NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA
Arafat: NAHCON reiterates commitment to welfare, wellbeing of Nigerian pilgrims

Arafat: NAHCON reiterates commitment to welfare, wellbeing of Nigerian pilgrims

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By Salisu Sani-Idris

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), has disclosed that it made adequate arrangements to ensure the welfare and wellbeing of Nigerian pilgrims throughout the core hajj period at Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifah.

NAHCON’s Cordinator of Taraddudiyyah, Dr Aliyu Tanko, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Makkah, on Saturday.

Tanko said the commission had set up various committees to cater for all the needs of pilgrims, adding that the new system of Taraddudiyyah makes it easier for pilgrims to move to Mina at ease.

He said that the commission was on the neck of authorities to ensure that they provide all the services agreed on.

He also said that the authorities concerned had made provision for stable water supply, sanitation, tents and effective waste management system.

Tanko said that based on the assessment of Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifah, all facilities at the holy sites are intact.

According to him, so far, “the commission is satisfied with arrangements at the holy site even though we cannot say that 100 per cent because we are all humans but from what we have seen so far we are satisfied.

“When pilgrims are going to Mashair at Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifah, two to three things are very important; how do you come to these various locations, and what provisions are available there?

“We are going to coordinate the movement of all Nigerian pilgrims from the 36 states and the FCT as well as the Tour Operators pilgrims to ensure that all are evacuated from Makkah to Mina in the first instance.

“Then from Mina we go to the Arafat and we make sure nobody is left behind, especially in the movement to Arafat which is the centre of hajj activities.

“And after the sunset on the night from the Arafat, we then move the pilgrims to Muzdalifah and later back to Mina where they will have an arrangement to go for the Jamrat in groups as designed by the Saudi authority.”

He appealed to all Nigerian pilgrims and officials to continue to conduct themselves as good ambassadors of the country.

He noted that any bad behaviour of any pilgrim or official exhibited, especially during the religious exercise, tarnishes not only the image of the person but also that of country of origin of the violator.

“After so many years, this is the year that we have complete allocation of our pilgrims that is 95,000.

“So this year, we have a very big crowd in the Hajj and definitely people will squeeze themselves because the same space we used in 2022 for 43,000 pilgrims is the same place we are going to use this year for 95,000 pilgrims,” Tanko said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Vincent Obi

U.S., Nigeria partner on strengthening democracy, economy – Envoy

U.S., Nigeria partner on strengthening democracy, economy – Envoy

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Mr David Greene, Charge d’Affaires ad interim for the U.S. Mission in Nigeria

 

By Lizzy Okoji

The U.S Government is ready to partner with Nigeria to strengthen her democracy, Mr David Greene, Charge d’Affaires ad interim for the U.S. Mission in Nigeria has said.

Greene made this known at the commemoration of the 247th Independence of America in Abuja.

He said hard work was required to preserve democratic principles and values.

“Even as the U.S. works to ensure our own nation remains true to the ideals of its founding, we seek to partner with friends and allies in strengthening their democratic institutions as well.

“In recognition of this important task, President Joe Biden hosted, on the margins of December’s African Leaders Summit, a session focused on elections.

The summit that was attended by former President Buhari and highlighted the critical moment democracy needed to be renewed and defended globally.

“As President Biden has said, elected leaders owe it to their people to show that democracy can deliver for their needs and the U.S. is Nigeria’s partner in making it possible to deliver,” Greene said.

Greene also reiterated the support of the U.S. government to the new administration of Bola Tinubu.

He said that the U.S. government had always supported Nigeria with many positive impacts across several sectors; agriculture, health, security, economy, information technology, and renewable energy, among others.

“We look forward to partnering with President Tinubu’s Administration to ensure that the Nigerian people’s vision for their country is realised by strengthening Nigerian institutions.

“And helping, in the words of the Nigerian National anthem, build a nation where peace and justice shall reign.

“As Biden said on the occasion of President Tinubu’s inauguration, as Africa’s largest democracy and economy, Nigeria’s success is the world’s success.

“I and my whole team here and in Lagos, look forward to working with all of you towards that success,” Greene said.

