The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has secured additional slots for the 2027 Hajj following renewed diplomatic engagements with the Saudi authorities. A source within the Commission told Hajj Gazette that the breakthrough followed sustained interventions by the Federal Government and high-level diplomatic engagements aimed at reversing Saudi Arabia’s earlier decision to maintain Nigeria’s 2027 allocation at 50,000 pilgrims. The development comes about two weeks after Saudi Arabia formally declined Nigeria’s request for an increase in its 2027 Hajj quota, citing capacity limitations, structural constraints at the holy sites and its policy of maintaining approved country allocations. Under the…
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The Nigerian Democracy Working Group has expressed concern over the reported involvement of the 15th Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, in an alleged anti-APC rally in Kano, where posters and banners bearing the images of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf were reportedly pulled down and destroyed. The group described the development as unfortunate and called on all stakeholders to exercise restraint and uphold peace, law and order in the state. In a statement signed by its Assistant National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Abubakar Sa’ad, the group acknowledged the constitutional rights of citizens to peaceful assembly…
Wani jirgin sama da ke tafiya daga Dubai zuwa Tel Aviv, ɗauke da kimanin fasinjoji 170, ya yi saukar gaggawa a Saudiyya bayan da aka ruwaito cewa faɗa ya ɓarke tsakanin matuƙan jirgin. Wasu jami’an Isra’ila biyu sun ce ana kyautata zaton mataimakin matuƙin jirgin ya daba wa babban matuƙin wuƙa. Yayin da ƙarin bayanai ke fitowa daga fasinjojin jirgin, lamarin na ƙara zama mai ban mamaki da firgitarwa. Jirgin ya aika da saƙon gaggawa cewa ana ƙoƙarin ƙwace shi. Sai dai bayanan da ke fitowa yanzu na nuna cewa ana zargin ɗaya daga cikin matuƙan jirgin ne da yunkurin…
The member representing Tarauni Constituency in the Kano State House of Assembly, Kabiru Dahiru Sule, has empowered his constituents with 81 motorcycles as part of efforts to improve livelihoods and promote economic self-reliance. The empowerment programme, held at the Kano State House of Assembly, attracted government officials, government officials and APC stalwarts from Kano State and beyond. Speaking at the event, Kabiru Dahiru Sule said the beneficiaries were carefully selected from wards across Tarauni Local Government Area to ensure equitable distribution of the empowerment initiative. He explained that the programme was designed to enable beneficiaries to establish sustainable means of…
The Kano State House of Assembly has called on the state government to establish a campus of the Kano State Polytechnic in Doguwa LGA to expand access to tertiary education and skills development. The call followed a motion of urgent public importance moved by the member representing Doguwa Constituency, Salisu Ibrahim Muhammad, during plenary. Moving the motion, Salisu said establishing the campus would provide young people in the area with greater opportunities to pursue higher education and acquire relevant technical and vocational skills. He noted that although students in the area had continued to perform well academically, some became frustrated…
The Federal Capital Territory Administration has approved the immediate resumption of work on the long-abandoned Utako General Hospital in Abuja, as part of a series of decisions aimed at improving healthcare delivery and infrastructure across the FCT. The approval was one of the major outcomes of the 19th FCT Executive Committee (EXCO) meeting, presided over by the FCT Minister, Mr Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, alongside the Minister of State, Dr Mariya Mahmoud. The Mandate Secretary, Health Services and Environment Secretariat (HSES), Dr Adedolapo Fasawe, disclosed this while briefing journalists on the health-sector decisions of the meeting. Dr Fasawe said the Utako…
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has reiterated its commitment to strengthening weather and climate information services for farmers to support a more productive, resilient and food-secure agricultural sector in Nigeria. The Director-General/Chief Executive Officer of NiMet, Prof. Charles Anosike, stated this in his goodwill message at the National Strategic Dialogue on the Preparation of the AGROW Component 2.2 – National Implementation Strategy and Digital Agriculture Architecture. The dialogue was organised by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security under the World Bank-supported Nigeria Sustainable Agricultural Value Chain (AGROW) Project. Held under the theme, “Building a Unified, Inclusive and Future-Ready…
The Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) has called for regulatory frameworks that protect data privacy while creating an enabling environment for digital infrastructure investment, innovation and connectivity across Africa. The National Commissioner/Chief Executive Officer of the NDPC, Dr Vincent Olatunji, was represented by the Commission’s Head of Compliance Services Management, Mrs Caroline Okafor, Esq., at International Telecoms Week (ITW) and Datacloud Africa 2026 in Nairobi, Kenya. Mrs Okafor participated in two high-level panel sessions focusing on regulation, digital infrastructure and connectivity investment, with discussions centred on the intersection of data protection, cybersecurity, digital infrastructure and investment in Africa’s growing digital…
The National Orientation Agency (NOA), Kogi State Directorate, has called for stronger collaboration with the Kogi State Government to deepen sensitisation programmes targeting youths and students across the state. The State Director of NOA in Kogi State, Mrs Ayedime Alli Aileku, made the call during a familiarisation visit to the Special Adviser to the Governor on Youth and Student Matters, Hon. Oladele John Nihi, in his office in Lokoja. Mrs Aileku thanked the Special Adviser for the collaboration between his office and the agency in the past, saying the visit was aimed at exploring additional areas of cooperation on issues…
The Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR), through its National Peace Academy (NPA), has concluded a Strategic Course on Negotiation and Mediation (Chartered), aimed at strengthening participants’ skills in conflict management and peacebuilding. The course equipped participants with practical knowledge and skills in negotiation, mediation, conflict management and peacebuilding, with emphasis on applying peaceful approaches to resolving disputes. At the closing ceremony, the Director-General of IPCR, Dr Joseph Ochogwu, urged participants to apply the knowledge acquired during the training in their workplaces, families and communities. Dr Ochogwu encouraged them to promote dialogue, discipline, responsible leadership and non-violent approaches to…
