The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Eid-el-Fitr

  • Jonathan greets Abubakar at 76

    Ex-President Dr. Goodluck Jonathan has felicitated with former Head of State Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd) on his 76th birthday, describing him as a great patriot and man of peace.

    In a message of goodwill Jonathan noted that the retired General is endowed with great wisdom, the proof of which was made manifest in 1998-1999 when he midwifed the shortest, but most successful transition of power from the military to democratically elected civilians.

    A statement issued by Jonathan’s spokesman, Mr. Ikechukwu Eze quoted the former President as saying that Nigeria owes Abubakar a debt of gratitude.

    Jonathan also noted that it is fitting that Abubakar’s birthday falls close to the Eid-el-Fitr.

    Read Also:Abubakar calls for cultural, religious considerations

    He said: “May you be blessed because just as the Muslim Ummah celebrates the end of Ramadan, Nigeria celebrates you for ending military rule.

    “On this very special anniversary, I join you, your family, well-wishers and millions of other Nigerians to give thanks to Almighty God for a life of great achievements and inspiring service to humanity.

    “Your exemplary patriotism and deep commitment to the development and unity of our nation is evident in your enduring legacies, having served Nigeria as a brave soldier and Head of State; who heeded the call to national duty at a time of distress and helped navigate our dear nation to the democracy which it now enjoys.

    “I wish you good health and more productive years so that our great country will continue to benefit from your wisdom and wealth of experience,” he added.

  • Osun govt announces dates for Eid-el-Fitr free train

    The Osun State government yesterday announced that it had made arrangements to provide free train ride for the Eid-el-Fitr celebration.

    The government said the train will convey passengers on Thursday, June 14, from Lagos to Osogbo, the Osun State capital, ahead of the weekend celebration of the end of the annual fasting period by Muslim faithful.

    The train is expected to leave the Iddo Terminus of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) in Lagos at 10 am on Thursday.

    A statement by the Ministry of Commerce, Industries and Cooperatives, enjoined holiday makers to Osun and other states after Osun to use the opportunity offered by the free train to come home and celebrate with their families and other loved ones.

    The statement by the Commissioner for Commerce, Industries and Cooperatives, Ismail Adekunle Jayeoba-Alagbada, said the train will return to Lagos on Monday, June 18.

    The statement said: “We wish to inform indigenes of Osun State who are resident in Lagos, Ogun and Oyo states that as usual, this government has concluded arrangements to make this year’s festival as comfortable as possible for them by making available our free train.

    “We urge our people to take advantage of this trip as well to avail themselves of our various developmental projects that have changed the face of Osun State.”

  • FRSC records 197 arrests during Eid-el-Fitr festival in Kwara

    FRSC records 197 arrests during Eid-el-Fitr festival in Kwara

    The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) in Kwara said on Monday that  it arrested and prosecuted 197 motorists for violating traffic rules  during the last Eid-el-Fitr celebration.

    Mr Sunday Maku, the FRSC  Sector Commander in the state, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ilorin  that the offenders committed a total of 204  traffic offences across the 16  local councils  in the state.

    He said  private and commercial vehicle owners were among the offenders.

    “Some of the offences committed by the motorists were dangerous driving, refusal to use seat belts, over loading, expired vehicle particulars and lack of speed limit device in their  vehicles.

    “The offenders were tried by  special mobile courts established at various locations in the state.

    “The command also  recorded four road crashes during the period, with  one person  dead  while 10 were injured,’’ he said.

    Maku further  said that 89 vehicles  were impounded during the period for not being road worthy among  other offences.

  • Dangote celebrates Eid-el-Fitr with Otedola, others on yacht

    Dangote celebrates Eid-el-Fitr with Otedola, others on yacht

    Nigeria surely has its fair share of billionaires. But none compares to Alhaji Aliko Dangote, the boss of Dangote Group of Companies, rated by Forbes as the richest man in Africa. With his abundant wealth, no one would expect him to be a stranger to any good thing of life. Along with his fleet of luxury automobiles and private jets, he also owns a luxury yacht which he bought in 2013 for an estimated $43 million.

    He and his clique of billionaires, including the likes of Femi Otedola and Tunde Ayeni, are frequently out to make a statement. One of such occasions was the just concluded Ramadan period. Having faithfully taken part in the month-long fasting programme like every other Muslim, Dangote gathered some of his close friends together on his private yacht to celebrate the Eld-el-Fitr.

    On board the yacht were Otedola and Ayeni as well as others like Segun Awolowo, Sam Iwuajoku, Otunba Niyi Adebayo, former Cross River governor Donald Duke and the rest of Dangote’s friends who chatted and bantered away as they relaxed on the tastefully-furnished yacht named Mariya.

