Hajj: 1,560 Sokoto, Zamfara pilgrims return to Nigeria

Pilgrims arriving Nigeria from Saudi Arabia

No fewer than 1,560 pilgrims from Sokoto and Zamfara states were on Tuesday transported back to Nigeria through the Sultan Abubakar III International Airport,Sokoto.

The Manager of the airport, Alhaji Ahmed Adamu, made the disclosure in an interview in Sokoto on Wednesday.

Adamu said that the pilgrims who were all hale and hearty, were transported by Max Airline.

”The first flight into the Sokoto airport arrived around 6.40 a.m., with 560 pilgrims from Bukkuyum and Gummi local governments of Zamfara.

”The second flight arrived the airport at around 10.0 4 a.m. with 500 pilgrims from Bungudu and Kauran Namoda local governments of Zamfara.

”The third flight into the airport arrived at around 6.20 p.m. with 500 pilgrims from Gada, Isa and Binji local government areas of Sokoto State,” he said.

Adamu said the management of the airport had made adequate arrangements to ensure the successful transportation of all the pilgrims back to the country.

Meanwhile, the Director-General of the Sokoto State Pilgrims Welfare Agency, Alhaji Ibrahim
Umar, said the agency had made adequate arrangements to ensure the success of the exercise.

”We have transported 4,750 pilgrims from the state to Saudi Arabia and they had successfully completed the pilgrimage.

”All our pilgrims are intact and they will be transported back to Nigeria in ten flights.

”All the pilgrims would be transported back to Nigeria in the order they were taken to the Holy land,” Umar said in Sokoto on Wednesday.

Governor Aminu Tambuwal had appointed a high-powered committee headed by the Religious Affairs Commissioner, Alhaji Mani Katami, to receive the pilgrims.

Comments

Court grants Fani-Kayode N50m bail

Fani-kayode sandwiched by EFCC officials Justice James Tsoho of the Federal High Court Abuja on Thursday granted a N50m bail to former spokesman of the Goodluck Jonathan Campaign Organisation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode. Fani-Kayode was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a five-count charge of money laundering to the tune of N26m. Fani-Kayode is the sole defendant in the fresh charges numbered, FHC/ABJ/CR/140/2016. The EFCC accused the defendant of diverting 26 million Naira allegedly received from the ONSA while Sambo Dasuki was in office. The anti-graft agency also accused him of handling the said N26 million without going through financial institution as required under the Money Laundering Act. The embattled former minister is already facing 17-count charge of money laundering before the Lagos Division of the court, along with a former Finance Minister; Nenadi Usman, Danjuma Yusuf and a firm; Joint Trust Dimension Nigeria Limited. They were charg

FG berates US congressman over comment

Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information and Culture Photo: Femi Ipaye/PM News The Federal Government has described as sadly out of tune with reality the published letter from US Congressman Tom Marino to Secretary of State John Kerry, asking the US to withhold security assistance to Nigeria on the strength of some imaginary infraction by the Buhari Administration. In a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said Congressman Marino was poorly informed about the issues he commented on, wondering why he did not take the pains to get first hand information from the US Embassy in Nigeria or any other credible source before engaging in what is nothing but a ‘propaganda of his own imagination’. The Minister said by asking the US to refrain from selling warplanes and other military equipment to Nigeria based on a faulty premise, the Congressman has demonstrated a poor understanding of global security issues. ”Insecurity anywhere i

Aubameyang leads Gabon to Nations Cup

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang leads the cast for Gabon as the hosts became the first team to name their final 2017 Africa Cup of Nations squad. The team captain and Borussia Dortmund star will lead the home players out for the opening game of the tournament against debutants Guinea-Bissau on 14 January in Libreville. Gabon have also named Sunderland midfielder Didier Ndong despite the player being left out of November’s World Cup qualifier in Mali. Ndong was in the capital city Libreville but failed to turn up for international duty ahead of the Mali game last month, forcing the Gabonese Football Federation [Fegafoot] to send him back to England. But a remorseful Ndong, who held clear-the-air talks with Fegafoot has been included in a 23-man Panthers squad. Other names to make the final party include Juventus midfielder Mario Lemina, Bruno Ecuélé Manga of Cardiff City and China-based striker Malick Evouna. Gabon coach José Antonio Camacho included three do

Global Naija Info

Search This Blog