TheNewsGuru

Tag: Saudi Arabia

  • Be good ambassadors in Saudi Arabia – Gov. Bala urges pilgrims

    Gov. Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State has called on intending pilgrims departing to Saudi Arabia for the 2022 holy pilgrimage to be good ambassadors of Nigeria.

    Mohammed made the appeal during his farewell address to the 2022 Bauchi intending pilgrims on Tuesday night.

    He said this is necessary in order to make the state and Nigeria proud.

    The governor, who prayed for their safe trip to Makkah, also prayed that the Almighty God would make the exercise easy for them.

    Mohammed also urged them to offer special prayers for the state and nation as a whole.

    Earlier, the Executive Secretary, Bauchi State Muslims Pilgrims Welfare Board (BSMPWB), Alhaji Abdulrahaman Idris, appreciated the state governor for the support given to the board and the pilgrims which have helped in the successful preparation for the journey.

    Idris also called on the pilgrims to conduct themselves in a peaceful manner and shun any act that could go against the rules and regulations laid down by the Saudi authorities.

    He said that 1,663 pilgrims would perform the pilgrimage from the state, while 530 would be departing on Wednesday morning under Batch A.

  • Saudi Arabia issues Hajj rules for airlines transporting pilgrims

    The Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) has issued new rules for airlines transporting pilgrims during the upcoming Hajj season, local media reported.

    The rules cover all airlines working in the kingdom’s airports, including private airlines, regarding the health requirements that should be met by passengers arriving in Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj.

    According to the new rules, pilgrim passengers should be less than 65 years old and have completed immunizations with basic doses of COVID-19 vaccines.

    Pilgrim passengers must also submit a negative PCR test for COVID-19 taken within 72 hours prior to departure to the kingdom.

    Meanwhile, Saudi Arabian Airlines SAUDIA, the national flag carrier, has allocated 14 aircraft for pilgrims, which are expected to make 268 international flights from and to 15 stations worldwide, as well as 32 domestic flights.

    In total, the airline will be responsible for providing around 107,000 international and 12,800 domestic seats during the Hajj Season, it added.

    Saudi Arabia announced in April its plan to receive one million domestic and foreign pilgrims during the upcoming Hajj season.

    It is the first time that foreign pilgrims will be allowed to perform Hajj after the previous two seasons, which were restricted to domestic pilgrims due to COVID-19 outbreaks.

  • Anyone above 65 years will not attend 2022 Hajj – Board

    Anyone above 65 years will not attend 2022 Hajj – Board

    The Katsina Pilgrims Board on Wednesday reminded intending pilgrims above the age of 65 years, that they would not be allowed into Saudi Arabia.

    This is contained in a statement by the board’s Public Relations Officer, Alhaji Badaru Bello-Karofi in Katsina.

    The board made this known during orientation for intending pilgrims and Islamic scholars in the state ahead of the 2022 Hajj operations.

    The exercise, organised in Kankia and Dutsinma Zonal Centres, was aimed at enlightening the intending pilgrims on how to purify themselves ahead of the Hajj.

    ”Saudi Arabia has indicated that people above 65 years must not be allowed to perform Hajj this year and also reminded all intending pilgrims that full COVID-19 vaccination is compulsory.

    “By full vaccination I mean the three doses and of course PCR is mandatory,” the Chairman said.

    ”Saudi Arabia has indicated that anybody above 65 years must not be allowed to perform Hajj.

    ”All intending pilgrims must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. By full vaccination I mean the three doses and of course PCR is mandatory,” he said.

    Earlier, the Executive Director of the board, Alhaji Suleiman Nuhu-Kuki commended the smooth conduct of the ongoing exercise in Kankia and Dutsinma Zonal Centres of the state.

    Nuhu-Kuki stressed the need for them to purify themselves ahead of the holy pilgrimage.

    He said the National Hajj commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has fixed N2.5 million as deposit from each intending pilgrim.

    He said about 2,146 seats have been allocated to the state for this year’s Hajj operation.

    Nuhu-Kuki said that the increase on Hajj fare followed the hike in airfare and exchange rates of dollars.

    On April 10, Saudi Arabia set an age limit of 65 for those travelling to the holy city of Mecca this year.

    Nigeria has been allocated 43,008 hajj slots for 2022 with the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory getting 33,976 seats and private tour operators sharing 9,032 seats.

