Tag: Nigeria

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…

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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;…

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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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Hajj Return Flights; Nigeria gets more slots to speed up exercise

Abdul-Azeez Ahmed Kadir

By; Abdull-Azeez Ahmed Kadir, Makkah. The Saudi Arabia General Authority on Aviation GACA has approved more slots for Nigerian Hajj operations airlines to airlift more Nigerians back home, after initial dragging of foot. The approval followed several meetings between the Nigerian Hajj authorities and Saudi authorities which initially limited the number of flights and the capacity of each airline out of the holy land after the conclusion of Hajj rites. Beginning from Wednesday, 12th July, 2023 all the Nigerian licensed carriers would begin to operate their in-bound flight to Nigeria…

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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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Hajj 2023: Sokoto tops pregnancy case, Nigeria records 30 psychiatric cases,6 deaths

Abdul-Azeez Ahmed Kadir

By; Abdull-Azeez Ahmed Kadir, Makkah. As the 2023 Hajj exercise peaks in Saudia Arabia, a report by the National Medical Mission revealed that  Sokoto State tops the case of pregnancy in the holy land. Recall, the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria NAHCON had earlier raised concerned about the number of pregnant Nigerian women pilgrims who scale the screening and found their way to Saudi Arabia.  A report by Dr. Usman Galadima, Head of Nigerian Medical Mission and Chief of Operations, showed a total pregnancy cases of seven; Sokoto 2, Kwara,…

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Muna; Mass Movement of Pilgrims begins tonight

Abdul-Azeez Ahmed Kadir

By; Abdull-Azeez Ahmed Kadir, Makkah. The mass movement of over 2 million pilgrims to the plain of Mina and later to Arafah from Makkah begins tonight  with National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON making all necessaryplan for a hitchfree transportation.  The distance from Makkah to Muna is about nine kilometers. The Coordinator of NAHCON Committee for the movement, that is Taraddudiyyah, Dr. Aliyu Abubakar Tanko, is optimistic that the movement will be hitch free. Tanko said it has been the practice now to start the movement of pilgrims from the…

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‘Africa remains centrepiece of Nigeria’s economic, foreign policy’ – Tinubu

Aminu Imam

President Bola Tinubu says Nigeria will sustain its spotlight on African countries as the fulcrum of its economic and foreign policies. He spoke on Friday while receiving the President of Benin Republic, Patrice Talon, after the Summit on New Global Financing Pact in Paris, France. A statement by his Special Adviser on Special Duties, Communication and Strategy, Dele Alake, quoted Tinubu as stating that trade issues, security and border controls would be mutually implemented. The President added that bilateral relations with African countries, particularly at the sub-regional level, would be…

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Smooth Hajj Airlifts: NAHCON attributes success to Presidency

Abdul-Azeez Ahmed Kadir

By; Abdull-Azeez Ahmed Kadir, Makkah. The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON has attributed the successful airlifting of Nigerian pilgrims to the ongoing Hajj exercise to the cooperation and understanding of the presidency. The chairman of the Commission, Alhaji Zikrullah Kunle Hassan made this assertion at the pre-Arafah conference in Makkah. Hasssan said every Hajj exercise was an experiment where evolving challenges were reviewed and tackled with the aim of preventing recurrence. The Chairman stressed that the commission was doing its best and hoped that this year’s operation will go…

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Reasons for non-adherence to 5-day stay in Madina – NAHCON

Abdul-Azeez Ahmed Kadir
Madinah

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, Madinah office has explained the hitches hindering the strict adherence to its five day stay in the Prophet City advisory to State pilgrim boards and agencies. Speaking with member National Media Team in Madinah, the NAHCON Coordinator in the City, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris Mahmoud, said the States were strictly adhering to the advisory, except that some States ran into various unforeseen logistics challenges, passport mix up, late submission of departure request among others. He also said that the Commission was keenly monitoring service providers,…

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