Tag: Hajj 2023

How Zamfara officials allow terrorists participate in 2023 Hajj Report

Aminu Imam

Officials of the Zamfara State 2023 Hajj committee deliberately allowed known terrorists participate in the just concluded Hajj exercise in Saudi Arabia, a government report has revealed, according to an official. The report also accused some of the officials of embezzling funds, not having proper documentation, criminal reduction of pilgrims allowances among other corrupt practices. This revelation comes amidst earlier reports in the media on how security agents apprehended terrorists, their wives as well as some informants working for the terrorists at the Sultan Abubakar III International Airport in Sokoto…

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Hajj return flights commences; Sokoto pilgrims make maiden trip

Aminu Imam

As the return flights of pilgrims from Saudi Arabia begins, Nigeria’s maiden flight today has Sokoto State contingent with over 400 pilgrims and one official. Liberty News Correspondent in Makkah, Abdull-Azeez Ahmed Kadir reports that the first flight left the King Abdul-Aziz International Airport, Jeddah at about 12 noon Nigerian time, which is 2 o’clock Saudi time, to Nigeria. The Sokoto contingent, which comprises four 426 pilgrims and one official, is expected to land at the Sultan Abubakar International Airport, Sokoto around 6pm Nigerian time, which is 4pm Saudi Arabian…

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Hajj: Airlift of pilgrims to end June 24 NAHCON

Aminu Imam

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria said that airlifting of pilgrims to Saudi Arabia will end tomorrow, Saturday, June 24. Consequently, the Commission has asked intending pilgrims yet to be airlifted, to reach the nearest Pilgrims Welfare Agency for confirmation and subsequent dispatch for the 2023 Hajj Pilgrimage. This was contained in a statement signed by NAHCONs Assistant Director, Public Affairs, Fatima Usara, yesterday. Outbound movement of pilgrims from Nigeria to Saudi Arabia would be winding up in a few hours time. It has been a 27-day marathon, aboard 170…

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Hajj: First batch of pilgrims arrives in Saudi Arabia

Aminu Imam

The first batch of Nigerian pilgrims yesterday arrived in Saudi Arabia for this years Hajj exercise. At precisely 10:36 Saudi time, or 8:36 in Nigeria on Tuesday, 429 pilgrims from Ogun State arrived at Prince Muhammad bin Abdul-Azeez International Airport in Madinah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. On Monday at 10:45 p.m., the Flynas A330 airline picked up the pilgrims at Murtala International Airport in Ikeja, Lagos. The Muslim Pilgrim Welfare Boards press officer, Gafar Alabi, revealed this in a statement. Reacting through a telephone interview, the Executive Secretary of the…

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2023 Hajj: Pilgrims to face accommodation problem- Official

Aminu Imam

The Saudi Arabian authorities have decided to demolish some of the buildings used for the accommodation of pilgrims, leading to thousands of Muslims who will perform the Holy pilgrimage this year facing accommodation problems. According to the Executive Secretary of the Niger State Pilgrims Welfare Board, Umar Makun Lapai, 60% of the structures used last year are already being pulled down or marked for demolition. The increase in the number of pilgrims expected to perform the pilgrimage would further have a negative impact on the availability of accommodation for the…

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