Asianet Pakistan Private Limited

The Independent Hajj Reporters (IHR), a faith-based civil society organisation, has called on the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to remove the 2% service charge it collects from payments made by intending Nigerian pilgrims for the Hajj.

The group made the appeal in a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Ibrahim Muhammad, and made available to Tribune Online in Abuja. It said the 2% charge, which amounts to $90 per pilgrim (about N144,000) based on the N1,600 exchange rate used by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), is one of the factors increasing the cost of Hajj for Nigerians.

According to IHR, with Saudi Arabia’s allocation of 95,000 Hajj slots to Nigeria, the CBN could make about N13.68 billion annually from the charge.

The statement read, ‘Saudi Arabia allocates 95,000 slots to Nigeria for the annual pilgrimage. If the quota is filled, the CBN generates approximately $8,550,000 (N13.68 billion) in revenue yearly from Hajj payments by pilgrims.’

It added that following the public outcry over the rising cost of Hajj, ‘The CBN should abolish the revenue it collects simply for transferring Hajj payments to NAHCON’s IBAN account in Saudi Arabia.’

While acknowledging that the service charge is not illegal, the group said it believes the CBN could waive it to help reduce Hajj costs, as pilgrims already pay several fees to different government agencies.

‘While we do not claim that the payments are illegal, we believe that the CBN can waive them as their contribution to the reduction of Hajj fare in the country. Nigerian pilgrims are paying multiple service charges to various government establishments, which has jerked up the overall cost of the Hajj fare,’ the group stated.

It noted that since 2019, NAHCON has been funding its operations through its service charges, without government support, and urged other public institutions to help make the process easier for pilgrims.

The CSO said its appeal followed similar calls from other Hajj stakeholders asking the CBN to scrap the payments.

But sometimes, the person you think is your closest friend may not truly wish you well.

When a friend becomes your worst enemy, the pain cuts deeper than anything a stranger could do against you.

Recognising the signs can help you protect your peace and choose your relationships more wisely. Here are seven signs to look out for in your friends:

1. Compete with you, not celebrate you

A true friend claps for you when you win. It may be a red flag if your friend always tries to outdo you instead of cheering you on.

Healthy competition can be fun, but when it turns into constant rivalry, you might be facing your worst enemy in disguise.

2. Use your vulnerabilities against you

Friendship is built on trust. If the personal things you shared in confidence later become weapons used against you, it’s a sign of betrayal.

Someone who makes you feel unsafe with your own truths is not really on your side.

3. Pretend to support you, but put you down

Some friends smile in your presence but tear you down behind your back. It could be subtle comments, spreading rumours, or discouraging you from pursuing your goals. Actions like these clearly show when a friend is acting more like your worst enemy.

4. Disappear when you need them most

Friendship isn’t about being there only in good times. If your friend is quick to show up at parties but never around when life gets tough, you won’t be wrong to question the bond.

Support in difficult moments is one of the clearest tests of true friendship.

5. Secretly jealous of you

Jealousy is bound to happen with human beings, but when it becomes the foundation of the relationship, it’s dangerous.

If your friend constantly downplays your achievements, avoids acknowledging your progress, or looks uncomfortable when you succeed, it may be more than envy. It may be the heart of your worst enemy.

6. Control or manipulate you

Friendship should give you room to grow, not chain you down. If your friend pressures you into choices that don’t align with your values or forces you into doing things you don’t want, that’s a sign of manipulation. That kind of control can be a hidden plan of an enemy, not a friend.

7. Don’t respect your boundaries

Respect is at the base of every healthy relationship. If your friend ignores your boundaries, whether emotional, financial, or personal, it shows a lack of regard for your well-being. A person who repeatedly crosses lines you’ve clearly set might not be your friend at all.

Conclusively, friendship is meant to bring peace, but when a friend becomes your worst enemy, it can be a hard pill to swallow. So, pay attention to the red flags, trust your instincts, and remember that walking away from a bad friendship is an act of self-respect.

