Tag: MINA

Niger State Govt to create free trade zones – Bago

Abdul-Azeez Ahmed Kadir
Governor Umar Bago of Niger State

Governor Mohammed Bago of Niger says the State Government will collaborate with the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) for the creation of free trade zones in Tafa, Bida and Minna. Bago made this known on Tuesday when he received members of the GIZ team on a courtesy visit in Minna. This is contained in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Bologi Ibrahim, on Tuesday in Minna. He said the free trade zones would enable local entrepreneurs and farmers to have value for their products. The governor pointed…

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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…

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Niger State Pilgrims Boards applauds Gov. Bago’s gesture to pilgrims in Saudi

Abdul-Azeez Ahmed Kadir

By; Abdull-Azeez Ahmed Kadir, Makkah. Niger State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board has applauded the gesture of the Governor Umar Bago towards the pilgrims of the state to the 2023 Hajj. The Executive Secretary Niger State Pilgrims Welfare Board, Alhaji  Muhammad Awwal Aliyu expressed the pilgrims’  appreciation for paying  pthem a visit in Muna Saudi Arabia. The Executive Secretary in a statement through his spokesperson, Hassan Danladi Idris said the pilgrims were really wowed by the governor’s gesture. Governor Bago had during the visit, gave financial assistance to the each of…

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Non pilgrims’ invasion of Mina Tents causes inconvenience – Mutawif It’s your fault, we’ve no control over the place – NAHCON

Abdul-Azeez Ahmed Kadir

By; Abdull-Azeez Ahmed Kadir, Makkah The inconveniences suffered by Nigerian pilgrims in Mina Saudi Arabia, following insufficient tents that saw some pilgrims sleeping outside in harsh weather with no food and packed full toilet facilities is associated to the invasion of their tents by non pilgrims before their arrivals. Umar Bader Ali Bafakeek, the Chief Executive of Company  Mutawifs for Pilgrims from African Non Arab Countries made this assertion at a meeting with the Nigerian Hajj authorities in Makkah.  Bafakeek alleged that some of these non pilgrims mostly of African…

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Hajj Peak: Over 2 Million Pilgrims converge on Arafah

Abdul-Azeez Ahmed Kadir

By; Abdull-Azeez Ahmed Kadir, Makkah. Tuesday 27 June, 2023 equivalent to Islamic calendar 9th Dhul Hijjah 1444, over two million pilgrims from across the globe converged on Arafah to observe the day in accordance with Hajj rites. The convergence on the plains of Arafah is one of the most important pillars of the annual pilgrim rites. As early as 12 midnight, the pilgrims began the movement from Muna to Arafah, and would later move to Muzdalifah where they would pass the night before moving to Jamrat for the symbolic stoning. …

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Mina Tent Shortage: 10,000 Nigerian Pilgrims move to new site

Abdul-Azeez Ahmed Kadir

By; Abdull-Azeez Ahmed Kadir, Makkah. Following the concerns raised by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria NAHCON on shortage of tents in Mina that has inconvenienced Nigerian Pilgrims, the Saudi authorities have agreed to relocate about10,000 pilgrims to a new site in order to decongest the present tents.  The decision was sequel to the complaint lodged bNAHCON to the Muttawwif of African Non Arabs on inadequate tents, inadequate food supply and late food service to the pilgrims. A statement by Mousa Ubandawaki, Deputy Director, Information and Publication NAHCON  said the…

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Insufficient Tents,Food: NAHCON dissatisfied with Saudi service providers

Abdul-Azeez Ahmed Kadir

By; Abdull-Azeez Ahmed Kadir, Makkah. Following the insufficient tents in Mina, Makkah where pilgrims are expected to spend three to four nights, the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, said it is dissatisfied with the Saudi Arabia Service providers. The Chairman of the Commission, Alhaji Zikrullah Kunle Hassan said the Saudi company with the sole responsibility of securing enough tents at the Mashã’ir for Nigerians has not lived upto expectations. Fielding questions from journalists in Muna on the sad phenomenon, the Commission chairman said even food supply by the contracted…

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Mina: Insufficient Tents inconvenience Pilgrims, We are tackling it – NAHCON, IHR calls for urgent action

Abdul-Azeez Ahmed Kadir

By; Abdull-Azeez Ahmed Kadir, Makkah. As millions of Pilgrims converged on Mina in Makkah where they will spend between three to four nights, insufficient tents is incoveniencing some pilgrims as they have to make do with staying outside. Most affected with the insufficient tents in Mina are pilgrims from Kano, then Kaduna and those who came through t.our operators. Some of the pilgrims were seen staying on the roads outside but beside their tents, though with comfortable sofas. Others have to collapse three tents into one and stretched them to…

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Minister urges NAWOJ to push for good governance

Abdul-Azeez Ahmed Kadir

The Minister for Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen, on Saturday urged the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) to advocate for good governance of the country. Tallen made the call at a  three day 10th triennial delegates conference of NAWOJ tagged “Female Journalists in Contemporary Nigeria” in Minna, Niger. “You should advocate for good governance, security and good health system through your job,” she said. She said that the measure would bring about the development of the country. The Minister adviced the women journalists to give priority to gender-based issues concerning…

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