  • Aisha Buhari tasks youths on hard work, dedication to service

    Aisha Buhari tasks youths on hard work, dedication to service

    The wife of the President, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, has charged youths in the country to imbibe the culture of hard work and dedication to service.

    Mrs. Buhari made the call in a speech at an occasion organised to mark the Eid el-fitr for young couples at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

    Mrs. Buhari, who was represented at the event by the wife of the acting President Mrs. Dolapo Osinbajo, urged the youths to stay focused and avoid anything capable of creating hate and disunity among Nigerians.

    She said that the emergency of new technology had arrested the attention of many young people in the country.

    Mrs. Buhari maintained that the younger generations of Nigerian are privileged to have come at a time where technology fastens the phase of development in the country.

    The wife of the president, therefore, cautioned them not to abuse the privilege.

    According to her, this privilege came with a huge responsibility.

    “You must plan because it is a thing of joy to see the next generation of Nigerians having responsible dreams.

    In her address of welcome, the Senior Special Assistant to the President (Administration), Dr. Hajo Sani, encouraged the youths to take up the challenges of good leadership in Nigeria.

    Sani said that Nigeria is looking forward to having future generation of young people with commitment to issues of accountability and good governance as their guiding principles.

    She, therefore, prayed for unity and stability of Nigeria as one indivisible nation.

    Also speaking, the Minister of Youths and Sports, Solomon Dalung, advised Nigerian youths to avoid any situation capable of creating ethnic and regional tension in the country.

    Dalung said that there was no alternative to peace, according to him, the government can only provide jobs and enabling environment for businesses in a society where there is peace.

    He said that countries like Syria and South Sudan could not gather to celebrate because there was no peace.

    The minister, therefore, called on youths to desist from making statement capable of causing violence.

    “Our strength is our diversity,” Dalung said.

    The minister of Labour and empowerment, Sen. Chris Ngige, said that the Federal Government has provided different job opportunities aimed at taken the youths out of streets.

    Ngige said that the jobs were created through the Federal Government social intervention schemes such as the N-Power programme where additional discipline were introduced like medical programme and electrical.

    He said that the main purpose of this job creation was to get the youths engaged and make them have a decent living.

    “We also have additional discipline called G-Programme, which is also for youths” he said.

    The minister urged the youths to have faith in the President Muhammadu Buhari’s government,

    He said that despite the challenges facing the nation as a result of the decline in revenue inflow and activities of Niger Delta avengers in the past, the government is working hard to meet their demands.

    In his vote of thanks, Mr Solomon Adejumo, who spoke on behalf of the young couples at the event, thanked the organisers of the event.

    Adejumo also thanked the various speakers for their words of encouragement to the youths and urged the Federal Government to introduce road construction and maintenance in its N-Power programme.

  • Long queues at ATM points, bank halls in Jos after holidays

    Long queues at ATM points, bank halls in Jos after holidays

    ATM cash dispensing points and bank halls witnessed long queues in Jos, the Plateau capital, as business activities resumed while workers returned to work after the Eid-el Fitr holiday.

    Correspondents of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), who went round the city, observed that some ATM points were not dispensing, putting pressure on the few that were doing so.

    At the Ahmadu Bello Way in Teminus area, anxious customers were seen waiting for their turns to make withdrawals, with some of the customers telling NAN that they had just returned from their villages and needed “a little cash”.

    “I am just returning from Langtang and want to get some money before going to the hostel,” Martins Agai, a student of the University of Jos, told NAN.

    A housewife, Larai Mashat, who sells hand bags, told that NAN she closed her shop since Friday and traveled to Bokkos for the break.

    “I have just returned and want some money to meet immediate domestic needs,” she said.

    The story was the same at the banking halls with many people depositing proceeds from sales made during the break.

    A middle-aged woman, who refused to disclose her name, said she was in the bank to deposit monies collected during Church service on Sunday.

    At the Secretariat branch of First Bank, NAN met a long queue of customers undergoing the usual screening process before being allowed in, with the situation even rowdier inside the hall as customers struggled through bodies to undertake one transaction or the other.

    A visit to some offices, especially at the State and Federal secretariats, showed that people had returned to work after the weekend that dovetailed into the two-day holiday on Monday and Tuesday.

    NAN noticed heavy vehicular and human traffic at both secretariats as the refreshed workers resumed normal activities after the break.

    Mr Pam Dung, a civil servant, who works with one of the state ministries, told NAN that he was happy to be back to work after the break.

    “I am happy to be back after the break; I am fully refreshed, both mentally and physically, and ready to give my very best,” he said.

    Mrs. Sarah Aji, another civil servant, said that she used the break to reflect on her life and the future of her children.

    “Now that I am back, I am very determined to put in my best toward a better Plateau and Nigeria,” she said.

    At the Federal secretariat, the scenario was the same as workers were seen at their duty posts, while eateries closed during the break, roared back to life.