As the Nigerian judiciary concludes its annual ritual of new legal year commemorations across the federation, a leading non-governmental organisation has challenged the courts to move beyond celebratory rhetoric and address what it termed the lingering justice questions that keep justice out of reach for the average citizen.

Zarephath Aid (ZA), a non-profit focused on criminal justice reforms, delivered this message at a media conference held at the Press Centre, High Court of Lagos State, Ikeja.

Speaking at the media briefing themed ‘The New Legal Year and the Lingering Justice Questions,’ Ben Abraham, Founder of Zarephath Aid, noted that while legal year ceremonials are marked by significant ‘pomp and pageantry’ and speeches filled with achievements and projections, many Nigerians remain disconnected.

‘They eagerly await the day when they can touch justice or put differently, the day justice can touch them,’ Abraham stated, urging heads of the judiciary to take note of concrete steps required to make the significance of the legal year resonate with the populace.

The organisation laid out a five-point agenda for immediate action by the various tiers of the judiciary, stressing that the courts must move from mere words to tangible action in defence of the law and democracy.

Zarephath Aid highlighted the persistent failure of judicial officers to carry out monthly visits to law enforcement detention facilities, a mandate under the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015 and various state laws.

This lack of oversight, the group warned, directly results in the illegal detention of persons and widespread abuse of suspects’ rights.

The NGO called for the effective implementation of oversight assessment reports to the Chief Judge and Attorney-General to curb these violations.

The group also expressed concern that the Child Rights Law exists only on paper in many states, devoid of the necessary structures for child protection and justice delivery.

It further lamented the lack of adequate detention facilities for child and underage offenders, which often results in them being held alongside adults and subjected to further abuse.

Of particular note, according to the organisation, is the slow trial of cases involving underage offenders in custody due to the absence of logistics for transportation to court, forcing relatives to pay heavily to ensure court appearances.

Zarephath Aid decried what it termed the progressive increase in police brutality, torture, extortion, and violations against citizens, observing that the police internal mechanism has proven ineffective in curbing the menace.

Abraham warned, ‘If the courts fail to leash this errancy, another uprising will be upon us sooner than later.’

The NGO also accused the police of shrinking the civic space by clamping down on rights activists, government critics, good governance advocates, and journalists, often ‘working for the Executive in some instances.’

‘Despite various legal aid interventions, correctional facilities remain severely congested, with inmates spending years on end awaiting trial,’ it added.

Zarephath Aid called for an audit of all correctional facilities to identify inmates and ascertain the status of each case.

This effort, the group recommended, requires the various tiers of the judiciary to collaborate closely with the Administration of Criminal Justice Monitoring Committee (ACJMC) at the federal level and State Criminal Justice Sector Reform Committees.

Zarephath Aid insisted that the Cybercrimes Act 2024 is being applied to muzzle dissent and intimidate critics of the government into silence, noting that many criminal charges premised on the law are politically instigated.

In its words: ‘As long as our courts accommodate this undue interference and as long as they do not halt this surge against citizens’ constitutional right to freedom of expression, the Act will remain a tool for harassment of opponents.’

In concluding the conference, Abraham invited the media to join Zarephath Aid in monitoring the judiciary’s performance on this agenda over the next year, reinforcing the message that the judiciary must now go beyond rhetoric to action.

The new Osorun of Isaga-Orile in Abeokuta North Local Government Area of Ogun State, Chief Kayode Odunaro, has promised to use his title to contribute to the growth of the community.

Odunaro, who is the Chief of Staff and Media Adviser to Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, said this shortly after his installation by the Onisaga of Isaga-Orile, Oba Joseph Tella, on Saturday.

He hinted that the chieftaincy title belongs to his lineage, and that the position was last held by his uncle who died in 1988, having been installed in 1958.

Odunaro, who is also the Baa’royin of Imala,added that Osorun titleholder is one of the kingmakers in the ancient kingdom.

He stated further that the title would bring him closer to his roots and participate more in activities of Isaga traditional council, particularly in the selection of a new traditional ruler in the town.

