediate economic challenges faced by Nigerians.
“However, the success of these measures depends significantly on the coordination with monetary policies to manage inflation and ensure overall economic stability.
“A holistic approach, combining short-term relief with long-term economic reforms, is essential for addressing the underlying issues causing inflation-induced hardship and achieving sustainable growth,” he told DAILY POST.
[DailyPost]
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has launched a global learning management system integrated with Microsoft Teams.
According to the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the agency, Professor Charles Anosike, the platform will enhance its global opportunities as well as create a window of collaboration with other reputable organisations.
He said the platform is aimed at significantly boosting capacity development among its personnel as well as driving the online interactive training arms of the agency.
Besides, Anosike said the integration of Microsoft Teams with the Learning management system will provide its personnel and learning institutes with a seamless and robust platform for collaborative training and development.
Continuing, Professor Anosike said the strategic move aligns with management’s commitment in fostering a culture of continuous improvement and innovation.
He said :” We are confident that the LMS will revolutionize our training programmes and set a new standard for online learning within the agency and in extension to the public that are interested in gaining knowledge in respect to the products and services of NIMET.
“This move is also in line with the performance bond the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, signed with Aviation Agencies’ Heads and their Directors in February 2024. The development of human capacity is a key deliverable in the performance bond.”
[TheNation]
Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun has debunked reports alleging that he has been lobbying the National Assembly to tamper with the Nigeria Police Act 2020 to elongate his tenure, and year of service of personnel in the force.
Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi disclosed the IGP’s denial in a statement saying, “It is vital to clarify unequivocally that the bill was originally introduced during the 8th Assembly but did not progress beyond the initial stages before the Assembly’s dissolution.
“It is standard legislative practice to review and update laws to align with current national realities.”
The proposed amendment seeks to extend the years of service for police officers from 35 to 40 years, and the age limit from 60 to 65 years.
Adejobi said, “The Nigeria Police Force is deeply perturbed by the dissemination of false information across various media platforms, notably the distorted publication by online media, regarding the proposed amendment to the Nigeria Police Act 2020.
“The misleading publications alleged that IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun personally initiated this bill to prolong his tenure as the 22nd indigenous Inspector General of Police, and has allegedly invested significantly in lobbying lawmakers to facilitate its passage.
IGP Egbetokun decried a situation where certain media outlets and their sponsors have chosen to propagate baseless accusations, ignorantly disregarding the fact that any modification to existing legislation is designed to enhance its effectiveness and relevance.
The statement said “To understand the true motivations behind this initiative, one needs only look at the Inspector General of Police’s steadfast commitment to reforming the Nigeria Police Force.
“His advocacy for this bill stems from a genuine belief in its potential to improve the conditions of service for police officers and thereby bolster security nationwide, rather than seeking personal gain. It comes from the place of duty rather than benefit.
“Furthermore, it is important to note that the tenure of an Inspector General of Police is already prescribed as four years, with the President being the sole authority empowered to remove an IGP before the completion of his tenure”
Furthermore, the Nigeria Police Force called on the public to exercise caution and discernment when consuming information, particularly from sources known for sensationalism and unverified claims.
“Such misinformation not only misleads but also detracts from constructive dialogue and efforts towards meaningful police reform”, the Police said.
[Vanguard]
Ethiopian Airlines has revealed that the Nigerian government has withdrawn from the partnership aimed at launching the Nigeria Air project.
The announcement was made by the Airlines' Group Chief Executive Officer, Mesfin Tasew, in Dubai, as reported by the Ethiopian Tribune. “The Nigerian government has lost interest in partnering with a foreign airline,” Tasew was quoted as saying.
This news follows the Federal Government's decision two months ago to suspend the Nigeria Air project indefinitely.
On May 27, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development Festus Keyamo announced the suspension during a briefing marking President Bola Tinubu’s first year in office. Keyamo criticized the partnership with Ethiopian Airlines, arguing that the proposed airline's ownership structure was not favorable for Nigeria.
He stated that it would be irresponsible for the Federal Government to allow a foreign entity to dominate the Nigerian aviation sector, potentially stifling the growth of local businesses.
The maid of the former Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian e-commerce giant, Konga, the late Nick Imudia (names withheld), has disclosed the last conversation she had with her boss before news of his death was announced last week.
