Pope Francis on Sunday gave Easter Mass with tens of thousands of Catholics at Saint Peter’s Square in Vatican City before his traditional blessing, as concerns persist over his health. The 87-year-old arrived in a wheelchair to preside over the mass from 10:00 am (0800 GMT) in cloudy and windy weather, with the events broadcast live around the globe. France …

King Charles III and his wife, Queen Camilla, arrived by car for the hour-long late morning service at St George’s Chapel within the grounds of Windsor Castle, west of London. The 75-year-old, dressed in a suit and light blue tie, smiled and waved to crowds — who had queued up for hours for a glimpse of the ailing monarch — …

Enugu State Governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, has charged the people of the state to emulate the virtues of self-sacrifice and love as exemplified by Christ as they celebrate Easter. Mbah also urged them to hold fast to their faith amid the present socio-economic challenges, adding that they would eventually become things of the past. He stated this on Saturday in …

Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf has approved a subsidy of N500,000 for each of the state’s intending pilgrims for this year’s Hajj in Saudi Arabia. The Director General of the State Pilgrims Welfare Board, Alhaji Lamin Dan-Baffa, announced this when he addressed reporters yesterday in Kano. “Considering the current economic hardship the people are facing, an increase in the Hajj …

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has said that pilgrims who registered for the 2024 Hajj before the previous deadline of 12 February will now have to pay a balance of N1.9 million in accordance with the current exchange rate. NAHCON enjoined pilgrims to pay up the balance before 29 March 2024, when the commission will shut down its …

The President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Mr. Daniel Okoh has urged Christians to be beacons of hope and agents of change, despite the situation in the country, in the spirit of the Palm Sunday celebrations. The CAN President made the plea in a message to Christians on Sunday, where he also urged them to emulate the virtue …

The Supreme Council for Sharia in Nigeria (SCSN) has urged the federal and state governments to step in and address the escalating crisis surrounding Nigeria’s preparations for the 2024 Hajj pilgrimage. In a statement released yesterday by the Secretary General of SCSN, Nafi’u Baba-Ahmed, concerns were raised about the sluggish pace of preparations for the Hajj, with Nigeria failing to …

Preparatory to 2024 hajj operations across the country, the National Chairman of Nigeria Hajj Commission (NAHCON), Alhaji Ahmed Arabi alongside the governor of Kebbi state, Dr Nasir Idris inspected the Sir Ahmadu Bello International Airport, Birnin Kebbi. His visit to Kebbi State ahead of this year’s hajj operations entails an on-the-spot assessment of the airport which the state has chosen …

A Canada based church has ordained a Nigerian journalist, Chief Femi Shodunke, as an Elder. Shodunke, former Deputy Editor of the Nigerian Compass newspapers, was bestowed with the status alongside three other women members of the Christ Reconciliation Ministries International (CRMI), Fort McMurray, Alberta Province, Western Canada. They are Helene Tabah Keating, Mary Eyere Tataw, and Lydia Besong Nkongho. At …

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) yesterday warned intending pilgrims for this year’s Hajj against hiding prohibited items in their luggage while departing for Saudi Arabia. Assistant Commander, Narcotic, Aisha Hamisu, issued the warning while addressing prospective pilgrims in Kano at the opening of the state enlightenment exercise yesterday. The senior narcotic officer drew the participants’ attention to prohibited …