While submitting that his new title is unique and will demand high responsibility from him, he expressed appreciation to Oba Tella, Isaga-Orile Traditional Council and the Osorun Family, the erstwhile Chief Press Secretary to former governor of Ogun State, Aremo Olusegun Osoba, declaring that he would bring the experience he had garnered as the spokesperson to three past administrations in Ogun, to bear on the new title.

‘I am delighted that I have just been installed as the Osorun of Isaga-Orile Kingdom. This is a very important traditional title in the kingdom as Osorun is one of the kingmakers.

‘The title belongs to our family; my late uncle was installed in 1958 and held the title till he passed in 1988. So, for decades, there was a vacancy in the position of Osorun. Therefore, I am highly elated that I am feeling the vacant position today after so many years of interregnum.

‘For me, it is a higher call to traditional responsibility, and I will ensure that I bring experiences I garnered over the years as spokesperson of three administrations, both military and civilian in Ogun, to bear in this new title. Like I have done in public service, I will use this Osorun title to contribute to the growth and development of the Isaga-Orile Kingdom’, Odunaro submitted.adding that the position was last held by his uncle who died in 1988, having been installed in 1958.

As the Nigerian government announced a 50 per cent hike in telecommunication tariffs, it sparked concern among millions of citizens who rely on affordable mobile services for communication, business, and everyday life.

Ranging from calls, data subscription, to Short Message Service (SMS), the cost of staying connected has increased, and it takes its toll on the average Nigerian. Also, students and workers are not left alone; they ‘rely on mobile data to access essential resources, including research materials, online learning platforms, assignments and communication tools,’ according to University World News..

Meanwhile, despite the tariff hike, many internet users continue to subscribe and post various types of content. For a WhatsApp user, you may spot a hilarious meme or jaw-dropping video clips on your friend’s WhatsApp status and wish to have it. And when you request it, you’ll likely receive a response of ‘I don’t have data.’

With Xender, the same app you’ve probably been using for quick file transfers, has a built-in feature that lets you download WhatsApp statuses straight to your phone, without using your mobile data. Most people don’t realize this, hence, they leverage a third-party ‘status saver’ app.

In this article, Tribune Online proffers a step-by-step guide on how to save WhatsApp status using Xender in just a few taps.

How Xender Makes It Easy

Unlike other apps that flood you with ads or ask for shady permissions, Xender already does the heavy lifting. Beyond file sharing, it has a ‘Social’ tab that pulls WhatsApp statuses directly into the app. No digging into hidden folders. No wasting of data, whether you are using Android or IOS (iPhone), just open, click, and save.

Step 1: Open the Xender App

First, launch the Xender app on your phone if you don’t have it. Ensure you’re running the updated version, because older versions may not have the ‘Social’ feature.

Step 2: Tap on the Social Icon

At the bottom of the home screen, you’ll see several icons. Look for the one labeled ‘Social.’ That’s your gateway to all the WhatsApp statuses from your contacts.

Step 3: Select WhatsApp Statuses

Once inside the ‘Social’ tab, tap Statuses. Here, Xender automatically displays every WhatsApp status you’ve viewed: photos, videos, quotes, everything. With no extra setup needed.

Step 4: Choose and Download

Scroll through the statuses until you find the one you want to save. Just hit the Download button, and boom, the status gets stored directly in your phone’s gallery (storage). No internet data used, no third-party apps.

Step 5: Enjoy and Share

Once downloaded, you can keep it forever, share it with friends through Xender or WhatsApp, or simply enjoy it offline. Remember, WhatsApp automatically deletes statuses after 24 hours, but with Xender, you’re in control.

Utilizing these steps by just open Xender, tap ‘Social,’ select the status, and download it. Next time, when a friend posts something you can’t stop laughing at, you’ll know exactly how to keep it for yourself.

The House of Representatives, through its Committee on Constitution Review, is set to hold a high-level consultation with the leadership of all registered political parties in Nigeria.