Vanguard, meanwhile, gathered that the late Imudia’s family had requested his body for burial.
The maid, according to a close friend of the deceased, who spoke with Vanguard on the condition of anonymity, said late Imudia called her a day earlier and handed her a piece of paper with five telephone numbers, including that of his brother in the United States of America.
According to the deceased’s friend, “She said Nick told her to keep the numbers, that she would need them at the appropriate time. Thereafter, she said he went into the bathroom and heard the shower running, indicating that he was having a bath.
“She said after some time, she observed that the shower was still running and wondered what he could still be doing for so long. She knocked on the door, but there was no response and she left.
“Moments later, she said the private guard knocked on the door and informed her to come and see what had happened to Nick. She rushed downstairs and found him in a horrible state. Immediately, she rushed upstairs and still met the shower on. By the time she opened the door, she discovered there was nobody in there.”
Meanwhile, the family, according to the deceased’s friend, had requested the release of Imudia’s body for burial.
The family, in a statement, had ruled out suicide as the cause of his death, stating that he never showed any signs of stress and was never diagnosed as depressed at any point.”
Vanguard gathered that detectives at the Homicide section of the State Criminal Investigative Department, Yaba, Lagos, investigating the cause of the death were expecting some of those invited for questioning as at 11a.m., yesterday.
More...
To ease financial pressure on pilgrims, who took part in the 2024 Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca, the Federal Government and no fewer than eight states spent N100.642 billion on the pilgrims as subsidies and allowances.
The 2024 Hajj lasted from June 14 to June 19.
Coming at a time when no fewer than 20 states refused to pay wage awards to their workers to reduce the hardship occasioned by the removal of fuel subsidy, an Executive member of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, NSCIA, Alhaji Isiaq Kunle Sanni, said that the Muslim community never requested the Hajj subsidies.
Sani expressed concern that the government’s priorities are misplaced and that the funds could have been better spent on scholarships and other pressing issues.
However, the Muslim Rights Concern, MURIC, commended the governments for the gesture saying it was a necessary rescue package for pilgrims.
FG spent N90bn
At the flag-off of the inaugural airlift for the 2024 Hajj exercise at Sir Ahmadu Bello International Airport, Birnin Kebbi, Vice President Kashim Shettima, who represented President Bola Tinubu,
disclosed that the president had ordered the payment of N90 billion subsidy for the 2024 Hajj.
The Vice President said the president took this initiative on account of the economic situation in Nigeria, and urged the intending pilgrims to pray for peace, unity, and progress in the country.
Like the Federal Government, many states, especially, in the North, catered for the welfare of their pilgrims. Most of the states did not disclose how much they spent on their pilgrims; however, seven states disbursed N10.699 billion.
Governors prioritise pilgrims’ welfare over workers pay
There are indications that many governors in the North prioritised the subsidisation of pilgrimage of some privileged persons in their states over the payment of the wage award initiated by the Federal Government to their workers.
Vanguard’s checks indicate that apart from some governors directly funding expenses of the pilgrims from their states, others substantially subsidised the pilgrimage of their pilgrims.
However, most of the governors have vehemently opposed the payment of wage awards to their workers since the Federal Government introduced the six-month payment upon the withdrawal of fuel subsidy last year to cushion the spiral effect on their income and welfare.
Kebbi spent N4 billion
In Kebbi State government, Governor Nasiru Idris subsidised the Hajj expenses by donating One million naira to each of the 4000 pilgrims.
Plateau sponsored 540 of 1,233 pilgrims with N2bn loan
In Plateau State with 1,233 pilgrims, the state and local government councils concertedly sponsored no fewer than 540 of the pilgrims.
To facilitate their travel, the State Muslims Pilgrims Board secured a bank loan of N2 billion to enable it to obtain the needed number of Hajj slots from the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, before the intending pilgrims not sponsored by the State or Local Government Area made their deposits.
Kano offered N1.56bn subsidy
On his part, Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano State announced a N500,000 subsidy for each of the 3,121 pilgrims from the state running into N1,560,500,000.
It was also gathered that the Governor gifted the pilgrims 100 Saudi Riyal each amounting to N62.42 million as Sallah gesture.
1,815 pilgrims get N550 million in Borno In Borno State, no fewer than 1,815 pilgrims received N303,000 each as subsidy from the state government. The total sum is N549,945,000.
