
The Lagos State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board has commenced the sale of application forms for next year's Hajj and Ramadan Umrah exercises, urging intending pilgrims to register promptly and begin fare payments. According to Abdul-Hakeem Ajomagberin, the Board's Secretary, Hajj forms cost โฆ20,000 and Umrah forms cost โฆ10,000. Hajj pilgrims are required to make an initial deposit of โฆ7 million via bank draft, with a deadline of September 2026 for this payment. Ramadan Umrah pilgrims must similarly provide a โฆ5.7 million deposit by bank draft. Pilgrims are advised to obtain official receipts for all payments. This early registration drive aligns with the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria's directive to state boards to finalize registrations before the Hajj season, facilitating visa processing, accommodation, and airlift arrangements. The packages include lodging near the Haram, local transport, daily breakfast and dinner, medical care, spiritual guidance, and Ziyarah visits to religious sites. Additionally, enrollment in the Ilera Eko Health Insurance Scheme, costing โฆ15,000 for individuals and โฆ55,000 for families, is now mandatory for all pilgrims to ensure healthcare access before, during, and after the pilgrimage. The Board emphasized its commitment to transparency and accountability in Hajj administration.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Punch Nigeria.
Artificial intelligence is fundamentally changing the value of human competence by reducing the cost of producing knowledge while increasing the importance of judgment. Historically, expertise was linked to access to information and experience, which required significant effort and time. AI now allows for rapid generation of business strategies, literature reviews, campaign concepts, and financial report summaries across various industries, making the mechanics of knowledge production significantly easier. However, the ability to evaluate knowledge and exercise sound judgment becomes more valuable. While AI democratizes access to intelligence, it does not democratize competence, which is built through exposure to uncertainty, decision-making with incomplete information, and understanding consequences and trade-offs. AI excels at pattern recognition and predicting statistically likely responses, but prediction differs from judgment. Judgment determines appropriateness, decides if history applies, and accepts responsibility for choices, whereas prediction identifies probability and generates possibilities. Context, which includes timing, culture, stakeholder expectations, and individual circumstances, remains a crucial and less transferable dimension of intelligence. The fluency of AI's communication can be mistaken for sound reasoning, making the ability to distinguish between the two a critical professional skill. AI also makes expertise less visible but more valuable, shifti
Chief Reuben Fasoranti, Leader of the pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation Afenifere, and Dr. Kayode Fayemi, former governor of Ekiti State, extended birthday greetings to Nobel laureate Professor Wole Soyinka on his 92nd birthday. Soyinka, born in Abeokuta, Ogun State, on July 13, 1934, was the first African to win the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1986. Fasoranti described Soyinka as a rare breed and a pride to the Yoruba race, Nigeria, and Africa, whose positive impact transcends ethnic or racial boundaries. He expressed gratitude for Soyinka's contributions and prayed for his longevity and good health. Fayemi, in a statement, hailed Soyinka as a symbol of intellectual excellence, courage, and cultural pride, whose work in literature, human rights, and democratic ideals inspires generations. He noted Soyinka's consistent voice of conscience and mentorship, urging younger generations to draw inspiration from his life of principle and purpose. Fayemi also prayed for Soyinka's continued good health and strength, expressing confidence that his wisdom would continue to guide Nigeria's public discourse.

Major General Chinedu Nnebeife, General Officer Commanding, 2 Division, Nigerian Army, stated that Nigerian Air Force and drone teams could not penetrate the thick canopy of the Old Oyo National Park during the rescue operation for 44 abducted pupils and teachers. This failure of aerial surveillance necessitated a ground assault, which resulted in the deaths of an officer and a soldier. The victims had been held captive for 56 days after gunmen attacked three schools on May 15. Due to the challenges, Major General Nnebeife took full command of the operation, integrating various security agencies including the Office of the National Security Adviser, the National Counter-Terrorism Unit, and the Defence Headquarters Special Forces. The Nigerian Police, DSS, and an Air Force Tactical Operations Group also participated. An initial attempt with hunters and local vigilantes also failed, with some hunters losing their lives. The rescue of the 44 individuals occurred on July 10, without the military yielding to the kidnappers' demands, which included the release of a detained Boko Haram commander. The final phase involved blocking the kidnappers' main logistics route through Ashamu, leading to an unconditional release of the captives. Eight suspected kidnappers were arrested and handed over to the DSS, and several others were neutralized. Lieutenant Felix Isaac, who led troops in the operation, was killed on July 10 and buried with military honors.