Headline
2023 Hajj: NAHCON begins transportation of pilgrims on May 21
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) says it will begin the transportation of the 2023 Nigerian pilgrims to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on May 21. 2023.
The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NAHCON, Alhaji Zikrullah Hassan, disclosed this at the opening of application forms as well as the inauguration of Aviation Monitoring and Airline Screening Committees, held at Hajj House on Wednesday in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 10 airlines applied to transport Nigerian pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for the 2023 hajj, while three cargo airlines applied to transport luggage of the pilgrims back to Nigeria.
The airlines that signified interest were: Aero Contractors, Air Peace, Arik Air, Flynas, Azman Air, Max air, Sky power, United Nigeria Airlines, while the three cargo airlines are: Cargo zeal, Cargo Solo Deke Global Travels, and one other.
The NAHCON boss urged the screening committee to work round the clock to summit its report by March 7, for onward submission to President Muhammadu Buhari for approval.
He also charged the committee to ensure that all technical issues regarding airport and aircraft were resolved on time.
Similarly, Hassan advised all intending pilgrims to complete their registration with various State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Boards, Agencies and Commissions or through the Hajj Savings Scheme on time.
According to him, the registration for 2023 hajj will be closed in due course in order to meet up with the deadline fixed by the Saudi Arabian Government.
Hassan said: “The terms and references of the Aviation Monitoring Committee include constituting a subcommittee to review all documents submitted by the applicant-airlines and cargo carriers.”
Earlier, Alhaji Abdullahi Hardawa, the Chairman of the screening committee and NAHCON Commissioner of Operations, expressed its commitment to work assiduously towards ensuring a successful 2023 Hajj operation.
Also, Sen. Adamu Bulkachuwa, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, urged the members of the screening committee to justify the confidence reposed on them.
He said: “In my capacity as the Chairman, Senate on Foreign Affairs, we always monitor hajj operation closely. If airlines perform well, the rest of hajj operation will be successful.
“I urge you to put your heads together and make sure that the airport you are going to operate from is very much in order. Make early arrangements to do what is right to avoid flight delays or cancellations.”
Headline
Tinubu’s 2024 Budget Deceitful, Has No Mechanism For Economic Recovery – PDP

by Bobloco: 8:31pm On Nov 29
Tinubu’s 2024 budget deceitful, has no mechanism for economic recovery- PDP
The Peoples Democratic Party has criticized the proposed N27.5 trillion budget for the 2024 fiscal year by President Bola Tinubu to the National Assembly as deceitful, adding that it has no mechanism for economic recovery.
Vanguard reported that Tinubu, on Wednesday presented the ‘Budget of Renewed Hope’ before a joint session of the Senate and the House of Representatives.
In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, the PDP urged the National Assembly to reject the appropriation bill and argued that if allowed to pass, it would plunge the country into economic depression.
The statement reads: “The PDP also describes the claim by President Tinubu that the budget is a Budget of Renewed Hope as conjured, unfounded and deceptive as the budget is completely devoid of concrete mechanisms to revive the economy, create jobs, address the comatose manufacturing and productive sectors, human capital development deficiencies and depleting life expectancy of Nigeria citizens.
“The 2024 budget is filled with heavily padded figures, duplicated items and several false statistics including claims of global increase in inflation rate as excuse for an impending excruciating increase in taxes and interest rate to the detriment of our productive sector.
“It is clear that the 2024 budget as proposed with its heavy provisions for luxury appetite of the Presidency and All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders which is predicated and expected to be funded from multilateral and bilateral foreign loans and increased taxes on Nigerians, is designed to further mortgage our nation and strangulate the already impoverished Nigerians.
“The budget framework with respect to Recurrent Expenditure Vote of N9.9 trillion, Capital Expenditure Vote of N8.7 trillion and N8.25 trillion for debt services is unsustainable and unrealizable in view of the stated outstanding debt and proposed borrowing which is targeted mainly to finance consumption, luxury appetite and debt servicing.
“The lack of concrete and verifiable action plans to revive the manufacturing, energy, agricultural and education sectors which are the main drivers of any economy is a pointer that the Tinubu-led APC government is bereft of ideas and completely disconnected from the reality of life being faced by Nigerians.
“It is of grave concern that the President in the budget speech stated that his government has “adopted a Naira to US Dollar exchange rate of N750 per US Dollar for 2024”.
“This is a clear admission of failure, incapacity and lack of direction by the APC administration to manage and grow the economy in such a way as to strengthen the national currency, productivity and competitiveness in the global market.