Zamfara spent N257.7m on 1,718 pilgrims
In Zamfara, the state government supported each of the 1,718 pilgrims with $100, which at N1500 to a Dollar amounted N257, 700,000.
Nasarawa pilgrims got N1.23 billion
Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State splashed $200, and 200 Riyals on each of 1, 760 Nasarawa pilgrims. At the current exchange rate, one Saudi Riyal is equivalent to N396.91.
Public Relations Officer, Nasarawa State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Abdulrazaq Abacha Madaki, who confirmed this in a message to journalists, said Governor Sule had continued to demonstrate impeccable leadership and compassion after he personally donated two hundred dollars for the Islamic Hadaya and two hundred Saudi Riyals as Sallah gift to each of the 1, 760 pilgrims from Nasarawa State The board image maker explained that the donation was in fulfillment of the the governor’s earlier promise to the pilgrims when departing for the Holy land of Mecca. The summation of the donations, at current exchange rate is N1.227 billion.
Lagos, Ogun subsidized operations with N1.042bn
The Ogun State government subsidized year 2024 Hajj with N119,560,712.70, which is the shortfall in pilgrims’ Basic Travel Allowance, BTA The Special Adviser to the governor on Media and Strategy, Mr Kayode Akinmade, confirmed this to Vanguard in Abeokuta.
Also, Lagos State Government disbursed N923 million as Hajj subsidy for 1,846 pilgrims, this year.
Governor Babjide Sanwo-Olu said this through the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Lawal Pedro.
Niger caters for rams, slaughtering
In Niger State, Vanguard’s checks showed that 3,223 pilgrims went to this year’s holy pilgrimage to Mecca.
Each of them paid N6,699,000 for the trip without any subsidy from the state government.
However, the state government, it was gathered, paid for the purchase and slaughtering (Hadaya) of one ram for each of the pilgrims in Mecca.
Other states
However, the sums spent by a host of the states were not disclosed. In Oyo State, Government sources said it was impossible for the government not to subsidize Hajj fare because it’s too costly, and “that’s the tradition for both Christian and Muslim pilgrims.”
In Kwara, there were 3117 pilgrims, according to the Secretary of the Pilgrims’ Board, Alhaji Abdulsalam Abdulkadir, who however declined to disclose what the state had given to each of the pilgrims to supplement their payment for the trip.
“I cannot tell you the amount because it is beyond me,” he quipped.
Although Kaduna State had no fewer than 4,600 pilgrims, officials declined to disclose how much the government paid to subsidise their trips, insisting that such information was beyond their brief.
Taraba sponsored 111 pilgrims
In Taraba State, the government-sponsored 111 of pilgrims for this year’s Hajj.
Apart from this, the only subsidy the other pilgrims from the state benefited from was provided by the Federal Government.
This subsidy was available only to those who had paid the initial cost stipulated by NAHCON before the price was reviewed upwards.
Bayelsa funded 10 of 13 pilgrims
In Bayelsa, a senior appointee of the State government confirmed the state fully sponsored 10 persons to this year’s Hajj, while three other persons were on self-sponsorship.
However, at the time of filing this report, an official at the Bayelsa State Pilgrims Welfare Board said they were still working on the amount to approve for the pilgrims because of the volatility of the naira to the dollar.
Muslims never asked, govt playing politics with subsidies — NSCIA Exco
Speaking to Vanguard in Abuja, Sanni stated that the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, opposed free Hajj trips and preferred scholarships instead.
His words: “The Muslims never asked the government to subsidize pilgrimage. Politicians often seek to appeal to the sentiments of Nigerians, whether they are Christians or Muslims. They likely did this of their own volition, perhaps hoping to gain favour with the Muslim community.
‘’This is why, during Christmas, both federal and state governments subsidize transportation for Christians, allowing them to travel by road or by train free of charge for one month for their religious festivals. The politicians likely aimed to appeal to Christians as well.
“However, this practice was not replicated during the Islamic festival, and we did not complain. Those who had already paid for their pilgrimage in full before the various governments announced their hajj fare subsidies were not refunded a single dime. I can state this unequivocally and with reliable authority. Hajj is not compulsory unless one has the financial means to fund it. Islamic teachings clearly state that Hajj is obligatory only for those who can afford it.
