NAN Archive

Loading

NAN Archive

All posts by 08033668669

General news

Hajj 2022: Pilgrims enjoyed $410 accommodation rebate, others – NAHCON

Hajj 2022: Pilgrims enjoyed $410 accommodation rebate, others – NAHCON

By Abdulfatah Babatunde

Achievements

Lagos, Sept. 25, 2022 (NAN) The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) says pilgrims enjoyed $410 reduction in accommodation fare in this year’s Hajj operation, among other services.

The Chairman of the commission, Alhaji Zikrullah Hassan, gave the score card during an interactive session with newsmen on Sunday in Lagos.

“We were able to reduce the cost of accommodation in Makkah from $930 to $520 per pilgrim during this year’s Hajj operation.

“We were also able to reduce the number of days pilgrims spent in Saudi Arabia,’’ Hassan said in the first interaction he ever held with top media gatekeepers in the Lagos axis since his assumption of office in 2020.

Other achievements recorded by the commission, according to him, included pegging Hajj fare to barest minimum, recording low mortality rate and achieving 95 per cent travel despite challenges associated with the post-COVID operation.

According to him, the commission was able to arrange the return journey of all pilgrims “earlier than scheduled” in spite of the fact that it had less than one month to prepare for the entire exercise.

“Normally, preparation for Hajj operations should take a minimum of six months, but we had less than one month to prepare for this year’s Hajj, which came with many challenges,” said the chairman.

He however identified lack of a national carrier for transporting pilgrims to and from Saudi Arabia as a major challenge the commission is grappling with, among others.

Hassan assured that the commission has started preparation for the 2023 Hajj in earnest in order to overcome some of the challenges faced this year.

“We met with all officials of Hajj operators during Hajj 2022 for discussion on areas of service delivery to pilgrims.

“We agreed to work collectively and to improve service delivery to pilgrims by setting standards for operation.

“Preparation has already started on due diligence for the appointment of Air Carriers for the Hajj 2023 operation.’’

The chairman also unfolded a plan to fine-tune the operations of the Hajj Saving Scheme (HSS) in order to assist intending pilgrims to save enough money to fulfil their desire for the spiritual journey.

He said that countries like Malaysia and Indonesia have operated similar schemes for many years and have enough returns on investment to significantly subsidise Hajj fare.

The scheme has afforded those countries to “have enough funds in their kitty to quickly arrange for any emergent situation like Hajj 2022’’.

Hassan noted that with the HSS, NAHCON too would be in an advantageous position to negotiate services like airlift, accommodation and feeding, among others, to be provided to pilgrims.

He also hinted that the commission “is making consultations on the amendment of some sections of the NAHCON Act” to enhance its operations and smoothen the HSS. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

AIB/MST

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Foreign

580 new graduates commissioned to police force in W/Afghanistan

Police

Herat (Afghanistan), Sept. 13, 2022 (Xinhua/NAN) A total of 580 youth joined the national police force in the western region of Afghanistan on Tuesday in Herat.

Their graduation came after they completed a six-week training course, commander of Police Training Academy in the province, Mohammad Ismael Hadayat, said.

During the training, the youth had learned how to use light weapons and perform their duty, the official said.

He added that they would be deployed with uniform police at checkpoints in Herat and the neighbouring Farah, Ghor, Badghis and Nimroz provinces.

More than 470 new graduates from the Police Academy in the northern Kunduz province have recently been deployed in Kunduz and its vicinity, officials said.

The Taliban-run administration has reportedly established a 200,000-strong police force to ensure law and order in the country. (Xinhua/NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

AIB

====

Edited by Abdulfatah Babatunde

Foreign

Japan’s oldest man dies in Nara at 112

Man

Tokyo, Sept. 13, 2022 (Xinhua/NAN) Mikizo Ueda, who was the oldest Japanese man, died at the age of 112 in the city of Nara recently, the local government said on Tuesday.

