By Bolanle Lawal

Gov. Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti State has extended his felicitation to the Muslim Ummah on the occasion of year 2025 Eid-el-Kabir festival.

In a goodwill message signed by his Special Adviser on Media, Mr Yinka Oyebode, on Thursday Oyebanji highlighted the significance of Eid-el-Kabir as a festival of sacrifice and joy for the Muslim faithful.

The governor congratulated Muslims in the state and Nigeria for witnessing another Eid-el-Kabir.

According to him, sacrifice is often the price to pay for victory, fulfillment, success, profit and joy as told by the story of Ibrahim’s obedience to the command of Allah to sacrifice his son Ishmael, but with a ram slaughtered in his stead.

The governor enjoined Muslims to imbibe the core lesson of Eid-el-Kabir, which is total submission to the will of the Almighty Allah, which he said brings rewards.

Oyebanji also stressed the importance of love, brotherhood and peaceful coexistence among Muslims and adherents of other religions in the state.

He equally emphasized the need for collective efforts in the task of developing Ekiti while describing the Muslim Community as an important partner in taking the state to a higher pedestal of development.

He urged the Muslim Ummah in the state not to relent in supporting his administration and that of President Bola Tinubu with prayers, expressing optimism that a brighter and a glorious future is in the horizon.

He also enjoined Muslims to celebrate in moderation and extend love to neighbours especially the less privileged members of the society as the holy book admonished.

“We wish the Muslim Ummah in our dear state and in Nigeria a happy Sallah and pray that God accepts our sacrifices as an act of Ibadah,” he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Modupe Adeloye/Bayo Sekoni

By Alex Enebeli

Gov. Peter Mbah of Enugu State has transmitted an Executive Bill to the Enugu State House of Assembly to checkmate criminal activities among native doctors and herbalists in the state.

Mr Uche Anichukwu, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on External Relations, made this known on Wednesday in Enugu.

He said that the proposed legislation was entitled “Maintenance of Internal Security, Vigilance and Order”.

Anichukwu said that the bill also outlawed money rituals otherwise known as ‘Okite’, criminal bulletproof charms, also known as ‘odeshi.’

According to him, the bill equally outlaws illegal use or occupation of forests and property for criminal activities.

“By the provisions of Section 3 (1) of the bill, “every person, who engages in the practice or rendering of spiritual services within the state, shall be registered with the Ministry, Department and Agencies (MDA) of the state as may be designated by the Governor for that purpose.”

“The registration includes the native doctor, herbalist, spiritualist, chief priest, diviner, seer, or by any other traditional or spiritual title or designation.

“Practising without registration will attract a fine of not less than N1 million and not more than N5 million or two-year imprisonment or both,” Anichukwu said.

He added that section 15 of the proposed legislation provides that “any spiritualist that administers or causes to be administered any charm, substance, or object on or for another person, for the purpose of invincibility commits an offence.

Others include charms for protection to facilitate the commission of any criminal offence and acquiring wealth or benefits by supernatural means outside any lawful means of livelihood.

Anichukwu said such a spiritualist was liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term of six years or to a fine of not less than N5 million or both.

“Any person, who falsely claims to possess supernatural powers or misleads the public into believing so, for the purpose of gaining reward or influence, commits an offence.

“The person shall be liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term of three years or to a fine of not less than three million naira (N3,000,000), or both,” Anichukwu said.

He said the proposed bill further provided that where a person claimed spiritual powers under this law, “the burden shall lie on such a person, during investigation, to provide reasonable proof of the purported supernatural abilities claimed.

“It provides six years of imprisonment or a fine of N5 million or both against anyone, who uses or knowingly permits the use of any religious place, for the commission or facilitation of a crime.

“Any person who performs, facilitates, demands, directs, or participates in any ritual or traditional practice involving the use of human parts, or who causes another person to do so, commits an offence.

“He or she shall be liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term of 20 years without the option of a fine,” he said.

Anichukwu said: “Any person found in a camp, bush, or forest within Enugu State without any reasonable or lawful cause, and under circumstances giving rise to reasonable suspicion of involvement in any criminal activity, shall be handed over to security official.”

He explained that money, property and other proceeds of theft, robbery, kidnapping, among others were to be forfeited to the Enugu State Government, unless a lawful and verifiable owner claims it within a reasonable time. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Benson Ezugwu/Maureen Atuonwu

By Patience Aliyu

The Justice Development and Peace Commission (JDPC) of Catholic Archdiocese of Jos and Pankshin Diocese have rehabilitated 135 houses for victims of attacks in Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau.

Ms. Benedicta Daber, the Coordinator of JDPC Jos, disclosed this during the closing meeting of its project tagged “Plateau Emergency Response in Bokkos LGA” in Jos.

She specifically said that the rehabilitated houses were the ones destroyed during the 2023 Christmas eve attacks in the locality.

Daber said that the project was supported by the Catholic Relief Service (CRS) and funded by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

She further said that JDPC had also constructed 90 Ventilated Improved Pit (VIP) latrines and upgraded nine hand-pump boreholes with solar facilities under the ten months-old project.

“Under the project, we also supported 224 farmers with modern farm inputs to boost both wet and dry season farming.

“We also donated hygiene kits to 200 women in the locality,” she said.

Speaking, Bishop Michael Gokum of Pankshin Catholic Diocese, thanked JDPC and CRS for providing succour to his people.