Speaking on behalf of the Nigerian Government, Amb. Samson Itegboje, Director, International Organisations Department (IOD) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs congratulated the U.S. and its citizens on the occasion of their independence.

Itegboje said that the U.S. democracy had set a good precedence for several countries of the world, thanking the U.S. for its support to Nigeria during the just concluded elections.

“On behalf of the government of Nigeria, I wish to use this opportunity to appreciate in particular, the President of the United States of America, His Excellency, Joseph Biden and the Charge D’ Affaires’ David Green on the occasion of this Independence Day.

“And to emphasise that Nigeria is committed to the ideals and objectives of our shared interests and priorities to partner with the with the U.S. and continually deepen our future collaborations.

“Let me also appreciate the vision of President Joe Biden to revitalise global partnership and alliances in the African continent with a view to pursuing a shared affirmatives agenda which becomes critical for the future of the continent of Africa,” Itegboje said.

In his speech, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, said that the 10th assembly was keen of preserving Nigeria’s democracy.

Akpabio said the 10th Assembly would be an all-inclusive parliament, where the interest of all Nigerians would be preserved by exposing legislators to modern legislative practices and building the confidence of the masses in the lawmakers.

“We must expose our legislators to modern legislative practices and most especially, we must also take our time to educate the electorate.

“The Nigerian electorates should not mortgage their future, their infrastructure for monetary values.

“I think when those things are in place and the people are sure that their votes counted and they are electing people that will move the society forward and not their pockets, then, their ideologies will change,” Akpabio said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that also present at the event were Gov. Hope Uzodinma of Imo, Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, members of the Diplomatic Community, among others. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Cecilia Odey/Sadiya Hamza

NAHCON attributes success of 2023 Hajj to President Tinubu’s support

NAHCON attributes success of 2023 Hajj to President Tinubu’s support

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By Salisu Sani-Idris

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has attributed the success of the outbound movement of Nigerian pilgrims to Saudi Arabia to the tremendous support of President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima.

The Chairman of NAHCON, Alhaji Zikrullah Hassan, made this known during a Pre-Arafat meeting with all stakeholders held on Saturday in Makkah, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

He said that the commission had successfully transported all the 95,000 eligible Nigerian pilgrims to Saudi Arabia.

He disclosed that a few days ago the commission out of determination to transport all pilgrims to Saudi Arabia made a reservation of five flights extra in the event that there was any Nigerian who have a visa but had issue with flight so that the commission would bring him to Saudi Arabia.

According him, the commission after confirming that all pilgrims had been transported to Saudi Arabia that it decided to cancel the five extra flights on June 23.

“I want to appreciate the support and guidance of President Bola Tinubu and his Vice President, Kashim Shettima, for their support in many ways where the mention of it could be very unnecessary.

“Our being here today is made possible for their support and guidance on the leadership of NAHCON,” he said.

Hassan also applauded the executive chairmen of the 36 states and the FCT pilgrims welfare boards, agencies and commissions for their support towards ensuring successful transportation of all Nigerian eligible pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for the pilgrimage.

Similarly, he commended the Association of Umrah and Hajj Tour Operators of Nigeria for working round the clock to ensure the success of the first phase of the 2023 Hajj operation.

“When the situation of flight was troublesome we were together up to the last moment,” he stated.

On his part, Dr Usman Galadima, the Chief of Operations and Head of Nigerian Medical Team for the 2023 Hajj, revealed that the medical team recorded 30 cases of pilgrims with mental health challenge.

He also said that the team recorded six deaths, seven cases of pregnancies, two miscarriages, eight communicable diseases and offer consultation to 15,860 patients.

Earlier, the Nigerian Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Yahaya Lawal, commended the leadership of NAHCON for its tireless efforts in ensuring the success transportation of Nigerian pilgrims for this year’s. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Relatives mourn Titanic sub deaths after ‘catastrophic implosion’

Relatives mourn Titanic sub deaths after ‘catastrophic implosion’

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The happening has triggered questions about safety rules for such adventures into the ocean depths.

Debris from the Titan submersible, which had been missing since Sunday, was detected on Thursday by a robotic diving vehicle deployed from a Canadian ship as part of an international rescue effort.

