By Jamila Muhammad Umar

The Executive Secretary of the Nasarawa State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Idris Ahmad Almakura, has been honoured for his contribution to pilgrims’ welfare and improved Hajj administration in the state.

Mr Almakura received the Award of Excellence from a group of media influencers in Nasarawa State who said they had followed the activities of the board and its leadership during the Hajj operations.

The award was presented to the executive secretary by a delegation led by the group’s chairman, Aliyu Ibrahim Orah.

Speaking during the presentation, Mr Orah said the decision to honour Mr Almakura followed the group’s assessment of the board’s activities both in Nigeria and Saudi Arabia.

He said the group had particularly taken note of efforts by the board to improve the welfare of Nasarawa pilgrims and make the Hajj experience less difficult for them.

According to him, the recognition was meant to acknowledge the executive secretary’s commitment to his responsibilities and his contribution to the smooth running of the board.

“We have monitored the activities of the pilgrims’ board and its operations in both Nigeria and Saudi Arabia. We believe the efforts being made to improve pilgrims’ welfare deserve recognition,” Mr Orah said.

Receiving the award, Mr Almakura thanked the media influencers for finding him worthy of the honour.

He described the recognition as an encouragement to remain committed to improving services for pilgrims from Nasarawa State.

The executive secretary said the board would continue to identify areas requiring improvement and work towards providing pilgrims with better support throughout the pilgrimage.

Mr Almakura dedicated the award to Governor Abdullahi Sule and the people of Nasarawa State, saying the board’s achievements would not have been possible without the support of the state government and its citizens.

He also reaffirmed the board’s commitment to strengthening Hajj administration and placing pilgrims’ welfare at the centre of its operations.

The award is the latest recognition of efforts by stakeholders in Nasarawa State to acknowledge individuals contributing to the improvement of Hajj management and pilgrims’ welfare.

FG, States, LGAs Share ₦2.55 tn June Revenue as FAAC Reports Higher Tax, Oil Receipts

By Jamila Muhammed

The federal government, along with the 36 states and the 774 local government councils, shared ₦2.55 trillion in revenue allocation for June 2026, which was made possible by an increase in statutory revenue and Value Added Tax (VAT) collections, according to the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC).

The allocation was approved at FAAC’s July meeting held on Wednesday in Abuja.

According to a communiqué issued after the meeting, the distributable revenue comprised ₦1.809 trillion from statutory revenue and ₦740.724 billion from VAT.

“A total sum of ₦2.550 trillion, being June 2026 Federation Account revenue, has been shared with the federal government, states and the local government councils,” the communiqué said.

The committee said ₦4.500 trillion accrued to the Federation Account during the month. Out of the amount, ₦160.744 billion was deducted as the cost of revenue collection, while ₦1.789 trillion was earmarked for transfers and refunds before the balance was distributed.

Under the approved sharing formula, the federal government received ₦923.438 billion, while state governments got ₦838.208 billion. The 774 local government councils received ₦591.390 billion, while ₦197.610 billion, representing the 13 per cent derivation fund, was allocated to oil-producing states.

Of the ₦1.809 trillion distributable statutory revenue, the federal government received ₦849.366 billion, the states ₦430.810 billion, and local governments ₦332.136 billion. Oil-producing states also received ₦197.610 billion as derivation revenue.

From the ₦740.724 billion shared from VAT, the federal government received ₦74.072 billion, states received ₦407.398 billion, and local governments received ₦259.253 billion.

FAAC attributed the higher allocation to improved revenue inflows during the month.

It said gross statutory revenue increased to ₦3.700 trillion in June from ₦2.651 trillion recorded in May, representing an increase of ₦1.049 trillion.

Gross VAT revenue also rose to ₦799.746 billion in June, up from ₦743.688 billion in the preceding month.

“Gross statutory revenue of ₦3.700 trillion was received for the month of June 2026. “This amount was ₦1.049 trillion higher than the ₦2.651 trillion received in the preceding month,” the communiqué stated.

The committee also reported increases in receipts from Companies Income Tax (CIT), Capital Gains Tax (CGT), Stamp Duties, Petroleum Royalties, Gas Flared, Rental and Miscellaneous Oil Revenue (MOR), VAT, Import Duty and Common External Tariff (CET) levies.

However, it noted that collections from Petroleum Profit Tax (PPT), Hydrocarbon Tax (HT), mineral royalties and related fees declined during the period, while excise duty recorded only a marginal increase.

The latest allocation comes as governments at all levels continue to rely on FAAC disbursements to finance recurrent expenditure and capital projects amid efforts to improve non-oil revenue generation.

Al-Ansar Foundation Deepens Global Partnerships with China, Egypt, Saudi Arabia

By Auwal Ahmad Umar

The Al-Ansar Foundation has strengthened its international partnerships following a series of high-level engagements with delegations from China, Egypt and Saudi Arabia aimed at expanding cooperation in education, innovation, humanitarian services, and sustainable development.

The meetings, held in Abuja during the weekend, were led by the Foundation’s Founder and President Dr Mohammed Kyari Dikwa, mni, as part of efforts to create more opportunities for Nigerian students, educational institutions, and communities through strategic international collaborations.

According to the Foundation the engagements underscore its growing global profile and commitment to fostering partnerships that support academic excellence, institutional development, and youth empowerment.

A major highlight of the week’s activities was the TranESS Commercial and Industrial (C&I) Education Summit, where Dr Dikwa chaired discussions involving education stakeholders, school proprietors, development partners, regulatory agencies, university administrators and industry leaders.

Speaking at the summit, Dr Dikwa stressed the importance of closer collaboration between the education and energy sectors, noting that reliable infrastructure is essential for delivering quality education.

He described the partnership between the Al-Ansar Foundation and TranESS as a long-term investment in human capital development, innovation and educational advancement.

The Foundation also unveiled plans to facilitate employment opportunities, structured internship programmes and international exchange initiatives for outstanding Nigerian students and graduates, particularly in engineering, technology, renewable energy and business-related fields.

Dr Dikwa urged tertiary institutions and other educational organisations across the country to work with the Foundation in identifying and preparing talented students to compete in the global labour market.

As part of its international engagements, the Foundation also hosted a delegation from the Arab Republic of Egypt to explore opportunities for collaboration in education, institutional development, cultural exchange and humanitarian programmes.

Discussions focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation through knowledge sharing and partnerships designed to promote quality education and sustainable development.

The Foundation also welcomed a delegation from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, where talks centred on expanding cooperation in education, humanitarian services, Islamic development, youth empowerment and institutional partnerships.

During the visit, the Saudi delegation honoured Dr Dikwa with a traditional ceremonial Bisht (Arab robe), a copy of the Holy Qur’an and Zamzam water in recognition of his contributions to education, humanitarian service and international cooperation.

The Foundation said the gesture symbolised the enduring relationship between both parties and their shared commitment to strengthening collaboration.

The week’s engagements, according to the Foundation, reflect its growing reputation as a trusted platform for international development partnerships and its determination to expand opportunities for Nigerians through global cooperation.

It added that under Dr Dikwa’s leadership, the organisation will continue to pursue partnerships that promote academic excellence, strengthen institutional capacity and contribute to Nigeria’s long-term development and global competitiveness.