The Bauchi state governor, Bala Mohammed, has urged Saudi Arabian investors to take advantage of the state’s vast investment opportunities, particularly in agriculture, solid minerals, oil and gas, tourism, aviation, Hajj and Umrah services.
The governor made the appeal Thursday while receiving a delegation from Saudi Arabia-based Golden Group, led by its owner and chief executive director, Muhammad Faisal Al-Harbi, during a courtesy visit to the Government House, Bauchi.
The governor said Bauchi had attracted investment commitments valued at over $5.7 billion through its aggressive investment drive, while assuring prospective investors of the government’s commitment to providing a conducive business environment for both local and foreign investments.
He identified key investment opportunities in oil and gas development in Alkaleri local government area, commercial agriculture, solid minerals, housing, infrastructure and tourism.
The governor also outlined plans to transform the Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa International Airport into a regional aviation hub through the installation of modern landing facilities, the establishment of an Export Processing Zone and an Inland Dry Port.
He said the state government is working towards securing direct air connectivity between Bauchi and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to facilitate Hajj and Umrah operations, boost agricultural exports and strengthen international trade.
Governor Bala added that Bauchi records between 3,000 and 4,000 hajj pilgrims annually, expressing optimism that Golden Group would partner with the state to position Bauchi as a major gateway for Hajj and Umrah services across Northern and North-east Nigeria.
He further stated that international partners had already committed to cultivating about 50,000 hectares of farmland in the state for export-oriented agricultural production.
Shettima scores NAHCON high in handling 2026 hajj operation
By Abdullahi Mohammed
Abuja
The vice president, Senator Kashim Shettima, has commended the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) for the seamless handling of the 2026 hajj operation.
He spoke Wednesday when he received the board and management of NAHCON, and representatives of the State Pilgrims Welfare Boards, on a courtesy visit to the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The delegation met with the Vice President to brief him on the just concluded 2026 Hajj exercise and projections for future operations.
A statement by senior special assistant to the president on Media & Communications, Stanley Nkwocha, said in his interaction with the team, Shettima praised the efforts of NAHCON, the State Pilgrims Welfare Boards and other stakeholders, congratulating them on an almost seamless performance.
He said the performance of the team in the 2026 exercise should be the benchmark going forward, particularly as authorities move towards adopting a more sustainable model that guarantees 100 percent hitch-free pilgrimage.
Earlier, the chairman of NAHCON, Amb. Ismail Abba Yusuf, who gave a summarised report of the 2026 exercise, also appraised the VP of the decision of the Saudi authorities to migrate to a more sustainable business to business model.
Yusuf said the move by the Saudi authorities to cede the handling of 98% of pilgrims to private tour operator patronage was in pursuit of the government’s vision 2030 which encourages a business to business model, with the commission maintaining its regulatory role while ceding operational aspects of hajj to the private sector.
He said the commission remains fully committed and charged in delivering on the new task, adding that plans were in motion to actualise the objective.
Oyo 2027: We’ll work for whoever Tinubu picks as APC governorship consensus candidate – G6 aspirants
By Bayo Agboola
Ibadan
Six of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirants for the 2027 polls in Oyo state Thursday said they are ready to work with whoever President Bola Ahmed Tinubu picks as the consensus governorship candidate.
The G6 governorship aspirants in a statement said that as loyal party members, they remain committed to the victory of the APC and they are ready to work with whoever President Bola Ahmed Tinubu picks as the consensus candidate.
“We are good party men and we will be pleased to work for the victory of the party with anyone that Asiwaju Tinubu picks as the consensus candidate,” they said.
The APC G6 governorship aspirants added that members of the group have agreed to drop their ambition and embrace reconciliation.
Reacting to the claims by Senator Sarafadeen Alli that he is the APC governorship candidate in Oyo state for the 2027 polls, the G6 governorship aspirants insisted that APC is yet to have a governorship candidate in Oyo state for the next year general elections.
The governorship aspirants said Senator Alli, with his claims, was “jumping the gun” by assuming that members of the group and their supporters have reneged on their aspiration ahead of the 2027 governorship election
“Oyo state APC has no governorship candidate and Senator Alli who has been parading himself as the candidate of our great party is living in delusion.
“While G6 is committed to the success of our party in the 2027 general elections, we insist that the process must be reviewed to ensure the emergence of a candidate that most party members will accept and support, not an aspirant that is using propaganda in his bid to impose himself as the candidate of the party.”
Adesina hails Ajimati’s commitment to less privileged during birthday
By Kehinde Folarin
Abuja
An entrepreneur, Alhaji Fatai Adesina, has congratulated the chairman of Bethel Impact Link Resources Limited, Sola Ajimati, on the occasion of his birthday.
Adesina described Ajimati as a philanthropist whose commitment to better the lives of the less privileged has positively impacted many lives.
In a goodwill message, Adesina said Ajimati has consistently demonstrated a genuine passion for widows, orphans and prisoners over the years which have earned him admiration across FCT and beyond.
He stated that Ajimati’s conglomerate has made tremendous contribution to the development of the country’s economy.
“He secured release of inmates from correctional service and assisted the less privileged. Few days ago, he was in Ado-Ekiti Correctional Centre to secure the release of some inmates to celebrate his birthday. Last year, he did the same thing at Keffi Correctional Centre,” Adsina said.
He described Ajimati as a leader who believes in investing in people, adding that his willingness to support young people has made him a respected figure among youth groups and emerging leaders.
“True riches are not found in castles or chariots, but in the number of lives impacted, and our chairman is a rich man by this standard. He has been a beacon of hope to hundreds of less privileged people and a promoter of their interests,” Adesina said.