Remains of the submersible, which lost contact with a surface ship about 1 hour and 45 minutes into a 2-hour descent, were discovered on the seabed about 1,600 feet (488 meters) from the bow of Titanic wreck, about 2-1/2 miles (4 km) below the surface, U.S. Coast Guard Rear Admiral John Mauger said.

He told reporters on Thursday the debris was consistent with “a catastrophic implosion of the vehicle.”

The five who died included Stockton Rush, U.S. founder and chief executive officer of OceanGate Expeditions, which operated the submersible and charged $250,000 per person to make the Titanic trip. He was piloting the craft.

The others were British billionaire and explorer Hamish Harding, 58; Pakistani-born businessman Shahzada Dawood, 48, and his 19-year-old son, Suleman, both British citizens; and French oceanographer and Paul-Henri Nargeolet, 77.

“These men were true explorers who shared a distinct spirit of adventure, and a deep passion for exploring and protecting the world’s oceans,” OceanGate said.

A statement issued by the British Asian Trust on behalf of the Dawood family read: “We mourn the tragic loss of Shahzada and his beloved son, Suleman, who had embarked on a journey to visit the remnants of the legendary Titanic.”

The University of Strathclyde in Scotland, where Suleman Dawood studied, also issued a statement of condolence.

British Titanic explorer Dik Barton paid tribute to the work of his friend Nargeolet but noted issues raised with the design and maintenance of the craft.

“Everyone’s wise after the event, but as we’re hearing before, unfortunately, there were many red flags flying here,” he said.

Questions about Titan’s safety were raised in 2018 during a symposium of submersible industry experts and in a lawsuit by OceanGate’s former head of marine operations, which was settled later that year.

Worldwide media coverage of the search overshadowed the aftermath of a far greater disaster from the wreck of a migrant vessel off Greece last week that killed hundreds of people.

Teams from the U.S., Canada, France, and Britain had spent days scanning a vast swathe of open sea for the Titan.

A marine app showed the French research ship Atalante, which had raced to the area at the U.S. Navy’s request, was still in the vicinity on Friday.

It only reached the search area on Thursday with its deep-sea robot.

The U.S. Coast Guard’s Mauger said it was too early to say when the Titan met its fate.

He said sonar buoys used in the water for more than three days had not detected an implosion.

The position of debris relatively close to the wreck suggested it happened near the end of Sunday’s descent.

The U.S. Navy said an analysis of acoustic data detected “an anomaly consistent with an implosion or explosion” near the submersible’s location when communication with Titan was lost.

A senior Navy official said in a statement first quoted by the Wall Street Journal that its information “while not definitive” was shared with commanders of the search mission.

The Journal, citing unnamed U.S. defense officials, said the sound was picked up by a system used to detect enemy submarines.

Moviemaker James Cameron, who directed the 1997 Oscar-winning film “Titanic” which did much to revive global interest in the British ocean liner that sank in 1912, said he learned of the acoustic findings within a day and knew what it meant.

“I sent emails to everybody I know and said we’ve lost some friends.

“The sub had imploded,” Cameron, who has ventured to the wreck in submersibles, told Reuters.

He said he had sent those emails on Monday

“There may be calls for more regulation, better understanding of how these sorts of vehicles are designed, built, and certified for use in these deep-sea environments,” said Stefan Williams, professor of marine robotics at the University of Sydney.

Scientist and journalist Michael Guillen, who survived an expedition in 2000 that became trapped in the wreck’s propeller, said: “We need to stop, pause and ask this question, why do you want to go to the Titanic and how do you get there safely?”

The Titanic sank after hitting an iceberg on its first voyage, killing more than 1,500 people aboard.

It lies about 900 miles (1,450 km) east of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and 400 miles (640 km) south of St. John’s, Newfoundland. (Reuters/NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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(Edited by Emmanuel Yashim)

Russia killed 136 children in Ukraine in 2022 – UN

Russia killed 136 children in Ukraine in 2022 – UN

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The United Nations has accused Russia of killing 136 children in 2022 during its war of aggression against Ukraine, an internal report seen by dpa in New York on Thursday showed.

