Tag: Saudi Arabia

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…

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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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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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2023 Hajj; NAHCON Boss, Mgt team arrive Saudi

Abdul-Azeez Ahmed Kadir

By: Abdull-Azeez Ahmed Kadir, Makkah. With the completion of airlift of Nigerians across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, the Chairman and Chief Executive of National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, Barrister Zikrullah Kunle Hassan has arrived in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia after spearheading a smooth airlift of Nigerian pilgrims to the holy land for this year’s Hajj. Barrister Hassan arrived at Jeddah International Airport on Friday, alongside the commission management team and 139 officials via Flynas at 23:20hrs Saudi time with 156 pilgrims. Speaking at the final…

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Hajj 2023: Number of Nigerian pregnant female pilgrims displeasing – NAHCON

Abdul-Azeez Ahmed Kadir

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, has expressed displeasure with the number of pregnant Nigerian female pilgrims who found their ways to the holy land for this year’s Hajj exercise. The head of the Nigerian Medical Team, Dr. Usman Galadima in an interview in Makkah said one of the pregnant women was assisted to deliver while others were referred to women hospital for proper medical attention and care. He reiterated that it was not morally right to allow pregnant women to embark on pilgrimage due to the stress, and…

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Saudi Arabia executes 81 in a single day for terror offences

Aminu Imam

Saudi Arabia said Saturday it executed 81 people in one day on a variety of terrorism-related offences, exceeding the total number of executions in the kingdom in the whole of last year. All had been “found guilty of committing multiple heinous crimes”, the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported, saying they included convicts linked to the Islamic State group, or to Al-Qaeda, Yemen’s Huthi rebel forces or “other terrorist organisations”. They had been plotting attacks on vital economic sites, or had targeted or had killed members of the security forces,…

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Omicron: FG asks Saudi Arabia to remove travel restriction

Aminu Imam

The Federal Government has called on the Saudi Authority to as a matter of urgency review the travel restrictions placed on Nigerians over the outbreak of the Omicron variant of Covid-19. The Minister of State, Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Zubairu Dada, made the call when he met with the Saudi Arabian Ambassador to Nigeria, Ambassador Faisal bin Ebraheem Al-Ghamdi, in Abuja. He said the purpose of the visit was to discuss the recent restrictions placed on Nigerians intending to visit the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia over the outbreak of the Omicron…

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Saudi Summit: Buhari blames growing unrest on lack of inclusion

Aminu Imam

…Advocates debt burden to be considered on humanity investments President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, blamed growing social unrest on inequalities and unfair policies that exclude the majority from opportunities for participation. The President, therefore, counselled world leaders and global investors to prioritise inclusive and humane policies. Buhari, who was speaking at the 5th Edition of Future Investment Initiative Summit, which is holding in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, said his administration will keep encouraging public and private initiatives that increase investments in health, education, capacity building, youth empowerment, gender equality, poverty eradication, climate…

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Buhari, Pantami, others depart for Saudi Arabia’s Investment Conference today

Aminu Imam

President Muhammadu Buhari is scheduled to leave Abuja for Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, today, Monday, to participate in the investment conference organised by the Future Investment Initiative Institute. This was disclosed by the President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, in a statement yesterday. The President will be joined at the 5th edition of the flagship investment event by business executives from Nigeria, bankers, captains of industry and energy experts to discuss issues on the future of investments across the globe. Buhari will also perform the lesser Hajj…

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Premier League approves £300m Saudi-backed Newcastle takeover

Aminu Imam

A Saudi Arabian-backed takeover of Newcastle United has been completed on Thursday, after the Premier League approved the £300m deal. The deal to buy Newcastle has been fraught with controversy and obstacles since four years ago. However, the new development brings to an end the 14-year ownership spell of Mike Ashley at the club. The English toplight approved the takeover after sale went through after the deal passed the Premier League owners’ and directors’ test. It is understood that the Saudi State would not control the club, instead the Public…

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