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The integrity of Nigeria’s Hajj operations depends not only on strong policies but also on principled leadership that places the welfare of pilgrims above all other considerations.  In recent developments surrounding the administration of the Hajj, the Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman, has continued to demonstrate a firm and consistent commitment to justice, accountability, and the protection of pilgrims’ rights. Observers of the process will agree that managing the complexities of Hajj logistics, international coordination, and service delivery requires not only administrative competence but also moral courage.  It is in this context that Professor Usman’s stance against injustice and exploitation stands out as both timely and commendable. From the outset, his position has remained clear and unwavering: 1.He does not tolerate any form of injustice against pilgrims. 2.He does not permit Nigerian pilgrims ...

A coalition of civil society organisations has called for the resignation of certain members of the Board of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), citing concerns over governance, accountability, and institutional stability at the Commission. In a statement issued on Tuesday and signed by Muhammad Nda Auwal, the coalition said it reviewed the ongoing dispute within NAHCON and expressed alarm over the conduct of some Board members, warning that the situation could erode public trust, disrupt Hajj preparations, and damage Nigeria’s international standing. The group stated that Board members who are subjects of ongoing or inherited cases with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) lack the moral authority to sit in judgment over the management of the Commission. According to the statement, unresolved integrity issues undermine the credibility of any oversight role and render allegations against NAHCON’s management questionable. The coalition faulted wh...

Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, has commended the Kano State Police Command for its swift and professional response that led to the arrest of suspects involved in the brutal killing of a housewife and her children in Dorayi Quarters, Kano. This was contained in a statement signed by the governor’s spokesperson, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa on Sunday. Governor Yusuf described the prompt action of the police as a clear demonstration of commitment and courage in protecting the lives and property of the people of Kano State. He said the horrific incident, which claimed the lives of an innocent mother and her children, deeply saddened the state, but the speed with which the suspects were tracked and arrested has restored public confidence in the security agencies. The governor praised the Commissioner of Police and officers involved for deploying intelligence-led operations that led to the breakthrough, stressing that such professionalism must be sustained to deter c...

The Kano State Government has announced the official resumption dates for schools across the state for the commencement of the second term of 2025/2026 academic session. According to the announcement, boarding schools are to resume on Sunday, 18th January 2026, while day students are to resume on Monday, 19th January 2026. This directive applies to all public, private, and voluntary schools operating within the state. Parents and guardians of boarding students are advised to ensure that their wards return to school as early as possible and before evening on the stipulated resumption dates to allow for proper settling and preparation for academic activities. Furthermore, all heads of schools and teachers have been directed to ensure that teaching and learning commence on Monday, 19th January 2026, without fail. School proprietors and administrators are expected to put all necessary measures in place to guarantee a smooth and orderly resumption. In a goodwill message, the Com...

The Association of Resident Doctors, Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (ARD AKTH), Kano, has formally directed it's members to resume the suspended indefinite strike following the failure of federal government to address on the prevailing challenges confronting resident doctors nationwide. The chairman's ARD AKTH chapter, Dr. Aminu Bello Aminu said that following extensive deliberations and in strict alignment with the directive of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), the ARD AKTH hereby declares its decision to join the Total and Indefinite Consolidated Strike (TICS 2.0). Speaking with newsmen in Kano, Dr. Aminu said that the strike action is scheduled to commence by 12:00 midnight on Monday, 12th January 2026.  He explained that the decision was not taken lightly. It follows prolonged engagement, repeated assurances, and persistent failure by relevant authorities to address critical welfare, training, and remuneration concerns affecting resident doct...

Recent allegations emerging from within the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) have raised serious concerns about administrative conduct and adherence to due process, particularly involving Commissioner Elegushi.  Multiple internal sources allege that clear directives issued from the Office of the Vice President regarding personnel management have been disregarded, prompting growing unease among staff and stakeholders committed to institutional integrity. According to these accounts, the commissioner is accused of retaining individuals who are no longer eligible for service, including retired staff and a former National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, in direct contradiction to established civil service regulations and explicit instructions reportedly issued at the highest level of government.  Insiders describe this as a deliberate act that undermines both the authority of the Vice President and the rule-based governance framework guiding federal inst...

A fresh wave of controversy is sweeping through the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) as mounting allegations implicate the Commissioner of Operations, Anofi Elegushi, in what insiders describe as a brazen disregard for civil service rules, Vice-President Kashim Shettima’s explicit directive, and growing tendencies of nepotism and impunity. Multiple senior staff who spoke to this newspaper, fearing reprisals, disclosed that Mr. Elegushi has continued to retain a retired NAHCON official, Mr. Gaffar, who left the service in 2023. Despite having no legal standing within the commission, the retired officer allegedly maintains unrestricted access to official operations and enjoys privileges befitting a serving staff. “He has no portfolio, no official role, yet he attends meetings, travels with the commissioner, and even maintains offices in both Abuja and Saudi Arabia,” one source lamented. “This is a clear violation of the Public Service Rules, and staff confidence i...

His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR President, Federal Republic of Nigeria State House, Abuja Your Excellency, I write as a concerned citizen and Muslim who cares deeply about the welfare of Nigerian pilgrims and the reputation of our country. I respectfully urge you to review the current supervisory arrangement of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) and return its day to day supervision to the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), while keeping it firmly under the Presidency as required by law. This request is about efficiency, productivity, accountability, and the long term stability of Hajj administration in Nigeria. 1. Brief history of Hajj management in Nigeria 1. In 1953, Alhaji Abubakar Imam moved a motion in the Northern House of Assembly for a Nigerian pilgrims office in Jeddah, to protect pilgrims who were facing hardship in Saudi Arabia.  2. Regional Pilgrims Welfare Boards emerged from 1958 in Western Re...

Former NBA star and one of the long-time pillars of of Nigerian basketball, Olumide Oyedeji, praised Lagos Legends for their dramatic 74–72 victory over Rivers Hoopers on Sunday. A win that delivered the franchise its first-ever NBBF Premier League title and a prized ticket to the 2026 Basketball Africa League (BAL). Oyedeji, the proprietor of Hoops N’ Read and a respected NBBF board member, described the victory as “a new chapter” for the domestic league, insisting that Legends’ rise is proof that Nigerian clubs can hit continental standards with the right planning and discipline. “Your victory is the result of hard work, and other teams should learn from the way Lagos Legends went about their business,” Oyedeji said, urging the champions to begin early preparation for the enormous challenge the BAL presents. While his own Hoops N’ Read side did not reach the Final Four this season, bowing out in the Final Eight, Oyedeji remained fully invested in the league’s growth. ...

The Emir of Rano, Ambassador Dr. Muhammad Isa Umaru has pledged to support Maryam Idris  Umar College of Education aimed at boosting education in the emirate, and statewide. The Emir made the pledge while receiving the management, staff and students of the college led by the proprietor and provost of the institution, Alhaji Sani Jogana and Hajiya Bilkisu Abdullahi Turaki who paid him a courtesy visit at his palace. A statement signed by the college's head of public relations department , Ado Salisu, said the emir described education as a backbone of every development especially at this critical period. Ambassador Dr Muhammad Isa Umaru assured the leadership of the college that the emirate will do everything possible to support it with a view to actualize it's objectives. While expressing gratitude to the college management for the visit, he urged them to sustain the tempo for the overall development of education in the state and beyond. Ear...