UN Secretary general António Guterres said he was “appalled” by the killings.

The report also stated that 80 children were killed by Ukrainian forces.

The Russian army was included on a UN list of organisations that commit serious offences against children in armed conflicts.

According to the UN list, a total of 477 children were killed in Ukraine last year, with 136 attributed to Russian forces and allies and 80 to Ukrainian troops.

For the remaining victims, neither of the two warring parties can be blamed with certainty.

The children were mostly killed by air strikes, it said.

Such attacks are carried out by Russian forces on Ukrainian towns and villages.

The UN stressed that there was a large number of unreported cases because of the strict guidelines for verifying such cases.

“I am particularly shocked by the high number of attacks on schools, hospitals and protected personnel, and by the high number of children killed and maimed, attributed to Russian forces and affiliated armed groups,” Guterres said.

He also expressed concern about the actions of Ukrainian forces.

The UN documented a total of 92 cases of children last year in which most were used as human shields in Ukraine.

According to the report, the Russians were responsible for all but one of these cases.

Of a total of 751 attacks on schools and hospitals, 480 were carried out by the Russian army and its allies and 212 attacks were attributed to Ukrainian armed forces, while the remaining cases could not be attributed. (dpa/NAN) (www. nannews.ng)

(Edited by Emmanuel Yashim)

Families pay tribute after Titan submersible deaths

Families pay tribute after Titan submersible deaths

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The family of a British billionaire adventurer who died after the Titan submersible suffered a catastrophic implosion have paid tribute to their “dedicated father”.

Hamish Harding was described as “a guide, an inspiration, a support, and a living legend” following the news of his death on Thursday.

The U.S. Coast Guard confirmed the tail cone of the deep-sea vessel was discovered around 500 metres from the bow of the Titanic wreckage during a press conference in Boston.

Rear Admiral John Mauger said further debris was also found, in the North Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Newfoundland, that was “consistent with a catastrophic loss of the pressure chamber”.

OceanGate Expeditions said its pilot and chief executive Stockton Rush – along with Harding and fellow UK citizens Shahzada Dawood and his 19-year-old son Suleman Dawood, and French national Paul-Henri Nargeolet, “have sadly been lost.”

In a short statement, Harding’s family said: “He was one of a kind and we adored him.

“He was a passionate explorer – whatever the terrain – who lived his life for his family, his business and for the next adventure.

“What he achieved in his lifetime was truly remarkable and if we can take any small consolation from this tragedy, it’s that we lost him doing what he loved.”

Harding’s family said his death has left a “gap in our lives that can never be filled”, and that they were “united in grief” with the families of the others who had died.

“We know that Hamish would have been immensely proud to see how nations, experts, industry colleagues and friends came together for the search and we extend our heartfelt thanks for all their efforts,” they said.

Shahzada Dawood’s company paid tribute to him and his son after their deaths.

In a statement, Engro Corporation, the Pakistani conglomerate that Dawood was vice chairman of, said: “With heavy hearts and great sadness, we grieve the loss of our vice chairman, Shahzada Dawood, and his beloved son, Suleman Dawood.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the Dawood family at this tragic time.

“We extend our heartfelt condolences to the family, colleagues, friends and all those around the world who grieve this unthinkable loss.”

Rear Admiral Mauger said there did not appear to be any connection between the underwater noises detected during the search and rescue mission and the location of the debris on the seafloor.

“This was a catastrophic implosion of the vessel which would have generated a significant broadband sound down there that the sonar buoys would have picked up,” he said.

Undersea expert Paul Hankin said five major pieces of debris helped to identify it as from the Titan submersible – including the vessel’s nose cone and the front end bell of the pressure hull.

According to court documents, safety concerns had previously been raised about the Titan submersible by a former employee of OceanGate.

The filings said David Lochridge, OceanGate’s former director of marine operations, claimed wrongful dismissal after flagging worries about the company’s alleged “refusal to conduct critical, non-destructive testing of the experimental design”.

Court papers suggest Lochridge “identified numerous issues that posed serious safety concerns” but he was allegedly “met with hostility and denial of access” to necessary documents before later being fired.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly described the update as “tragic news” and said the UK Government is closely supporting the British families affected.