“It has further confirmed that the numerous promises by the President and officials of his government asserting a monetary policy to strengthen the Naira have been a deceptive ploy which is consistent with the APC in the past eight and half years.
“By adopting a defeatist N750 per US Dollar exchange rate, President Tinubu has further plunged our economy into the abyss, weakened our productive sector, wrecked the purchasing power of Nigerians and the capacity of the youths to be creative, recognizing that it will be almost impossible for Small and Medium Enterprises as well as Startups to access capital under such a suffocating budget.
“Every responsible leadership strives to work and defend its national currency. Unfortunately, the Tinubu-led government has surrendered our nation currency and pride to the whims and caprices of the so-called ‘market forces’.
“The PDP insists that with a transparent, honest and innovative management of resources and economic potentials of the nation; without inordinate pursuit of luxury consumption by a few individuals in leadership position, as being witnessed under the APC, the economy will witness a rapid turn-around and the Naira strengthened to its value of below N200 per US Dollar bequeathed by the PDP to the APC in 2015.
“This 2024 budget as presented by President Tinubu therefore represents hopelessness for Nigerians. It is pathetic that the President whose main duty is to provide for the security and welfare of Nigerians as provided for in Section 14 (2) (b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) could present a budget that is not geared towards the attainment of that Constitutional duty imposed on him.
“The PDP calls on the National Assembly pursuant to its Constitutional duty under Section 80, 81 and 82 of the 1999 Constitution to reject the 2024 budget as presented and use its legislative powers to disassemble the budget and make provisions that are critical and pivotal to the growth of the economy and the welfare of Nigerians.”
Headline
President Tinubu Seeks Senate Approval For Fresh $8.6billion, €100million Loans

The president made the request through a letter to the Senate, read during the plenary by the Senate President, GodsWill Akpabio, on Tuesday, noting that the fund was to execute critical projects in different sectors.
The President Bola Tinubu-led administration has sought the approval of the Nigerian Senate for $8.6billion and €100million borrowing plan.
The president made the request through a letter to the Senate, read during the plenary by the Senate President, GodsWill Akpabio, on Tuesday, noting that the fund was to execute critical projects in different sectors.
The request was said to be part of the federal government 2022-2024 external borrowing plan approved by former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, according to the letter.
Tinubu explained that the projects to be funded with the loan cuts across different sectors of the economy, and were selected based on economic evaluation and the expected contribution to the country’s development.
The letter reads in part;, “I write in respect of the above subject and to submit the attached the federal government 2022-2024 external borrowing plan for consideration and early approval of the National Assembly to ensure prompt implementation of the projects.
“The Senate may wish to note that the past administration approved a 2022-2024 borrowing plan by the federal executive council (FEC) held on May 15, 2023.
“The project cuts across all sectors, with specific emphasis on infrastructure, agriculture, health, water supply, roads, security, and employment generation as well as financial management reforms.
“Consequently, the required approval is in the sum of $8,699,168,559 and €100 million.
“I would like to underscore the fact that the projects and programmes in the borrowing plan were selected based on economic evaluations as well as the expected contribution to the social economic development of the country, including employment generation, and skills acquisition.
“Given the nature of these facilities, and the need to return the country to normalcy it has become necessary for the Senate to consider and approve the 2022- 2024 external abridged borrowing plan to enable the government deliver its responsibility to Nigerians.”
In August, the National Assembly approved President Tinubu’s request for over $800 million loan to finance the National Social Safety Network Programme.
The National Assembly had also approved the 2022 Supplementary Appropriations Act of N819 million “for the provision of Palliatives to Nigerians to cushion the effect of fuel subsidy removal”.
-
News6 days ago
How Emefiele Pumped ₦10tn Into Economy Through Quasi-Fiscal Activities – Cardoso
-
Headline6 days ago
I Won’t Contest Against Tinubu In 2027 – Wike
-
Headline5 days ago
Tinubu, Ganduje Plotted To Hand Rivers APC To Wike, Embarrass Amaechi – Eze
-
News5 days ago
Charles Soludo Hosts The Ooni Of Ife, Enitan Ogunwusi
-
News6 days ago
CBN To Increase Capital Base Of Banks
-
News5 days ago
UK To Close Temporary Visa Schemes As Over 143,000 Nigerian Doctors Migrates
-
Headline3 days ago
5,000 Federal Civil Servants May Not Get November, December Salaries