Chairman of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Rep. Akin Rotimi, disclosed this in a statement made available to Parliamentary Correspondents. He explained that the consultative meeting is scheduled for Monday, 6th October 2025, in Abuja.

He noted that the proposed engagement forms part of the broad-based stakeholder consultations by the 10th Assembly in its ongoing review of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).

‘It is a key component of the Committee’s outreach to critical stakeholders to ensure that the amendment process reflects the voices and aspirations of Nigerians.’

According to him, leaders of registered political parties invited to participate include National Chairmen, National Secretaries, and National Women Leaders.

The session will feature deliberations on priority areas such as Special Seats for Women, Judicial and Electoral Reforms, Independent Candidacy, Local Government Reforms, State Policing, Human Rights, and Justice.

It will also provide political parties with an opportunity to make inputs, share perspectives, and contribute meaningfully to discussions on key national issues.

Speaking ahead of the engagement, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and Chairman of the Constitution Review Committee, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, described the meeting as a strategic platform for political parties to bring their experience and institutional insight to the process.

He stated that: ‘political parties remain the engine room of our democracy, and their active participation in this consultation is vital to achieving constitutional amendments that are inclusive, credible, and reflective of the collective aspirations of Nigerians.’

‘A summarised compendium of the bills currently under consideration by the Committee has been prepared to guide discussions during the engagement. The document is available for download at hccr.gov.ng.’

The media space is moving fast; therefore, building a strong network is vital. Connections are more than just contacts; they are lifelines that shape careers, open doors, and fuel opportunities. Whether you are a journalist, PR practitioner, broadcaster, or digital content creator, the strength of your network can often determine the depth of your influence.

In this article, Tribune Online examines the key advantages and importance of building and maintaining a strong media network:

1. Access to Exclusive Information

In the media, information is currency. A strong network means you’re often the first to know about breaking stories, trending topics, or behind-the-scenes details that others may miss.

2. Boosts Professional Visibility

Attending industry events, engaging with colleagues, and collaborating with peers keep your name relevant. The more people know your work, the more you establish yourself as a trusted media professional.

3. Opens Career Opportunities

From newsroom jobs to PR gigs and media consultancy offers, many opportunities in the media space aren’t advertised publicly. A good reputation within your network ensures you’re considered when openings arise.

4. Enhances Storytelling and Content Quality

Networking allows you to tap into diverse perspectives, sources, and expert opinions, making your reports or productions richer and more credible.

5. Strengthens Collaboration and Partnerships

Media thrives on collaboration from joint investigations to cross-platform projects. Building a solid network makes it easier to partner with professionals who complement your skills.

6. Provides Mentorship and Guidance

Connections with senior colleagues, editors, or established broadcasters can provide invaluable advice that helps you navigate challenges and grow in the industry.

7. Builds Your Personal Brand

The media space is competitive. A strong network amplifies your voice, helps you share your work with wider audiences, and positions you as a reliable and consistent professional.

8. Helps in Crisis Management

When controversies or challenges arise, your network can provide support from sharing your side of the story to giving legal or professional advice.

9. Encourages Continuous Learning

By engaging with industry peers, you stay updated on evolving trends, digital tools, and new practices that keep you relevant in a rapidly changing media landscape.

10. Fosters Long-Term Relationships

Beyond immediate benefits, networking builds lasting professional and even personal relationships that sustain your career in the long run.

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common hormonal disorders among women of reproductive age; yet, many women don’t realise they have it until symptoms become severe or they struggle with fertility. Detecting PCOS early makes it easier to manage symptoms and prevent long-term complications such as diabetes, heart disease, and infertility.

In this article, Tribune Online examines seven early signs of PCOS every woman should watch out for:

1. Irregular or Missed Periods

One of the most common warning signs of PCOS is having fewer than nine periods a year – very heavy periods, or none at all. Irregular cycles are usually caused by hormonal imbalances that disrupt ovulation.

2. Excess Hair Growth

Many women with PCOS experience hirsutism, unwanted hair growth on the face, chest, stomach, or back. This happens because the body produces higher levels of androgens (male hormones).