The White House said the families of those who died had “been through a harrowing ordeal over the past few days, and we are keeping them in our thoughts and prayers.” (dpa/NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Titan submersible: U.S. Coastguard finds ‘debris field’ near missing vessel

Titan submersible: U.S. Coastguard finds ‘debris field’ near missing vessel

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A “debris field” has been discovered within the search area for the missing Titan submersible, the U.S. Coastguard (USCG) said on Thursday.

The agency said a remotely-operated vehicle made the discovery near the wreckage of the Titanic on Thursday.

The hunt for the missing deep-sea vessel is still an “active search and rescue” mission after it lost communication on Sunday.

The vessel was about 700 kilometres south of St John’s, Newfoundland, during a voyage to the Titanic shipwreck off the coast of Canada.

Coastguard officials said they were “evaluating the information” following Thursday’s debris discovery.

A press conference will be held at the Coastguard base in Boston to “discuss the findings” at 8pm (1900 GMT).

Rear Admiral John Mauger, the first Coastguard district commander, and Captain Jamie Frederick, first Coastguard district response coordinator, will lead the press conference.

Founding member of the Board of Trustees of The Explorers Club, Hamish Harding, was on board the undersea craft, alongside UK-based businessman Shahzada Dawood, his son Suleman Dawood, and OceanGate’s chief executive and founder Stockton Rush, as well as French submersible pilot Paul-Henri Nargeolet.

The USCG said the ROV that made the discovery was from the Canadian Horizon Arctic ship – with the debris being found on the sea floor near the Titanic wreckage.

Assistance from the Royal Air Force (RAF) is due to arrive in St John’s on Thursday after it confirmed a request was received overnight for help with movement of additional commercial equipment.

Two RAF planes, a C-17 Globemaster and A400 Atlas, departed RAF Lossiemouth in north-east Scotland on Thursday.

A British submariner and equipment from a UK firm has been sent to help the search at the request of the U.S. Coastguard, Downing Street said.

Royal Navy submariner Lieutenant Commander Richard Kantharia, who was on exchange with the U.S. Navy, has been seconded to the search and rescue team.

OceanGate Expeditions estimated the oxygen supply on the 6.7 metre-long vessel would last 96 hours, giving rescuers a deadline of around midday on Thursday.

Experts said the chances of finding the sub and rescuing those inside was diminishing.

Former Royal Navy submarine captain Ryan Ramsey told the PA news agency: “The outlook is bleak, that’s the only word for it as this tragic event unfolds and almost the closing stages of where this changes from rescue to a salvage mission.”

The Titan is believed to be about 900 miles east and 400 miles south of Newfoundland.

It is not known how deep the vessel is, with the seabed being around 3,800 metres from the surface.

Kazanlak: Echoes from Bulgaria’s Rose Valley

Kazanlak: Echoes from Bulgaria’s Rose Valley

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The Bulgarian President, Rumen Radev (r) speaking with the Director General of the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA), Kiril Valchev (l) at the rose field near Kazanlak.

 

By Emmanuel Yashim, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

From Thursday, June 1 to Sunday, June 5 no fewer than 25 journalists from across the world converged on Kazanlak, a city in central Bulgaria, about three and a half hours drive from the capital, Sofia.

They were there not only to attend the 18th World Meeting of the Bulgarian Media but to witness the annual traditional Rose Festival in the area.

The gathering also offered the opportunity and the platform for the laying of wreath in remembrance of Hristo Botev who was killed 147 years ago in the course of defending his community.

Botev is considered a Bulgarian revolutionary and a poet. He is seen by Bulgarians as a symbolic, historical figure and national hero.

Having ended the meeting within two days, it was time to witness the traditional annual festival of the Rose flower.

It was the 120th time that the festival was held in Kazanlak, a town of not more than 300, 000 inhabitants, but one with a rich tradition, history, and culture.

The city is fondly referred to as the “Valley of Roses’’, the “Valley of the Thracian Kings’’, and “Capital of the Queen of Flowers’’.