    Kaduna State got the highest allocation of 2,491 seats while Abia got six with zero allocation to Akwa Ibom and Bayelsa.

    The 2022 seat allocation was based on the performance of each state in the 2019 Hajj airlift.

  • 12 years after demise, Jonathan pays tribute to Musa Yar’Adua

    12 years after demise, Jonathan pays tribute to Musa Yar’Adua

    Twelve years after the demise of former President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, former President Goodluck Jonathan has described the late ex-president as a patriot, a selfless leader and a peacemaker who governed with sincerity and passion for the people.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Jonathan made this known in a statement on Thursday, stressing that though “Yar’Adua is no longer with us today, …his strides in public life continue to testify for him and keep his memory alive”.

    Jonathan wrote: “Twelve years ago, our nation lost a patriot, a selfless leader and a peacemaker who governed with sincerity and passion for the people.

    “President Umaru Musa Yar’ Adua is no longer with us today, but his strides in public life continue to testify for him and keep his memory alive.

    “Like a good athlete, he ran with passion, kept the faith and finished the race. Today we can look back and say, as President he won laurels for us in terms of peace and other worthy causes he successfully pursued.

    “He was a soldier of truth, committed to justice, equity and other democratic virtues. He was a servant leader and a good man; the type that is hard to find.

    “He was my boss.

    “President Yar’Adua, we remember you today and will continue to remember the good works that you did in our nation. Yours is a story of patriotism, a life well-lived in service to the people and humanity”.

    TNG reports Yar’Adua was Nigeria’s President from 2007 to 2010. He was declared the winner of the presidential election held on 21 April 2007 and was sworn in on 29 May 2007.

    He previously served as the Governor of Katsina from 1999 to 2007 and was a member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

    In 2009, Yar’Adua left for Saudi Arabia to receive treatment for pericarditis. He returned to Nigeria on 24 February 2010, where he died on 5 May.

  • Saudi Arabia sets to host Joshua, Usyk rematch in June

    Saudi Arabia sets to host Joshua, Usyk rematch in June

    The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will play host to the much touted rematch between two heavyweight boxers Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk

    In September 2001, Usyk defeated Joshua in a unanimous to clinch WBO, WBA, IBF and IBO decision in a bout and took his heavyweight titles.

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    Hopes of seeing a rematch between these two heavyweight boxers were almost dashed as Usyk’s country, Ukraine was/is still ravaged by war

    Recall that Russia has invaded Ukraine since February 24th over its decision to join NATO.

    The hopes of Usky’s defending his titles against Joshua were almost dashed after the boxer returned to Ukraine, his country, to join in the fight against Russia.

    “I really don’t know when I’m going to be stepping back in the ring. My country and my honour are more important to me than a championship belt.”Usyk Said

    However, Saudi Arabia has now agreed to pay a whooping sum of 90 Million Pounds to stage the rematch.

    The 90Million price tag is a bit higher than the 60 Million pounds Saudi paid for Joshua versus Andy Ruiz rematch in 2019.

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  • Saudi Arabians are racist – Former Emir of Kano’s daughter, Shahida

    Saudi Arabians are racist – Former Emir of Kano’s daughter, Shahida

    The daughter of the former Emir of Kano, Shahida Sanusi has shared her experience of racism in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

    Shahida’s father, Muhammadu Sanusi II was the 14th Emir of Kano before he was dethroned by the government of Governor Abdullahi Ganduje.

    In a question and answer session with her followers on Monday, the mother of three admitted that Arabs are racist, adding that she has even experienced racism in the mosque.

    According to her, the gateman attached to their house was racist towards them and wouldn’t answer when they greet him.

    “To be honest, they are are. Yes. I have but it mostly had to do with my daughter. )personally don’t go out much or interact with them enough to know) But definitely have experienced racism even in the mosque and the playground in front of our house. Even my daughter’s school she was one of the only black kids so at first I didn’t think it was racism. I realised later on,” she said.

    “Oh wait, even our ‘Haris’ like the gate man was racist to us when we first came. He wouldn’t even answer salam. It was insane.” she added.

  • New Saudi Arabian group set to bid for Chelsea

    New Saudi Arabian group set to bid for Chelsea

    A new Saudi Arabian group are planning to bid for Premier League club, Chelsea.

    Goal says a Saudi private consortium led by Saudi Media registered their interest on Sunday to buy Chelsea through Raine Group, the New York merchant bank that has been hired to find a buyer. They have set a deadline of March 15 for offers to be put on the table.