“Trusting politicians can be risky; it’s possible that no money has actually been released despite the announced subsidies. Many of the listed beneficiaries may never receive the subsidies. The government stated that the Hajj subsidy would cover those with outstanding payments. It was not a full subsidy but was intended for those who had made deposits but became unable to pay the balance when the Naira plummeted.
“To the best of my knowledge, and as someone closely connected to Islamic authorities in Nigeria, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, never requested any government to subsidize Hajj for Muslims.
‘’The Sultan personally opposes providing free Hajj trips. He prefers that such funds be allocated to scholarships, as there are many other pressing issues that the government could address instead of sponsoring people for Hajj. Sending someone to Hajj costs about N8 million.
‘’If you give an average Nigerian N8 million, they are likely to use it effectively. They could start a business with that money and, after a few years, have enough funds to sponsor themselves for Hajj. However, Nigerian politicians, being who they are, often prefer to make some noise.”
It was a lifeline — MURIC
Toeing a different line, MURIC Executive Director, Prof. Ishaq Akintola, said the subsidy was a response to the extraordinary circumstances faced by the pilgrims who had paid the full amount required but were affected by the unforeseen fluctuation in naira’s value.
Speaking to Vanguard in Abuja, Akintola said: “Depending on the circumstances, it may be appropriate for the government to subsidize pilgrimage. The subsidy provided by the government in the past year was prompted by the difficulties faced by Muslim pilgrims.
‘’They did not explicitly request the subsidy, either individually or collectively. However, during the payment process, some pilgrims had already paid the full amount required when the Nigerian currency experienced significant fluctuation.
‘’They did not ask for the subsidy, but the prices changed after they had already paid, and it was not due to indigence. They had collected the exact amount that the Pilgrims’ Board required.
Unfortunately, the value of the money they paid dropped, and they were asked to find additional funds. This is the true situation we face.
“Ordinarily, we have argued that under normal circumstances, there would be no need for governments’ intervention in pilgrimage matters. About five years ago, MURIC launched a campaign urging the federal government to withdraw from pilgrimage affairs.
‘’Muslims can manage pilgrimage on their own; this year alone, at least 65,000 Muslim pilgrims went for Hajj. When such a large number of people pool their resources and manage them properly, they can return with profits. Therefore, we suggested that the government should withdraw its involvement.’’
The Nigeria Customs Service said its operatives intercepted nine containers carrying offensive items including arms, ammunition, Illicit drugs and second-hand clothes worth N13.9 billion.
The Comptroller-General, NCS, Adewale Adeniyi disclosed this on Monday while addressing journalists in Onne Port, Rivers State.
Adeniyi said one of the containers which originated from Turkey, based on the number of risk factors associated with the importation, became a subject of interest to the service.
Giving details of the container, the CG said, “We have followed its sail across continents and we’ve benefitted immensely from credible information through our collaboration with intelligence communities both at local, national and international levels,”
According to him, the importer tried to circumvent the procedure through the outlet of a private-bonded terminal.
“On Friday 21st of June 2024, the auspicious container was subjected to a thorough physical examination. Inside the container were 844 units of assorted riffles and 12,500 pieces of life ammunition,” which Adeniyi said were “concealed with various items like doors, furniture fittings and leather bags.”
The NCS boss stated that the duty-paid value of the container was N4.2bn.
He added that three suspects were arrested in connection with the seizures after securing a detention warrant from a competent court of justice.
On the other containers, Adeniyi said, “On Saturday, our officers intercepted eight pieces of 40-foot containers transiting from a bonded terminal
“On examination, six of the containers were laden with 1.5 million bottles of cough syrup of codeine in 100ml sizes, 3.5m tablets of tramadol. The duty-paid value of the containers is N9.6bn. the total duty paid value of the nine containers is N13.9bn,” the customs boss concluded.
On Friday, June 28, 2024, the Joint Border Patrol Team Sector 2 of the NCS said it intercepted 1,410 litres of premium motor spirit worth N30.4m within one week.
The team’s Coordinator, Mohammad Shuaibu, disclosed this while addressing journalists at the Customs Training College in Ikeja, Lagos State.
The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has arrested four suspected fake Economic and Financial Crimes Commission officers while planning to abduct and collect a ransom of N150m from their victim name (withheld).
