The United Bank for Africa (UBA) plans to open a branch in Saudi Arabia as part of its expansion as a global bank. The Group Managing Director (GMD) Mr Oliver Alawuba, disclosed this at a send-forth dinner held in honour of the bank’s retired non-executive directors in Abuja on Wednesday night. He added that the bank would expand its operations …

Saudi Arabia’s bid to host the 2034 World Cup was considered a “medium risk” for human rights by FIFA in its evaluation report, which said implementing reforms could take “significant time and effort”, says AFP. The release of the report on 30 November comes ahead of the FIFA Congress on 11 December, when a vote will be held to select …

President Bola Tinubu, alongside the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, Ministers and heads of agencies will, on Sunday, depart Abuja for Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to attend the Joint Arab-Islamic Summit, scheduled to commence on Monday, 11 November 2024. The Summit is being held at the invitation of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and follows last year’s summit …

At least 19 Jordanian and Iranian pilgrims have died while on the hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, authorities from their countries said on Sunday, as temperatures soar in the kingdom. “Fourteen Jordanian pilgrims died and 17 others were missing” during the performance of hajj rituals, Jordan’s foreign ministry said in a statement. AFP reports that the ministry later confirmed that …

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has said it had adopted a strategy to reduce the number of days Nigerian pilgrims spend in Saudi Arabia for Hajj rites. The commission’s Executive Chairman, Malam Jalal Arabi, announced this while addressing reporters on arriving at the Prince Mohammed Bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah. Arabi said the commission had succeeded in …

A Lagos resident who travelled on a holy pilgrimage to the kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the year 2024 annual Hajj pilgrimage, Oloshogbo Idris, has reportedly died on Tuesday. According to the information made available to newsmen on Wednesday, the pilgrim gave up the ghost while eating, a few minutes after returning from the circumambulation of the Holy Kaaba in …

The first and second batches of 845 pilgrims from Ogun State led by officials of the Ogun State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board have arrived in Medina, Saudi Arabia, to perform this year’s holy pilgrimage. The first batch of the pilgrims landed at Prince Mohammed Bin Abdulaziz Airport on Sunday at about 11.15am while the second batch touched down on Monday …

The first flight carrying intending pilgrims for the 2024 Hajj season has safely landed in Madina, Saudi Arabia. The first flight from Nigeria carried prospective pilgrims from Jega and Arewa Local Government Areas of Kebbi State, along with officials from the State Pilgrims Welfare Board. Expressing their gratitude, the intending pilgrims praised the endeavours of Kebbi State Governor, Dr. Nasir …

Vice President Kashim Shettima has flagged off the inaugural flight for this year’s hajj at Sir Ahmadu Bello International Airport (SABIA), Birnin Kebbi (SABIA) to Madina International Airport, Jedda with 423 pilgrims and hajj officials from Jega and Arewa local government areas of Kebbi State. While flagging off the flight, Shetima said despite the economic constraints the country had gone …

The Federal Government of Nigeria and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have agreed to strengthen bilateral relations to explore the huge potentials in Nigeria, particularly in the areas of agriculture, trade and economic opportunities. The two countries made the commitment yesterday at a meeting between a delegation from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia led by its minister of environment, water …