Headlines

Saudi Arabia has temporarily suspended Umrah, business, and family visit visas for citizens of 14 countries, including Nigeria, Egypt, and India, as part of preparations for the upcoming Hajj season.

Officials speaking to ARY News said, “The suspension of Umrah, business, and family visit visas is aimed at preventing unregistered individuals from attempting to perform the pilgrimage.”

The move comes amid concerns over the rising number of pilgrims attempting to join Hajj without official permits. In recent years, many visitors have overstayed their visas, contributing to overcrowding and serious safety risks, News Arab reports.

Authorities also expressed concern over the misuse of business or family visit visas by individuals who enter the Kingdom and work illegally, a violation that “disrupts the labour market and breaches visa conditions.”

The Saudi foreign ministry stated that the new measures were implemented “to streamline travel procedures and enhance safety during Hajj.

It added, “Individuals found to be staying in the Kingdom illegally may face a five-year entry ban.”

The countries affected by the ban are India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iraq, Nigeria, Jordan, Algeria, Sudan, Ethiopia, Tunisia, Yemen, and Morocco.

Despite the suspension, ARY News reported that Umrah visa holders will be allowed to enter the Kingdom until 13 April. The restrictions are expected to remain in place until mid-June when the pilgrimage concludes.

During the 2024 Hajj season, at least 1,301 pilgrims died—most from heat-related causes. A large proportion of the deceased did not hold official Hajj permits.

Saudi authorities reported that approximately 400,000 unregistered pilgrims participated in the Hajj last year, with a significant number coming from Egypt.

Each participating country is allocated a limited number of Hajj permits under a quota system distributed by lottery. However, due to the high cost of official packages, many people seek alternative, unauthorised routes.

At least 13 members of a vigilante group have been reportedly killed by suspected Lakurawa insurgents in an attack on the Maori community in Augie Local Government Area of Kebbi State.

According to Daily Trust, the incident occurred when the vigilantes attempted to resist the attackers who were rustling cattle from the community.

A resident, identified as Ibrahim Augie, told the newspaper that the vigilantes mobilised to repel the terrorists but were ambushed and overpowered.

“The vigilantes hid to attack and recapture the rustled cattle, but they didn’t know the Lakurawa had already seen them, and they were shot and killed,” he said.

Efforts to reach the spokesperson of the Kebbi State Police Command, Nafiu Abubakar, for comment were unsuccessful at the time of filing this report.

The 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, and the Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti, have scheduled the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting for April 9 in Abuja.

This was disclosed in a statement issued on Monday by Mr. Ibrahim Umar, spokesman of the Peter Obi Media Reach.

According to the statement, the NEC meeting will be followed by an interactive session involving major stakeholders and other key organs of the party.

Expected attendees include Mr. Obi’s 2023 running mate, Dr. Datti Baba-Ahmed, serving and former senators, as well as all senatorial candidates from the 2023 general election.

Also invited are current and former members of the House of Representatives, 2023 House of Representatives candidates, members of the National Caretaker Committee, and the National Transition Committee.

Other stakeholders expected at the meeting are former governorship candidates who remain in the party, representatives of the NLC/TUC Political Commission, and members of the former National Working Committee.

Umar said the meeting, convened by the two party leaders, has become necessary to clarify issues surrounding the recent Supreme Court judgment.

The Supreme Court had, on Friday, ruled that the Court of Appeal lacked jurisdiction over the internal affairs of the Labour Party.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has congratulated the Asiwaju of Ijebuland, Sulaiman Adebola Adegunwa, on his 80th birthday, commending the industrialist for his significant contributions to national development.

In a statement on Friday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu described Adegunwa as a longtime friend, seasoned businessman, and philanthropist whose work has impacted people and institutions across Nigeria.

“As he clocks 80, we celebrate a remarkable Nigerian whose investments in key sectors continue to drive economic growth, create employment, and improve livelihoods,” the President said.

Adegunwa, a former Chairman of Sterling Bank, currently serves as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Essay Holdings Limited, the parent company of Rite Foods Limited. The company operates a modern food and beverage production facility in Ososa, Ogun State.

Tinubu praised Adegunwa’s leadership and philanthropic efforts, highlighting his role in building enterprises that promote both economic development and community well-being.

He prayed for Adegunwa’s continued good health and long life as family, friends, and associates gather to celebrate the milestone.

President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Ayo Sotinrin as the new Managing Director of the Bank of Agriculture (BOA).

The appointment was announced on Friday, April 4, 2025, in a statement signed by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy.

Sotinrin, a seasoned finance and agribusiness professional, previously served as Group Chief Executive Officer at SAO Group. According to the Presidency, his tenure at SAO Agro was marked by major agricultural ventures, including the development of a 20,000-hectare oil palm plantation and large-scale poultry, aquaculture, maize, and cassava projects in Ondo State.

He also led SAO Capital, where he facilitated over $750 million in infrastructure and development financing, notably securing $200 million for the Akure Water Supply Project.

In the public sector, Sotinrin served as Special Adviser on Environment and Urban Development to the Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory from 2011 to 2015. He has also consulted for international development organisations such as the World Bank, African Development Bank, DFID, and USAID.

His private sector experience includes roles at the Royal Bank of Scotland International, Deutsche Bank, and the UK Environment Agency.

Sotinrin holds an Executive MBA from Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, a Master’s degree in Engineering Business Management from the University of Warwick, and an Advanced Diploma in Environmental Conservation.

The Presidency said the appointment aligns with President Tinubu’s efforts to revitalise the agricultural sector, noting that Sotinrin’s expertise in mobilising capital and driving agribusiness innovation would support the BOA’s mandate for food security and rural development.