3. Persistent Acne

Acne that doesn’t go away with regular treatment, especially on the jawline, chest, or back, can be a red flag. The excess androgens associated with PCOS increase oil production in the skin, leading to breakouts.

4. Unexplained Weight Gain

Women with PCOS often struggle with weight gain, particularly around the abdomen. This is linked to insulin resistance, a common feature of the condition.

5. Thinning Hair or Hair Loss

While some women notice excess hair growth, others experience hair thinning or even male-pattern baldness. This is another effect of elevated androgen levels.

6. Dark Patches on the Skin

PCOS can cause dark, velvety patches on areas like the neck, underarms, or groin. This condition, known as acanthosis nigricans, is often linked to insulin resistance.

7. Difficulty Getting Pregnant

Because PCOS interferes with regular ovulation, many women find it harder to conceive. In fact, PCOS is one of the leading causes of infertility in women.

PCOS can be overwhelming, but early detection and lifestyle changes can make a big difference. If you notice any of these signs, it’s important to consult a healthcare provider for proper diagnosis and treatment. With the right care, many women with PCOS go on to live healthy, fulfilling lives.

It’s been 65 years of independence. Congratulations, Nigeria, and happy Independence! Welcome also to the last quarter of the year, a brand new month of October.

But genuinely, can we say we have come a long way and done so well as a nation in these 65 years? Or are we still trapped in a vicious cycle? Do we even truly believe in this country anymore? How has this shaped our mental health and the way we see ourselves as citizens?

Haven’t many of us lost hope? Are we supposed to lose hope, or are we just fixated on the thought that it can never be better? Worse still, some believe it can only get worse or is already getting worse despite the visible changes here and there, despite the rays of hope that occasionally break through.

So, are we free indeed?

True freedom is not just about flags, anthems, or parades. It is about the state of mind of the people. When a nation struggles with poverty, insecurity, corruption, and dashed expectations, the citizens carry the weight in their hearts and minds. This weight shows up as anxiety, frustration, hopelessness, and even depression. We cannot separate the mental health of Nigerians from the story of Nigeria itself.

Many people now live with a quiet despair, believing that nothing good can come out of this country. Some carry a deep mistrust of leadership, others feel numb and detached, while many more have simply resigned to fate. This collective sense of hopelessness is not just political, it is psychological. When hope dies, it leaves scars on our well-being, our relationships, and even the way we dream for our children.

Yet, hope is not a luxury; it is a necessity. Just as the human body cannot survive without oxygen, the mind cannot thrive without hope. Hope is the anchor that steadies us when the storm is raging. It is the fuel that makes us rise each morning and believe tomorrow could be better. Without it, our resilience weakens, and we risk living in survival mode, never truly alive.

But here lies the irony: Nigerians are some of the most resilient people in the world. We have learned to laugh in pain, to find joy in little things, and to hustle through tough times. Our music, our culture, our community spirit, these are coping mechanisms that keep us going when structures fail us. But even resilience has its breaking point. When every new policy, every new headline, and every new reality seems like a burden, resilience alone is not enough; we need genuine change that restores confidence in the future.

Mental health is not just an individual issue; it is a national one. A society where citizens wake up every day uncertain of safety, food, or dignity cannot boast of true independence. Independence must mean freedom from fear, freedom from hopelessness, and freedom from the mental chains that hold us down. When young people’s biggest dream is to ‘japa’ because they no longer see a future here, it should force us to reflect: what kind of independence do we truly have?

And yet, we must ask ourselves, can we, as a people, afford to give up? If hope is medicine, despair is poison. To surrender to despair is to let the challenges win twice: first, by creating hardship, and second, by killing the spirit to fight for something better.

So how do we begin to heal? How do we protect our mental health in a country that constantly tests it? We start by choosing hope, even when it feels foolish. We start by caring for ourselves and one another. We start by building little communities of support, families, faith groups, professional circles, and friendships, where encouragement and solidarity keep us afloat.