Kazanlak is famous for its abundance of flowers, especially the oil-bearing and fragrant rose. The city is considered to be the capital of Bulgaria’s Rose Valley.

A visit to the town generates a blissful feeling because of a combination of the weather, naturally beautiful scenery, and majesty of the Stara Planina—the elongated, 130 km-long ridge of the mountain which forms a natural border

Kazanlak’s beauty is made even more dreamlike by the fertility in the valley of Tundza (archeological project) and the warm mineral springs.

Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Zlatna Kostova, Head of International Relations at the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA), said the Valley of the Thracian Kings derived its name from being host to tombs where kings of the Thracian tribe were buried.

She said Thracians or Thracian Bulgarians are a regional, ethnographic group of ethnic Bulgarians, inhabiting or native to Thrace.

Today, according to her, the larger part of the population is concentrated in Northern Thrace, but much is spread across the whole of Bulgaria and the diaspora.

Ancient Thrace was located in the Balkan Peninsula region, which comprises most of modern-day Bulgaria.

A visit to the Rose Valley reveals the extensive gardens of oil-bearing roses from which the famous rose oil is produced.

Some journalists

In a booklet entitled “120 Years of Rose Festival Kazanlak’’, the Kazanlak Municipality said: “The development of rose production has a direct impact on the daily life and culture of the local population.

“The discarded petals were used as food for domestic animals while rose water was used to treat sick eyes, stomach ailments, and more.

“Sugar mixed with rose oil was used to treat gallbladder problems, and rose `rakia’ – a traditional Bulgarian brandy – and rose jam became favourite delicacies not only among Muslims but also among Bulgarians.

“The Kazanlak rose can also be found in the traditional clothing of the population of the Rose Valley, especially on the embroidery.’’

While there are more than 300 species of the rose flower with the Roza genus specie originating in ancient times and found in the wooded and moist provinces of India, China, East Africa, and America, there are three unique ones grown in Kazanlak.

“The flowers and the fruits of the rose have been used for the production of aromatic oils, wine, tea, medicines, etc in Assyria, Babylon, India, China, Persia, and Egypt.

“In ancient Egyptian literature, the rose was considered a sacred plant, and during the reign of Ramses II in the 13th Century BC it was cultivated as a cultural plant’’, she said.

These attributes of the oil-bearing rose have attracted attention from ancient times to the present day. It was for these reasons and more that the Kazanlak community hold a festival in reverence of the wonderful attributes of the flower considered by many as “the symbol of Bulgaria’’.

Depuy

The festival was one of Bulgarian splendour and pageantry, folklore dancing, traditional customs, crafts, and taking pictures in a rose field. This happens on every first Sunday in the month of June.

There was a carnival along the Knyaz Al. Batenberg Boulevard in the city centre by many associations ranging from artists, dancers, hunters, past athletes, fashion designers, make-up artists, mathematicians, and builders.

Others were electricians and computer technologists, personnel of the armed forces, among others – both the young and old, male and female.

It was generally a wonderful, beautiful, and dreamlike sight to behold, no wonder Abdullah Suleiman Salih Al Assaf of Saudi Press Agency (SPA) described the festival “awesome’’ and “worth celebrating’’.

Some young brains in the carnival procession during the Rose Festival.

 

“I am both surprised and not surprised’’, he said when asked whether the celebration was worth it. I didn’t know it was going to turn out this big. Initially, I thought it was going to be a small gathering of people, but look at this.

“The display of rich culture, tradition, and history here, and the colours on display are all awesome.

“The rich fragrance of the rose flower, the Rose Queen pageant, even the presence of the country’s president at the festival testify to the greatness of the event, he said.

“I am impressed by the commitment of the people of this community. Look at the participation’’, he told NAN.

Also speaking with NAN, the Deputy Director of the Museum of Rose in Kazanlak, Radosalav Petrov said the festival was a celebration of the benefits that the rose flower has brought to the lives of the people in the area.

“The rose industry here is providing jobs for at least 30,000 people. This includes people who cultivate the roses, pick them when they are ripe for picking, and process the petals in distilleries to get the oil from them.

“There is also another aspect of the value chain. We can produce many products from the rose. And don’t forget that we will go ahead and sell them,’’ he said.