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has commenced preparations for the 2027 Hajj airlift following a stakeholders’ meeting held at its Corporate Headquarters in Abuja. The meeting was convened to review the previous Hajj airlift operations, identify challenges and develop measures to ensure safe, efficient and seamless air transportation for Nigerian pilgrims during the 2027 Hajj. Represented by the Director, Aerodrome and Airspace Standards (DAAS) and Chairman of the Committee, Alhaji Ahmad Abba, mni, the Director-General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Captain Chris Najomo, reaffirmed the NCAA’s commitment to working with relevant stakeholders to address challenges identified from previous operations. Captain…
The Centre for Information Technology and Development and the Department of Mass Communication, Maryam Abacha American University of Nigeria, have raised the alarm over the growing spread of information disorder, urging students and digital media users to verify information before sharing it. The organisations made the call during the commemoration of the 2026 International Day for Universal Access to Information. The event, organised by CITAD in partnership with the Department of Mass Communication, was themed, “Upholding Information Integrity in the Digital Age: The Role of Access to Information in Addressing Information Disorder.” The President of MAAUN, represented by the Vice…
The Federal Government has launched the National Youth Data Bank, NYDB, to strengthen evidence-based planning and improve the delivery of targeted development programmes for young Nigerians. The initiative was launched by the Federal Ministry of Youth Development as part of efforts to improve access to reliable data for policy formulation and youth-focused interventions across the country. Speaking at the launch, the Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, emphasised the need for sustained collaboration among government institutions, state governments, educational institutions, development partners, the private sector, civil society organisations and youth groups. The Minister said the initiative goes beyond the…
Trafficking and exploitation, smuggling through dangerous desert and sea routes, detention, extortion and document fraud have been identified as some of the major risks associated with irregular migration. A representative of the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), Kano Office, Ibrahim Isah, disclosed this during a training for Civil Society Organisations, women groups, Community-Based Organisations and other stakeholders in Kano. The training was organised by AHIP, in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and ECOWAS, under the ROOTS Project. Ibrahim said insecurity, climate change, limited livelihood opportunities and youth unemployment were among the factors…
Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, has submitted a N1.2 trillion supplementary and amendment budget proposal for the 2026 fiscal year to the State House of Assembly for consideration and approval. The proposal was contained in a correspondence read by the Speaker of the House, Jibril Isma’il Falgore, during plenary in Kano. According to the correspondence, Governor Yusuf said the proposed supplementary budget was necessitated by a shortfall in revenue accruing to the state from the Federation Account following the implementation of the new tax law. He explained that the state had anticipated increased receipts from the Federation Account, including Value…
The Katsina State Government has allocated N10 million to each of the 361 political wards in the state for community-driven development projects, bringing the total allocation to N3.61 billion. The funds are being deployed under the state’s Community Development Programme CDP, designed to shift development planning and implementation from a largely top-down approach to a community-driven model. State Coordinator of the programme, Dr Kamaluddeen Kabir, disclosed this while explaining the implementation of the initiative, saying the programme is aimed at putting communities at the centre of identifying their development priorities and determining beneficiaries of selected government interventions. The Community Development…
The newly sworn-in member representing Dawakin Kudu Constituency in the Kano State House of Assembly, Yusuf Datti Hussaini, has pledged to provide effective legislative representation and promote grassroots development through people-oriented policies and meaningful projects. Datti made the pledge while speaking to journalists at the Kano State House of Assembly shortly after his swearing-in, assuring constituents of his commitment to legislation that will improve their standard of living. The lawmaker said his legislative agenda would prioritise motions and bills designed to address the developmental needs of Dawakin Kudu Constituency and bring development in line with internationally recognised standards. He also…
Sani Haruna The Kebbi State Government has welcomed the decision by the Nigerian Army Headquarters to strengthen its presence in the state through the establishment and operationalisation of three strategic military formations. The Commissioner for Information and Culture, Alhaji Yakubu Ahmed BK, stated this in a statement issued in Kebbi, describing the development as a welcome step towards addressing security challenges confronting the state and the country. He said the move demonstrated the Nigerian Army’s commitment to strengthening security operations and improving its response to emerging threats. Alhaji Yakubu Ahmed described the establishment of the 28 Armoured Brigade and Garrison…
Sani Haruna The Alliance of Civil Society for Sustainable Inclusive Transformative Education, ACSITE, Kebbi State Chapter, has called on governors in Northern Nigeria to emulate Yobe State’s approach to addressing the challenges of Almajiri and out-of-school children. The State Coordinator of ACSITE, Comrade Shehu Umar, made the call while briefing newsmen on the activities of the organisation in Birnin Kebbi, the state capital. Comrade Umar said the organisation operates under the office of the Special Adviser to the Minister of Education on Almajiri and out-of-school children, with a mandate to support efforts to formalise the system and integrate Almajiri children…
Sani Haruna The All Progressives Congress, APC, in Kebbi State has dismissed allegations by Senator Garba Musa Maidoki of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, that the arrest, detention and prosecution of some ADC members and supporters were politically motivated. The APC State Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Isah Abubakar Assalafi, stated this during a press conference in Birnin Kebbi while responding to Senator Maidoki’s recent briefing. He described the allegations of political persecution as serious claims that should be supported with credible evidence rather than political rhetoric. Assalafi stressed that no individual or political party should be placed above legitimate investigation and…