Parading the suspects alongside other suspects at the command headquarters in Ikot Akpanabia, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital, on Monday, the Commissioner of Police, Waheed Ayilara, said the principal suspect, Emmanuel Akpayak, masterminded the kidnap of the would-be victim whom he owed over N12m as he tried to extort money from him and subsequently kill him to evade repayment of his debt.
He listed the suspects to include one Emmanuel Augustine Akpayak ‘M’ aged 27years, Echem Ovurizichi Weneka, ‘M’, aged 27years, Promise Udofia ‘M’ aged 28 years and Jeremiah Johnson Okon ‘M’ 38 years.
According to the CP, “Investigation revealed that Emmanuel Augustine Akpayak had arranged for the kidnap and killing of the would-be victim by engaging men on arms and procuring the EFCC vest/uniform for the operation.
“(The) Victim was invited and a search was conducted at the principal suspect’s house where four pairs of the EFCC vest were recovered. Information at hand indicates that the suspect transacted a business of selling cars with the would-be victim and owed the victim about N12m. To evade the repayment of the debt, the suspect hired armed men to kidnap, extort the sum of N150m and also kill the victim thereafter but the operation was foiled. Suspects will have their day in court,” he said.
In an interview with the principal suspect, Akpayak, he claimed that the intending victim was his business associate to whom he owed some money but hired “boys” who were issuing threats to him.
He noted that attempts to make his associate come to roundtable discussions failed hence he resorted to getting the EFCC vest from an online vendor to give to his syndicate who posed as officials to arrest the man and force him to bring N150m as he alleged that the would-be victim was rich and into Internet fraud.
The commissioner also paraded suspected advance fee fraudsters who had been swindling PoS operators in Uyo.
“On 21/06/2024 at about 7:00pm, one Glory Uko Okon ‘F’ of Afaha Ikot Obio Nkan Village, Ibesikpo Asutan LGA, called in through the emergency hotline and alleged that one Donald Ita Nyong ‘M’, Rex Clement Uso ‘M’ and one Kingsley Mathias Joekim POS syndicates came to her stand at Udo Udoma Avenue Uyo, pretended to make a withdrawal of N10,000. While she made the withdrawal to the suspects, one of the suspects gave her N3,200 to deposit into an Opay account which she tried three times and the transaction was unsuccessful. The suspects mounted pressure on her which made her give out the POS machine to the suspect to type in the account number. Before she could realise it, the suspects had withdrawn the sum of N320,000 from her machine and quickly jumped into their waiting car and zoomed off. Suspects were arrested, they all made useful statements and have confessed to the crime.”
At least, three members of a suspected child trafficking syndicate have been arrested by the Akwa State Police Command for allegedly selling a 12-year-old boy (name withheld) for N400,000 in Ibesikpo in the state.
The state Commissioner of Police, Waheed Ayilara, announced this in a statement following a press conference at the police headquarters in Uyo on Monday.
PUNCH Metro learnt that the suspects were arrested at about 2 pm on May 9, 2024.
Ayilara stated that the trio of Michael Edet, Umem Moses, and Ability Tom were apprehended in their hideouts in the state by operatives of the command following credible intelligence about the syndicates.
Our correspondent learnt that the suspects allegedly kidnapped the victim, who was selling groundnuts along Oron Road in Akwa Ibom State, and transported him to the Ovum Community, Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia State, where he was sold to another suspect identified as Loveth Nwankwo for the stated amount.
Ayilara said, “On May 9, 2024, at about 2:30 p.m., acting on credible intelligence, operatives of the command arrested one Michael Emmanuel Edet ‘M’, one Ability Henry Tom ‘F, and one Uwem udoh Moses ‘F’ from their hideouts within Ibesikpo and Aka Etinan Road for stealing a child (name withheld) ‘M’ 12 years while he was hawking groundnuts along the Oron Road and was taken to Ovum community and sold out for the sum of N400,000 to one Loveth Nwankwo.
“Further investigation led to the arrest of the said Loveth Nwankwo in Abia State. Suspects confessed to the crime and promised to help arrest other fleeing members of their syndicate. The victim was rescued and with others. The investigation is still ongoing. The above suspects and others will have their day in court.”
He assured the state’s residents that the command would continue to confront criminals directly and prevent any breakdown of law and order.
“We urge Akwa Ibom people to continue cooperating with the police through intelligence sharing so that together we can fight and successfully defeat crime and criminal elements in the state,” Ayilara added.