The Rose Festival was first organised by citizens of Kazanlak in 1903.  It was dedicated to beauty and flowers as well as charity.

Rich exhibitions were organised and the funds collected were given to poor families, the aged, and orphans. The festival became more popular in the 1930s and by 1966 it had gained nationwide acceptance.

Thus, in 1967, the first national Rose Festival was organised in Kazanlak, and two years later, in 1969, a carnival procession element was added to the event.

A colourful procession during the carnival.

 

The carnival procession was led by the Chariot of Seuthes III and the Rose Queen, who is usually the winner of the city’s Most Beautiful Girl Pageant for the running year.

The Rose Queen for 2023 is Kristina Popova, a high school graduate who was coronated at a ceremony at the Seuthopolis Square in the Kazanlak city centre.

The worldwide recognition of the festival is just one of the big acknowledgements of the Kazanlak people who have made a cult of beauty through one flower.

They have proven that dedication and commitment to work, and charity through the years can lead to the institution of a tradition worth celebrating as the Rose Festival, one which many observers consider to be phenomenal. (NANFeatures)

**If used please credit the writer and News Agency of Nigeria.

NEMA receives 102 stranded Nigerians from Libya

NEMA receives 102 stranded Nigerians from Libya

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By Oladele Eniola

No fewer than 102 stranded Nigerians evacuated from Libya were on Wednesday received by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in Lagos.

The returnees were officially received by Mr Mustapha Ahmed, Director-General, NEMA on behalf of the Federal Government, according to a statement made available to newsmen by the agency.

The statement said that of the 102 returnees 96 were females, two males and four infants.

It added that the returnees arrived at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, late Tuesday evening board an Al Buraq Air Boeing 737-800 with registration number 5A-DMG.

It quoted the DG as saying that the federal government was committed to ensuring that Nigerian citizens were protected anywhere they find themselves. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Abdullahi Mohammed/Maharazu Ahmed

FG, IOM repatriate 102 more Nigerians released from detention in Libya

FG, IOM repatriate 102 more Nigerians released from detention in Libya

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By Lizzy Okoji

The Federal Government with the Support of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) on Tuesday repatriated 102  more Nigerian irregular migrants who were released from detention facilities in Libya.

Amb. Kabiru Musa, Chargé D’Affaires En Titre of the Nigerian Mission in Libya disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the exercise is coming barely twenty-four hours after twenty-one other Nigerian irregular migrants were repatriated by the IOM and the Nigerian Mission in Libya.

Musa said that the evacuees departed Mitiga International Airport Tripoli aboard chartered flight no UZ 189 at 1:00 p.m local time and are expected to arrive Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos same day.

“With the support of the IOM and the Libyan authorities, we have successfully evacuated another batch of stranded Nigerians in Libya after we facilitated their release from detention centers in Libya.

“Among the evacuees are 94 female adults, four male children, and four female children.

“They are being evacuated under the Voluntary Humanitarian Repatriation (VHR) progrmme. The exercise further demonstrates the Federal government’s commitment to ensuring that no Nigerian is left stranded abroad.

“I advised the returnees to desist from irregular migration which involves travelling to a foreign country without valid travel documents or visa. It is risky and makes them susceptible to abuses.

“They were also enlightened on the deception of human traffickers who use fake promises to lure them into modern day slavery and sexual exploitation.

“I have also admonished them to become vanguards for the fight against trafficking in persons which is a crime against humanity and a dent to the good image of Nigeria when they return home.

“The federal government is committed to the safe, orderly return of irregular migrants so as not leave them suffer deprivation while in detention. We have to work together with relevant authorities to end the menace of human trafficking and irregular migration,” Musa said.

Musa said that he was glad on the pledges by the returnees never to embark on such perilous journey and to always seek regular pathways for migration in future if it becomes necessary.

The also promised to wage war against the crime when they eventually reunite with their families.

NAN reports that almost 5,000 stranded Nigerians in Libya have been successfully repatriated by the Federal government in collaboration with the IOM under the VHR, from 2021 to date with over 800 evacuated in eight exercises in 2023 alone. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

 

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edited by Sadiya Hamza

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