Same-Sex Marriage: Nigerian Catholic Bishops Junks Pope Stance

The Catholic Bishops in Nigeria in an accord junked off Pope Francis on the blessing of same-sex couples. Most Rev. Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji disclosed this at the formal opening of the 2024 First Plenary Assembly of the CBCN on 18th February, 2024, at the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, Abuja.  The gathering states that, the statements or declarations from the Holy-See should promote unity and communion on matters of doctrine, morals and liturgy, but unfortunately, Fiducia Supplicans did otherwise; but rather impairing the unity and catholicity of the Church.  The statement read, “We must sincerely admit that the Declaration, Fiducia Supplicans (On the Pastoral Meaning Blessings), issued on 18th December, 2023, by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, has added to our pains.” 

Federal Government Approves Airline Carriers For 2024 Hajj Pilgrimage

President Tinubu has granted approval to three airlines to serve as exclusive carriers for the 2024 Hajj pilgrimage. The Assistant Director, Public Affairs, National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, Fatima Sanda-Usara, made the above public in a statement on Friday in Abuja. The airlines selected were named as Air Peace Ltd, FlyNas and Max Air.Max Air, which has the highest allocation, is responsible for the conveyance of pilgrims from Bauchi, Benue, Kano, Katsina, Kogi, Nasarawa, Adamawa, Oyo, Taraba, Kaduna, Armed Forces, Gombe, Jigawa and Plateau states. Similarly, Air Peace is scheduled to transport intending pilgrims from Abia, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, FCT, Imo, Kwara, Ondo and Rivers states.

As Israeli Hamas War Thickens, Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Jets To Greece, Rome

Following the Israeli verses Hamas war, the Executive Secretary, Nigeria Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC), Reverend Yakubu Pam, has revealed that the Nigerian pilgrim contingent has chose to heads to Greece and Rome instead to visit biblical sites for its religious rituals. The Reverend father stated this in Abuja yesterday while addressing journalists, saying that safety of the pilgrims has always been a priority to the NCPC.

Nigeria, India Removed From US Religious Discrimination Blacklist

The United States Secretary of State, Antony Blinken on Thursday opted against designating Nigeria and India as “Countries of Particular Concern” (CPCs) for religious freedom violations. This decision ignited immediate backlash, with the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) calling it “extreme disappointment.”  The annual list released by the State Department maintained the previous year’s 12 CPCs, including notorious offenders like Burma, China, and Saudi Arabia, and added only Azerbaijan to a watch list. This sparked outrage among advocates who argued that both Nigeria and India, with their escalating violence against religious minorities, deserved harsher sanctions.