We also start by telling ourselves the truth: it is okay to feel tired, it is okay to feel worried, but it is not okay to give up completely. Healing begins when we name our struggles instead of masking them. Healing deepens when we seek help from mental health professionals rather than drowning silently in pain. Healing grows when we learn to find meaning in small victories and nurture gratitude for what is still working.

Independence at 65 should not just be a time to wave flags; it should be a time to ask, how free are we inside? Do we have freedom of mind, freedom to dream, and freedom to hope? If not, then our task as a nation is not only economic or political, it is also psychological.

This Mental Health Diary is a call to hold on to hope. Not a blind hope that ignores reality, but a stubborn hope that insists things can be better. For in protecting hope, we protect our minds. And in protecting our minds, we preserve the future of this nation.

So, as we step into this last quarter of the year, may we not just count the years of independence, but also count the strength of our resilience. May we nurture hope, support one another, and keep alive the belief that true freedom is still possible.

As we reflect on 65 years of independence, let us not remain stuck in despair. Healing begins with choosing to hope again, no matter the disappointments of the past. Even when the changes we long for seem slow, we must remember that change itself starts with individuals, each of us, in our homes, our communities, in the way we think, speak, and act. Whether we are in Nigeria or abroad, whether we hold other nationalities or not, nothing changes the fact that the blood is Nigerian.

The freedom we forget is not always about politics or economics. It is the freedom of the mind, the freedom to dream, and the freedom to hope. Without these, even at 65, true independence remains incomplete. To give up hope is to surrender our future, but to heal and hope again is to reclaim it.

Happy World Mental Health Day in advance! This Friday, October 10th, we join the world to mark this important day. Join me in next week’s episode, it promises to be another enlightening edition of Mental Health Diary. Stay with me.

THE Dean of Student Affairs at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Professor Festus Adeosun, has urged students to go beyond academic certificates and embrace entrepreneurship as a pathway to self-reliance and national development.

Prof. Adeosun, a former Director of the Centre for Entrepreneurial Studies (CENTS), gave the charge during the YouWin Enterprise Education programme for tertiary institutions, held at the College of Environmental Resources Management (COLERM) Auditorium.

He observed that while a university degree remained valuable, the knowledge, skills, and experiences gained during campus life were the true determinants of future success.

‘The current realities of youth unemployment in Nigeria demand creativity, resilience, and innovation. Students must look beyond certificates and embrace entrepreneurial opportunities that would position them as job creators rather than job seekers,’ Adeosun stated.

Earlier, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Babatunde Kehinde, reaffirmed FUNAAB’s commitment to nurturing students beyond academics, stressing that the institution was determined to prepare them for self-reliance in today’s competitive economy.

He commended the choice of FUNAAB as host of the programme, describing it as a timely platform to empower students with practical entrepreneurial skills.

Giving an insight into the programme, a representative of the Federal Ministry of Finance, Mr Lampo Ibrahim, explained that YouWin Connect was a youth-focused initiative designed to support small businesses and foster entrepreneurship nationwide.

He noted that the scheme, which also extends to National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) camps and other tertiary institutions, was created to provide Nigerian youths with access to funding and business development opportunities.

According to him, the core aim of YouWin Connect is to inspire young people to develop business ideas, grow them into sustainable enterprises, and reduce dependence on formal employment. He advised students to take advantage of the initiative and build ventures that would secure their future and contribute to national economic growth.

Highlighting practical pathways to business funding, Ibrahim identified four major sources available to aspiring entrepreneurs as friends and family, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), government agencies, and the private sector.

He underscored the role of NGOs in complementing the government’s efforts to reduce unemployment and urged students to uphold integrity and accountability in the use of funds secured through such programmes.

Referencing the Federal Government’s publication, Successful Nigerian Entrepreneurs, Ibrahim noted that financial struggles were often not due to lack of formal education but poor financial literacy. He, therefore, encouraged students to embrace entrepreneurial training and prudent financial management as essential life skills.