Represented by Rev. Fr. Paul Watpe, the Vicar General of the diocese, Gokum decried the spate of insecurity in some parts of the diocese.

He particularly called on the government and the security agencies to intensify efforts towards curbing the menace.

“Our diocese consists of five Local Government Areas (LGAs) and Bokkos is among the LGAs experiencing consistent attacks and wanton destruction of lives and property.

“But we are grateful to JDPC, CRS and the funders for this timely intervention; it has brought succour to our people.

“We want to call on the government and the security agencies to put measures in place to address the rising security challenges in our dear state.

“Our people are suffering and something needs to be done urgently,” he said.

Mr Wilson Kipkoech, the Emergency Coordinator of CRS- Nigeria, said that the project aimed at restoring dignity and strengthening community resilience towards sustainable recovery in the locality.

On his part, Mr Danjuma Rafan, the District Head of Mbar, whose subjects benefitted from the intervention, also commended JDPC and CRS for the gesture.

He said that the gesture had made significant impact on the lives of his people, particularly in the areas of shelter and improved access to clean water.

“This intervention is massive; it has made majority of the displaced families to return to their original homes.

“Our people are largely farmers, so, the farm inputs will go a long way to support their farming activities.

“With the latrines and functional solar-powered boreholes, the issue of open defecation will soon be a thing of the past in Bokkos,” he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Polycarp Auta

By Deji Abdulwahab

Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Boards of Plateau and Imo States have commended the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) for providing quality facilities in Mina and Arafat to ensure a hitch-free Hajj operation.

The boards made the commendation while speaking with newsmen on the sidelines of the ongoing 2025 Hajj exercise in Makkah on Sunday.

Alhaji Daiyabu Daudu, Executive Secretary, Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Plateau, said this year’s Hajj was better organised than that of 2024.

“The day before yesterday, we were in Mina and Arafat. We saw our tents there. Alhamdulillah, I was so happy because the tents there were much better than last year.

“Also in Mina, it was not as bad as last year or previous years. It was okay. We thank NAHCON for their good arrangement this year.

“Last year, we raised some issues like the tents in Mina, clinics, and toilets. We complained to them last year, and this year, we see a lot of improvement,” he said.

The executive secretary said that the board, while meeting with the NAHCON officials, made some adjustments to the menu.

“We hope that the menu will be followed duly. We want to thank the Almighty Allah for these great changes happening at NAHCON,” he said.

Also speaking, Alhaji Auwal Suleiman, Seriki Hausawa and Amir Hajj of Imo, said that NAHCON had recorded tremendous achievements in the areas of accomodation and feeding.

Suleiman said, “On our arrival to Medina, we had a very good reception by NAHCON.

“We have been celebrated as the first inaugural flight that departed Nigeria, precisely Owerri International Airport, to Medina for the first time in history.

“We had a warm reception by NAHCON. We were also celebrated. We were given accommodation and fed very well.

“We spent four days in Medina after observing our Ziyarah and prayers.
And we were brought to Makkah on the fourth day of our arrival to Saudi Arabia,” he said.

According to him, the experience has been awesome.

“We thank NAHCON for all the things they have done to ensure that we are okay in terms of feeding, accommodation and hospitality,” he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Yinusa Ishola/Kadiri Abdulrahman

By Philomina Attah

The Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN) on Wednesday commemorated the 2025 Communications Week Public Lecture.

The CSN also held a posthumous award ceremony in honour of the late Chief Raymond Dokpesi, the founder of DAAR Communications.

The lecture had the theme “Media with Gentleness: A Path to Being Narrators of Hope in a Distressed Nation”.

It was part of the ongoing National Communications Week, a Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) initiative aimed at promoting media literacy and value-driven communication across the country.

Rev. Fr. Michael Banjo, Secretary-General of the CSN, said that the Communications Week was an initiative launched by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN).

Banjo said that it was to foster dialogue and action on the evolving role of media in society and the Church.

He said that there was an urgent need for media literacy and responsible communication in an age where social media often amplifies division, aggression and sensationalism.

Banjo called for the “disarming of communications”, a plea to rid the media of hostility and to restore its role as a force for unity and the common good.

He lamented the decline in civility and values in contemporary Nigerian media, contrasting it with the principled foundations laid in the early days of broadcasting.

“Part of the event here today is the tribute to Chief Raymond Dokpesi, whose pioneering spirit transformed the Nigerian media landscape.

“As the founder of DAAR Communications in 1998, Dokpesi launched Ray Power FM, the nation’s first private radio station and African Independent Television (AIT), the first satellite TV station in Nigeria.

“Under his leadership, DAAR Communications championed African and Christian values, setting industry standards and resisting the lure of sensationalism.

“Thank you, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, for contributing to the mission of the Church and for promoting values in Nigeria and beyond,” Banjo said.

He also reminded participants that the legacy of responsible, value-driven communication must be upheld, and the memory of pioneers like Raymond Dokpesi must guide the next generation of communicators.

Highlights of the event was a minute of silence in memory of Chief Dokpesi, a fitting tribute to a man whose vision and integrity continue to inspire hope in Nigeria’s media and beyond.

The 2025 Communications Week continues across Catholic dioceses nationwide until June 1, promising further engagements around media ethics, social responsibility, and nation-building. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Kadiri Abdulrahman