The supercentenarian resident of Nara was born in May 1910.

Following Ueda’s passing away on Sept. 9, the Health Ministry is set to announce the current oldest living man in the country this week.

Japan has one of the world’s highest life expectancies and has been home to several people recognised as among the oldest humans to have ever lived.

Kane Tanaka, a 119-year-old Japanese woman recognised by Guinness World Records as the world’s oldest living person, died on April 19 this year in Fukuoka Prefecture.

With her death, the oldest living person in Japan is now Fusa Tatsumi, a 115-year-old woman living in Osaka Prefecture.

Jiroemon Kimura, also of Japan, was the longest-living man certified by Guinness World Records, who passed away aged 116 years and 54 days in June 2013. (Xinhua/NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

AIB

====

Edited by Abdulfatah Babatunde

Foreign

Thailand’s Bangkok issues warning for heavy rain

Warning

Bangkok, Sept. 13, 2022 (Xinhua/NAN) The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) on Tuesday issued a warning of moderate to heavy rain and potential floods from 4.00 p.m. to 11.00 p.m. local time in the Thai capital’s 12 districts.

This came after several parts of the city had been inundated following heavy monsoon rains in the last several days.

The main reason for the flooding is more rainfall than usual in and around Bangkok this year.

This has swollen rivers and caused flooding in the city, Bangkok Governor, Chadchart Sittipunt, said on Monday at a briefing on the city’s flood situation.

This year has been the wettest in recent years, but the overall situation in Bangkok is improving, Chadchart added.

According to the Royal Irrigation Department, the average daily rainfall in Bangkok during the first 10 days of September was 96.5 mm, compared to an average of 52.2 mm in the same period last year.

On Sept. 10, the 24-hour rainfall was 112.7 mm, the highest record in six years.

Currently, the BMA is prepared to deal with the possible flash floods with dredging 32 waterways and upgrading drainage stations.

The authorities will take a series of emergency response measures in case of extensive flooding, including setting up temporary shelters and arranging relief supplies. (Xinhua/NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

AIB

====

Edited by Abdulfatah Babatunde

Foreign

1,400 die, 12,000 injure from monsoon rains in Pakistan

Rains

Islamabad, Sept. 13, 2022 (Xinhua/NAN) The total death toll in Pakistan from this season’s monsoon rains and floods since mid-June has risen to around 1,427.

Also, 12,742 people were injured, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said late Monday night.

According to a report released by the NDMA, 510 children and 287 women were among those who lost their lives in separate rain or flood-related accidents in the country.

The country’s southern Sindh province was the worst-hit region where 594 people were killed, followed by northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and southwest Balochistan provinces which reported 303 and 270 deaths respectively.

Moreover, 1,750,828 houses were destroyed and 883,268 livestock perished in different parts of Pakistan, the report said.

It added that 13,383 kilometre-long roads and 390 bridges have been damaged throughout the season.

Additionally, 541,040 people are currently living in camps, while an estimated 179,281 people have been rescued, according to statistics published by the NDMA.

Rescue and relief operations by the NDMA, other government organisations, volunteers and non-government organisations were underway in the flood-hit area. (Xinhua/NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

AIB

====

Edited by Abdulfatah Babatunde

Foreign

Malawi on move to tackle fuel crisis

Crisis

Liliongwe, Sept. 8, 2022 (Xinhua/NAN) Malawi has been taking measures to end a fuel crisis that has recently hit the country.

This as the country’s leadership vowed on Wednesday to secure more funds for the import of enough fuel and increase power generation capacity.

To end the fuel crisis, the country has already secured $28 million from local banks, and is in pursuit of another 50-million-dollar facility, Malawian President Lazarus Chakwera said at Malawi Investment Summit held in the capital, Lilongwe.

Following the securing of the funds, an allotment of over six million liters of fuel has been imported and on its way into the country, according to the president.