  • Full farming resumes in Zamfara – Gov. Yari

    Full farming resumes in Zamfara – Gov. Yari

    Gov. Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara says full farming activities have resumed in the state following government efforts at brokering peace between farmers,  herdsmen and armed bandits.

    The governor said this on Sunday in a Sallah broadcast.

    He said farmers and herdsmen have resumed normal activities without any hindrance.

    He said the reconciliation committee set up by the state government under the chairmanship of the state deputy governor, Malam Ibrahim Wakkala, encouraged the warring parties to embrace peace.

    While urging all communities in the state to remain peaceful, Yari assured that the state government would continue to uplift the lives of citizens.

    He also commended Islamic scholars in the state for preaching peace during the just concluded Ramadan fast and urged people to use the gains of the month in all their dealings.

    He reassured that his administration would continue to ensure prompt payment salaries while making sure that basic amenities were provided.

    The governor celebrated this year’s Eid-el-Fitr with project visitations at his home Talata Mafara Local Government Area.

    Yari also hosted 340 orphans to a lunch at his private residence.

  • Eid el-Fitr: Traditional ruler calls for continued tolerance, unity

    Eid el-Fitr: Traditional ruler calls for continued tolerance, unity

    The Chief of Paseli village in Kuje Area Council, Alhaji Usman Yusuf has called on Muslims in the country to imbibe the virtues of love and tolerance during and after Eid-el-Fitr.

    Yusuf made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in his message to the people of Kuje to mark the occasion.

    “Some teachings by the prophet were humility, selfless service, the welfare of the people, trust-worthiness, sacrifice, religious tolerance, peace and stability for all irrespective of religious backgrounds.

    “It is, therefore, necessary to relate his lifetimes with what we do in Nigeria today,’’ the chief said.

    He said peace, tolerance, steadfastness, perseverance; love of one another would go a long way in saving the country from disintegration.

    According to him, Nigeria needs prayer, support and patriotic zeal of the people to move the nation forward.

    The chief observed that Prophet Muhammad taught and demonstrated how best to live in the world to attain salvation on earth and hereafter.

    “The nation has the human and natural potential to achieve greatness and most Nigerians have excelled in various fields of human endeavours across the world.

    “Nigerians should love and tolerate each other, irrespective of religious and political differences for the nation to overcome the security challenges confronting it,’’ he said.

    He advised Muslims in Nigeria not to use the occasion for merriment alone, but to reflect on issues aggravating insecurity, terrorism, corruption, joblessness, violence, and instability in the country.

  • Eid-el-fitr: Ganduje frees 50 prisoners

    Eid-el-fitr: Ganduje frees 50 prisoners

    Kano State Governor Abdullahi Ganduje has granted official pardon to 500 prisoners in the spirit of Eid-el-fitr.

    The governor gave the pardon at Kano Central Prison, Kurmawa, while addressing convicts shortly after the Eid prayers.

    Ganduje, who was accompanied by the Minister of Interior, Lt.-Gen. A.B. Dambazau (rtd), explained that a committee, comprising officials of the government and the Nigeria Prison Service (NPS), has been mandated to produce names of deserving inmates within two weeks.

    He said 200 of the prisoners will come from the state Central prison, while the remaining 300 will be from Goron Dutse prison and other satellite prisons.

    The governor also declared 50 inmates, who were granted amnesty during the state’s golden jubilee, free. All of them would get transport fares to their various destinations, he added.

    Gen. Dambazau (rtd) lauded the state government for providing land to the NPS to build a 3,000-capacity prison.

    He admonished the freed inmates to “go back to the society and engage in legitimate activities, warning that if they revert to crime, chances are that they will not regain their freedom, if apprehended.

    He, however, urged the government to work with the NPS in the proposed co-location of prisons and courts, to ease the problem of conveyance of prisoners to court and support the state command towards the success of its on-going skills acquisition centre project at Kurmawa prison.

  • PFN greets Muslims on Eid-el-Fitr

    PFN greets Muslims on Eid-el-Fitr

    The President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, Reverend Felix Omobude has felicitated with all Muslims on the occasion of this year’s Eid-el-Fitr.

    In a statement, Dr Omobude congratulated them on the completion of this year’s Ramadan season and prayed for a joyful time of celebration for everyone.

    He urged Nigerians to embrace mutual tolerance and understanding in their conduct and relationships, irrespective of faith, ethnicity or gender to take the country to greater heights in the different areas of life.

    The PFN President called on all religious leaders to continue to lift up the country in their prayers so that there can be an end to bloodshed in the land and eschew all forms of hate and provocative speech, kidnapping and terrorism in whatever form.

    He prayed for wisdom for those in public office, so they are able to guide the nation in the right direction and attain success in the march for a restoration of the right values.