    But a source close to Blues owner Roman Abramovich expressed scepticism about all the bidders who have publicly revealed their hands to date, including the Swiss/American partnership of Hansjorg Wyss and Todd Boehly.

    Abramovich is understood to regard the buyer’s plans for the future of the club as equally significant as the price in determining whether to sanction a sale, a factor not to be overlooked as other potential bidders emerged yesterday.

  • Omicron Ban: FG engages Saudi Arabian Ambassador on removal of travel restrictions

    Omicron Ban: FG engages Saudi Arabian Ambassador on removal of travel restrictions

    Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Zubairu Dada has engaged with Amb. Faisal Al-Ghamdi, Saudi Arabian Ambassador to Nigeria, calling for the removal of travel restrictions placed on Nigerians intending to visit Saudi Arabia.

    Mr Ibrahim Aliyu, the Special Assistant Media to Dada, made this known in a statement made available to the media on Saturday in Abuja.

    The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia placed travel restrictions on Nigerians intending to visit the country since the outbreak of the Omicron Variant of COVID 19 across the globe.

    Dada appealed to the Saudi Authority to as a matter of urgency review the travel restrictions it placed on Nigerians over the Omicron outbreak as already done by many countries.

    The Minister noted that many countries which had earlier placed bans on Nigeria had since reversed their positions having studied the achievements of Nigeria in containing the Pandemic.

    “Although Nigeria has understood fully the reason for the ban by Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was for the best interest of its citizens.

    “But that the steps taken so far by Nigeria Authorities to curtail the spread of the Omicron Variant have made it possible for many countries to consider Nigeria as safe, removing Nigeria from the blacklisted countries,” Dada stated.

    Dada commended the cordial relationship that existed for years and continued to exist between the two countries.

    While expressing optimism for a timely response on Nigeria’s request from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Dada pledged to continue to give every necessary support and cooperation to the Ambassador.

    Al-Ghamdi in his response expressed satisfaction with the effort of the Nigerian government in containing the spread of Omicron, promising to convey Nigeria’s message to the relevant Authorities back home in Saudi Arabia.

    He stated that just like in Nigeria where there were bodies in charge of monitoring and the fight against the coronavirus pandemic, Saudi Arabia also had similar agencies responsible for the monitoring and controlling the pandemic.

    Al-Ghamdi thanked the Minister for his commitment to improve bilateral relations with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

  • FG restricts airlines from UK, Canada, Saudi Arabia in reciprocity over Omicron COVID-19

    FG restricts airlines from UK, Canada, Saudi Arabia in reciprocity over Omicron COVID-19

    With effect from Tuesday, Dec. 14, the Federal Government will restrict airlines coming from Canada, United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia into Nigeria.

    Minister of Aviation, Capt. Hadi Sirika, announced the decision on Sunday in Lagos and explained that it was to reciprocate restricted flights from Nigeria into those countries over the new COVID-19 variant, Omicron.

    Sirika said President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration would also place the United Kingdom, Canada and Saudi Arabia on a red list over the outbreak and spread of the Omicron variant.

    The minister noted that if those countries placed Nigeria on a red list, they lacked a moral right to have their airlines fly into Nigeria on commercial operations.

    “There is also the case of Saudi Arabia that put Nigeria on the ban list. On Sunday, I participated in a meeting with the COVID-19 task force.

    “We have given our input that it is not acceptable by us and we recommended that those Canada, the UK, Saudi Arabia and Argentina also be put on the red list.

    “As they did to us, if they do not allow our citizens into their countries; who are they coming, as airlines, to pick from our country?

    “They are not supposed to come in. I am very sure in the next three days; Monday or Tuesday, all those countries will be put on the red list of COVID-19,’’ the minister said.

    He stressed that airlines of the affected countries remained banned and the countries placed on Nigeria’s red list.

    Sirika apologised to Nigerians intending to travel to those countries, but said Nigerian government’s decision was in the interest of the country.

  • Buhari returns to Abuja from Saudi Arabia

    Buhari returns to Abuja from Saudi Arabia

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday night arrived Nigeria from Saudi Arabia.

    The President left the country on Monday to attend an investment summit in the middle-east nation.

    He also used the opportunity to perform some religious rites.

    The President was received at the airport by his Chief of Staff, Ibrahim Gambari and the Minister of the FCT, Mallam Muhammad Musa Bello.