Saudi Arabia
Senate calls for quick diversification of economy, frowns against high cost of oil production
The upper chamber of the National Assembly has called on the federal government to quickly diversify the economy, following the high cost of oil production without commensurate result. Berating the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) for the high cost, which resulted into marginal profit of just $3 per barrel for the country, the Senate noted that the high cost of oil production in the country is higher than other oil producing nations. This development was noted when when officials of NNPC appeared before the Senate Committee on Finance. The Senate also noted that the high cost of oil production which is $21.2 per barrel, almost equaling $25 per barrel oil price benchmark fixed for the N10.509 trillion 2020 revised budget. The upper chamber expressed its displeasure when the Ch...
Saudi Arabia reopens Madinah mosque from Sunday
The Saudi Arabia government has approved the re-opening of Masjid Al Nabawi, Madinah gradually from Sunday 31 May with precautionary measures. According to the approved guidelines, the permitted access of public in Masjid Al Nabawi, Madinah will be in the Courtyards and the King Fahad Expansion of the mosque. It stated that men will be allowed to enter Masjid Al Nabawi through the following gates: Al-Hijrah Gate No. 4; Quba Gate No. 5; King Saud Gate No 8; Imam Al-Bukhari Gate No. 10; King Fahd Gate No. 21; King Abdulaziz Gate No 34; Makkah Gate No. 37; while the Salam Gate will remain closed. It added that women will be allowed to enter through the gates 13, 17, 25, 29 all from Sunday. “The Old Mosque and Ziyarah (visitation) to the Rawdah (resting place of Prophet Muhammad) and Riyadh Al...
Herve Renard apologies for omitting Hakim Ziyech in African select XI
Getty Images Former Morocco coach Herve Renard has apologised for leaving out the name of Hakim Ziyech in a select XI of the best African players he has managed. The 51-year-old Frenchman has coached four African sides to date – Angola, Zambia, the Ivory Coast and Morocco. He found success leading the Chipolopolo and the Elephants to Africa Cup of Nations success in 2012 and 2015, respectively. He also led the Atlas Lions to their first World Cup outing in 20 years at the 2018 edition in Russia where they finished last in a group containing Spain, Portugal and Iran. Renard’s XI contained Ghana’s Richard Kingson in goal, Medhi Benatia, Kolo Toure, Jonathan Mensah and Achraf Hakimi in defence. In midfield is Yaya Toure and Michael Essien in a double pivot, while it’s an attacking trio of Sia...
292 Nigerian nationals arrive Abuja from Saudi Arabia
The Federal Government on Tuesday received a batch of 292 stranded Nigerians from Saudi Arabia. According to Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama, the evacuees with a large number of nursing mother and children were flown to Abuja. This is coming after the country successfully evacuated Nigerians from United Arab Emirates (265); United Kingdom (253) and the United States (160). The latest returnees bring to 970 the total number of stranded Nigerians who have been evacuated. Onyeama, via his verified Twitter account, stated that the returnees are doing well and have all settled down in hotels for the mandatory 14-day quarantine. “We received 292 evacuees stranded in Saudi Arabia yesterday. The Saudi Government transported them to Abuja. A large number are nursing mothers and ch...
Lesotho records first coronavirus case
Lesotho recorded its first case of COVID-19 on Wednesday, the health ministry said, becoming the last country in southern and East Africa to be afflicted by the virus. The ministry said it had conducted 81 tests for COVID-19 from travellers from South Africa and Saudi Arabia, of which one was positive. The remote, high-altitude kingdom, nestled in a South African mountain range, had previously been spared the coronavirus, although its bigger, more industrialised neighbour has recorded more than 10,000 cases. The disease has struck at a time of political uncertainty in Lesotho, with embattled Prime Minister Thomas Thabane due to step down by the end of next week after his coalition collapsed in parliament. His exit would clear the way for a solution to a political crisis that erupted late l...
Saudi fines large gatherings as coronavirus cases increase
Agence France-Presse Saudi Arabia has imposed fines between 5,000 riyals (1,333 dollars) and 100,000 riyals for large gatherings, in a bid to control the spread of the coronavirus inside the kingdom. In March, the kingdom banned gatherings in public of more than five people as it loosened a nationwide curfew several weeks after it was imposed, allowing some businesses to reopen, including shops, construction companies and factories. However, COVID-19 infections have been steadily increasing, prompting the Interior Ministry to introduce the fines. The oil-rich monarchy reported 1,793 new confirmed cases on Thursday, a new daily record that brings the total number of infections in the kingdom to 33,731, including 219 deaths. The Interior Ministry said gatherings of more than five people insi...