The president said he has also instructed the Reserve Bank of Malawi to prioritise fuel procurement in the allocation of any forex that the country secures.

On power outages that have also hit the country severely for three weeks now, Chakwera said the 60-million-dollar rehabilitation of a power plant, which supplies about 130 MW, but suffered damage from tropical storm, is already underway and the plant will return to operation by Christmas.

Furthermore, the president said he has invited “suitably qualified investors” to partner with the government in the development of mining infrastructure to explore the country’s natural resources. (Xinhua/NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

AIB

====

Edited by Abdulfatah Babatunde

Foreign

Egypt detects 1st monkeypox case

Monkeypox

Cairo, Sept. 8, 2022 (Xinhua/NAN) Egypt has detected its first monkeypox case in an Egyptian who has a residency in a European country and frequently visits it, the Health Ministry said on Wednesday.

“The 42-year-old man has been quarantined in a specialised isolation hospital and his condition was stable,’’ the ministry reported in a statement.

The statement added that the case was detected amid ordinary epidemiological monitoring procedures by the ministry.

It noted that preventive measures, approved by the World Health Organisation have been taken with the patient and the people in direct contact with him.

The statement did not reveal the name of the European country. (Xinhua/NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

AIB

====

Edited by Abdulfatah Babatunde

Foreign

Vietnam reports 3,878 new COVID-19 cases

Cases

Hanoi, Sept. 7, 2022 (Xinhua/NAN) Vietnam recorded 3,878 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, up by 179 from Tuesday, according to its Ministry of Health.

All the new cases were locally transmitted, said the ministry.

The newly reported infections brought the total tally to 11,428,632.

The country reported two new deaths from the pandemic in the northern Cao Bang province and the southern Tay Ninh province on Wednesday, bringing the total fatalities to 43,125.

As of Wednesday, 150 severe cases were in need of assisted breathing in the Southeast Asian country, according to the ministry.

Nationwide, 10,252,898 COVID-19 patients, or nearly 90 per cent of the total infections, were recovered.

Nearly 257.7 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in the country, including over 219.3 million shots on people aged 18 and above, said the ministry.

Vietnam has already recorded COVID-19 infections with the Omicron BA.4, BA.5, BA.2.12.1 and BA.2.74 sub-variants.

Omicron is accelerating the inoculation of its people with a fourth vaccine dose. (Xinhua/NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

AIB

====

Edited by Abdulfatah Babatunde

Foreign

Vietnam PM says respects Russia relations, hopes to boost cooperation

Relations

Hanoi, Sept. 7, 2022 (Reuters/NAN) Vietnam Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said on Wednesday that the country always respects its relationship with Russia, and hopes to further boost the cooperation.

Chinh was speaking virtually at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok.

Communist Vietnam, which is keen to strengthen relations with Europe and the United States, remains one of Russia’s closest partners in Asia, ties that were developed during the Soviet era. (Reuters/NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

AIB

====

Edited by Abdulfatah Babatunde

Foreign

Death toll in western Uganda landslide rises to 15

Death toll in western Uganda landslide rises to 15

Death

Kampala, Sept. 7, 2022 (Xinhua/NAN) The death toll in a landslide disaster in the western Ugandan district of Kasese has risen to 15, a local relief agency said on Wednesday.

The Uganda Red Cross Society (URCS) told reporters that the bodies of the victims have been recovered from the landslide in Rukoki Sub-County, Kasika village.

The landslide was triggered by heavy rains on Tuesday night, according to the URCS.

The humanitarian agency said earlier a few households are feared buried due to the landslide.

Six people who were injured have been referred to St. Paul’s Hospital in Kasese municipality.

Uganda’s western region is currently facing heavy rains which have in recent days led to landslides, causing casualties and destroying houses and crops.

On Saturday, four people were reported dead in neighbouring Bundibugyo district after heavy rains sparked mudslides. (Xinhua/NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
AIB

====

Edited by Abdulfatah Babatunde