On the sidelines of the Mines and Money Conference held in London, Pyatt said his visit to Alake followed an earlier meeting with President Bola Tinubu who sought the support of the US for the country’s economic revival.

He said the US would like to be Nigeria’s partner of choice in developing the solid minerals sector and was interested in the reforms announced by the minister during the conference.

Noting that the US has various institutions and laws which encourage direct foreign investment, Pyatt said he would notify the agencies to collaborate with their Nigerian counterparts to work out the framework.

Responding, Alake said the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development had launched a seven-point agenda as its roadmap to reposition the sector.

He highlighted the establishment of the new Solid Minerals Development Company, a new security architecture to ensure safety of mine operations and data generation on a massive scale to de-risk the sector.

The minister added that “the credit facility and foreign direct investment promised by the US would be in the mutual interest of both countries because energy minerals such as lithium are critical to the global crusade for clean energy and necessary for the manufacture of electric cars.”

Also speaking at the meeting, the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Solid Minerals Fund, Fatima Shinkafi, commended the US for investment in mining infrastructure in Central Africa, urging a similar partnership with the Fund.

The US State Department announced the approval of the evacuation in its updated Nigeria travel advisory on Tuesday evening.

The United States and United Kingdom had on Sunday warned of a possible terrorist attack in the capital Abuja, especially aimed at government buildings, places of worship and schools, among other targets.

The flag carrier of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) disclosed this in a statement on Thursday, August 18, citing the inability to repatriate its earnings in foreign exchange from Nigeria.

At least $600 million of over 20 foreign airlines has been blocked in Nigeria since the beginning of the year.

Emirates had said two weeks ago that out of these funds, it had about $85 million in Nigeria.

Emirates had asked Hadi Sirika, Nigeria’s minister of aviation, to support the repatriation of its revenue, amounting to $85 million.

On Monday, August 15, the airline had cut its 11 weekly frequencies into Lagos Airport to just 7.

Now, it has announced that all flights to Nigeria will be suspended from September 1.

The airline said the suspension would “limit further losses and reduce the impact on its operational costs that continue to accumulate in the Nigerian market”.

Emirates Airlines said in a statement: “Therefore, Emirates has taken the difficult decision to suspend all flights to and from Nigeria, effective 1 September 2022, to limit further losses and impact on our operational costs that continue to accumulate in the market.

“We sincerely regret the inconvenience caused to our customers, however, the circumstances are beyond our control at this stage. We will be working to help impacted customers make alternative travel arrangements wherever possible. Should there be any positive developments in the coming days regarding Emirates’ blocked funds in Nigeria, we remain keen to serve Nigeria, and our operations provide much-needed connectivity for Nigerian travellers, providing access to trade and tourism opportunities to Dubai, and to our broader network of over 130 destinations.”

The natural sciences book addresses subjects such as masturbation and sexual orientation, and has been in use since 2004. It has now been withdrawn from schools following controversies surrounding the topics.

Opposition from some parents who pointed out that it is a taboo in some communities to teach children about sex, also influenced the decision to withdraw the book.

Some parents also believed that sex education to Grade 7 pupils who are barely 13 years old may promote premature marriages and early pregnancies.

The ministry said that they will replace the book next year but in the meantime, it urged teachers to avoid the controversial topics.

Ismael Nheze, the Director of the National Institute of Education Development said; “We talked to the publisher to remove that page (that contains sexuality topics)”

Though it was stated that Emirates flights from Dubai to Lagos and Abuja will continue as scheduled, the statement from the public relations firm for Emirates revealed that customers from both Abuja and Lagos would not be accepted for travel prior to or including this date.

It read  “In line with government directives, passenger services from Nigeria (Lagos and Abuja) to Dubai are temporarily suspended until 20 March 2021. Customers from both Abuja and Lagos will not be accepted for travel prior to or including this date. Passengers who have been to or connected through Nigeria in the last 14 days are not allowed entry into the UAE, whether terminating in or connecting through Dubai.”

Hajj Minister Mohammad Benten said “The number of pilgrims will be around 1,000, maybe less, maybe a little more. The number won’t be in tens or hundreds of thousands” this year”

Health Minister Tawfiq al-Rabiah said “The pilgrimage, scheduled for the end of July, will be limited to those below 65 years of age and with no chronic illnesses. The pilgrims will be tested for coronavirus before arriving in the holy city of Mecca and will be required to quarantine at home after the ritual”

Saudi Arabia announced on Monday it would hold a “very limited” hajj this year. It said the ritual will be open to people of various nationalities already in the kingdom.

This is the first time in Saudi Arabia’s modern history that Muslims outside the kingdom have been barred from performing the hajj.

The airline said the flights will be operating these additional flights between July 27 and August 27, 2019.
Emirates Regional Manager for West Africa, Mr. Afzal Parambil stated that Nigerians with a valid Hajj visa will enjoy travel promos which run along with Emirates’ regular scheduled services to Jeddah and Medina.
Parambil said Emirates has commissioned a team dedicated to managing check-in and transfers for the hitch less movement of Hajj passengers leaving from and transiting in Dubai.
“Emirates has planned several on-board initiatives that upholds the values and traditions of pilgrims. Extra provisions will be made to accommodate Hajj traveller’s needs such as performing ablutions and other cleansing rituals as well as advising passengers when they have entered Al Miqat zones to ensure readiness for Ihram (the point when pilgrims enter a state of sanctity) through dedicated passenger announcements.”

The Dubai tourism body labelled the TikTok videos as “the new social currency,” saying that it was necessary to therefore expand its marketing strategy beyond traditional mediums.
Other bodies that participated in the #ThisisDubai campaign on TikTok included Mall of the Emirates, La Perle, Burj Khalifa, Dubai Parks and Resorts, Skydive Dubai, Uber, The Palm and Palazzo Versace Dubai, among others.

Damac is to develop the istoric port into a word class, mixed-used waterfront
Damac was picked by the to develop Port Sultan Qaboos into a world-class, mixed-use waterfront destination and to make the port a new tourism hub for Oman.

This project would include two main zones namely tourist port regeneration areas, as well as other project sites, such as Shotayfi Village, Al Rabia hilltop parcels and Hay Al Mina.

The role SSH in this project to detail the master plan and complete the infrastructure of the new waterfront destination. SSH will also carry out design consultancy for one of the zones of the project, Bab Al-Mina.
“SSH is very happy to be working collaboratively with respected companies such as Omran and DAMAC on a project of this calibre,” said Omar Nuri, General Manager – Oman, at SSH.

“We look forward to delivering an outstanding development that will have a positive social as well as economic impact on Oman. The ultimate vision is that the regeneration of the Mina Sultan Qaboos Waterfront area will contribute to the sultanate becoming a leading tourism destination in the MENA region.”

He made the statement at the 2019 National Tourism Transportation Summit and Expo which held at the International Conference Centre, Abuja. Akinboboye stated that “both sectors warehouse sufficient elements that if properly harnessed, would accelerate Nigeria’s quest for a better and thriving tourist destination”.

Otunba Wanle Akinboboye is the founder of Motherland Beckons, a firm that is dedicated to promoting Africa through Arts, tourism and Culture, while attracting the Diaspora to the Motherland. He was a special guest and one of the awardees at the event. He was named the “Most Creative and Ressiient Tourism Personality for The Year 2018”.