Tag: Nigeria

“Nigeria has solutions to challenges, but can’t implement them” – Sultan

Aminu Imam

Sultan of Sokoto and Chairman of the Northern Traditional Rulers Council, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, has stated that Nigeria is devoid of solutions to the country’s problems but deficient in putting them into action. The eminent monarch made the remarks yesterday in Kaduna, at a strategic meeting of the Northern Traditional Rulers Council and the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, (NPHCDA), on how to get vaccines to inaccessible communities in the North West region. He stated that Nigeria’s problem is not a lack of ideas or solutions to its…

Read More

Hajj 2024: CSO advocates early registration of intending Pilgrims by Nigerian authorities

Abdul-Azeez Ahmed Kadir

By; Abdull-Azeez Ahmed Kadir. A civil society organisation, the Independent Hajj Reporters (IHR), have called on the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) and States Muslim Pilgrims Boards/agenciesp in Nigeria to immediately begin the registration of intending Pilgrims for Hajj 2024. IHR a CSO that monitors and reports on Hajj and Umrah activities in a statement in Abuja, signed by its National Coordinator, Ibrahim Mohammed said the call became necessary due to the change in the Calendar of Hajj activities by the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Hajj and Umrah following the…

Read More

“Coup in Niger saved Nigeria from imminent disaster”, claims Military Junta

Aminu Imam

Leader of the military junta in Niger Republic, General Abdourahmane Tchiani, has revealed that their takeover of the civilian government in his country has saved Nigeria from an imminent disaster. This revelation came after General Tchiani had a closed-door meeting with Nigerian religious leaders in Niamey, the capital of Niger. Sheikh Bala Lau, who is the National Chairman of Jamatul Izalatu Bida Waikamatu Sunnah, said the clerics were in Niger on behalf of President Bola Tinubu who accepted their request to intervene. Sheik Lau said the team had earlier told…

Read More

“Military will do everything to defend Nigeria’s democracy” – Chief of Army Staff, Lagbaja

Aminu Imam

The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant-General Taoreed Lagbaja, has said the Nigerian military will continue to work towards the deepening and entrenchment of democratic ideals in the country. Gen. Lagbaja, who spoke at the Passing-Out Parade of officers of Executive Commission Course-1, at the Army School of Infantry located in Jaji, Kaduna State, vowed that the military would continue to protect the Nigeria’s democracy no matter the challenges it faces. He said the desire of every Nigerian is a thriving and uninterrupted constitutional democratic governance which would promote the interest…

Read More

Hajj: NAHCON airlifts all Nigerian pilgrims back ahead of Aug 3rd deadline

Abdul-Azeez Ahmed Kadir

By; Abdull-Azeez Ahmed Kadir. The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria NAHCON has completed the airlift of all Nigerian pilgrims back home from Saudi Arabia, ahead of the August 3rd deadline it set for the inbound flight. NAHCON on Monday 31 July beats it deadline with the airlift of 302 pilgrims, 16 officials by AZMAN Airline flight AZM2361 from Jeddah to Kaduna in total of 183 flights. The Chairman and CEO of NAHCON, Alhaji Zikrullah Kunle Hassan expressed appreciation and gratitude to Nigerians for their tremendous support for the Commission during the…

Read More

Over 53,000 Nigerian Pilgrims airlifted back home… August 3rd sets for final flight

Abdul-Azeez Ahmed Kadir

By; Abdull-Azeez Ahmed Kadir. About three weeks into the commencement of the in-bound airlift of Nigerian pilgrims from Saudi, over 53,000 pilgrims have been successfully airlifted back to Nigeria in 136 flights, with August 3rd set for the final flight. The in-bound operation began on July 4th with the airlift of 387 Sokoto pilgrims by Flynas; a Saudi base airline after the completion of the symbolic stoning of the Jamrats and completion of Hajj rites. Though initially bedeviled by non-provision of slots to many of the airlines, except the Flynas;…

Read More

Ringing the bell of 2024 Hajj… for the ears of Hajj administrators

Abdul-Azeez Ahmed Kadir

By; Ibrahim Muhammed “A good plan, violently executed now is better than a perfect plan tomorrow.”  Anonymous Recently, Independent Hajj Reporters released a public statement urging NAHCON and States Muslim Pilgrims Boards to immediately activate the process of registering intending pilgrims that wish to participate in the 2024 Hajj. The statement hinged its call on the early release of the 2024 Hajj calendar by the Saudi Minister of Hajj and Umrah – detailing the allotted date for each major preparatory event preceding the 2024 Hajj days. In reaction, some critical…

Read More

Hajj not a capital flight

Abdul-Azeez Ahmed Kadir

By; Fatima Sanda Usara The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) observed with dismay how some media outlets, for whatever reasons, have carried on with campaigns of calumny against the Commission despite several press briefings and press releases clearly explaining reasons and solutions to hitches encountered in the 2023 Hajj operations.  In its bid to carry the press along, who in turn it is believed would clarify issues for their readers, NAHCON had kept the press updated about all knotty issues even before they become obvious, and sometimes only after…

Read More

Over 45,000 Nigerian Pilgrims airlifted back home, final flight for August 3rd

Abdul-Azeez Ahmed Kadir

By; Abdull-Azeez Ahmed Kadir. About two weeks into the commencement of the in-bound airlift of Nigerian pilgrims from Saudi, over 45,000 pilgrims have been successfully airlifted back to Nigeria in 116 flights, with August 3rd set for the final flight. The in-bound operation began on July 4th with the airlift of 387 Sokoto pilgrims by Flynas; a Saudi base airline after the completion of the symbolic stoning of the Jamrats and completion of Hajj rites. Though initially bedeviled by non-provision of slots to many of the airlines except the Flynas;…

Read More

2023 Hajj: Comparative Success Sans Masha’er

Abdul-Azeez Ahmed Kadir

By; Abdull-Azeez Ahmed Kadir.  Standing in the heart of Makkah, Saudi Arabia at Ummul-joud, staring at the gigantic Nigeria Hajj Commission office, nostalgically reminds you of the Hajj House located in the heart of the Central Business District Area of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT Abuja.  The similarities between these two gigantic structures stomach what it embodies. They are the symbols of the annual Muslim Pilgrimages to Islam’s holiest of places. And in-between, the rituals of lesser hajj; Umrah.  Both structures in Nigeria and Saudi Arabia bear the signatures of…

Read More