The government of Saudi Arabia has declared Saturday, August 10th as Arafat Day, the height of Hajj rites when pilgrims all over the world will converge on the Plain of Arafat for supplications. The Amir- ul Hajj, Lagos State, Dr…
Saudi Arabia allows women to travel independently (BBC)
Women in Saudi Arabia can now travel abroad without a male guardian’s permission, royal decrees say. The new rule announced on Friday allows women over the age of 21 to apply for a passport without authorisation, putting them on an…
Female Nigerian pilgrim dies in Saudi Arabia —NAHCON official (Punch)
An elderly female Nigerian pilgrim from Sokoto State has died in Madinah, Saudi Arabia a few days to the commencement of 2019 Hajj rites. Dr Hamidu Liman, Head of Medical team, National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, made the disclosure…
Nigerian actress Kemi Afolabi hospitalised in Saudi Arabia (Nation)
Nollywood actress Kemi Afolabi has been rushed to a hospital in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. The incident occurred last Thursday. The actress, who came to perform hajj, fell ill due to the stress associated with the hajj exercise. The Nation reporter…
Saudi Fixes August 6 Deadline for Nigerian Pilgrims to Arrive Madinah (ThisDay)
Nigeria is in a race to airlift the remaining 20,000 hajj pilgrims still stranded across the states to Madinah, Saudi Arabia by August 6. That date is the deadline by the Saudi authorities for all pilgrims to evacuate the city…
Nicki Minaj cancels Saudi concert over women’s rights concerns (Punch)
Nicki Minaj has cancelled a performance in Saudi Arabia in a show of support for women’s and gay rights in the ultra-conservative kingdom, the US rapper said Tuesday. Minaj’s scheduled appearance in the western city of Jeddah next week as…
Rapper Nicki Minaj to perform in Saudi Arabia (Punch)
US rapper Nicki Minaj will perform in Saudi Arabia this month, organisers said, triggering a storm on social media as the ultra-conservative kingdom loosens decades-old restrictions on entertainment. Minaj, known for her profanity-laced lyrics and raunchy music videos, will perform…
Buhari promises tougher times for drug traffickers
President Muhammadu Buhari Tuesday in Saudi Arabia said the sweeping offensive against drug trafficking will be sustained, urging Nigerians in diaspora to always provide information that will help the government to curb the menace. A statement by the President’s Spokesperson,…
Two US citizens ‘among latest Saudi arrests’ (BBC)
Saudi Arabia has detained at least seven people, including two dual US-Saudi citizens, over their links to women’s rights activists, reports say. Those arrested are reportedly not frontline activists, but writers and bloggers who have discussed reform. They had already…
