By our correspondent

A civil society organisation, CSO, the Independent Hajj Reporters, IHR, has appealed to the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Hajj and Umrah to reconsider its decision to decline Nigeria’s request for additional slots for the 2027 Hajj.

In a statement on Saturday, its National Coordinator, Ibrahim Mohammed, urged the ministry to allocate more slots as requested by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON.

NAHCON had on Thursday said Saudi Arabia declined Nigeria’s request for an upward review of its 2027 Hajj allocation, leaving the country’s quota unchanged despite growing demand from intending pilgrims nationwide.

The commission said it had formally contacted the Saudi ministry to secure additional pilgrimage slots to accommodate the growing number of Nigerian Muslims interested in the sacred journey and to respond to requests for additional allocations from several state pilgrims’ welfare boards.

Until recently, Nigeria had the fifth-largest Hajj contingent, with an average allocation of around 95,000.

IHR also urged Vice President Kashim Shettima to use diplomatic channels to engage the appropriate authorities in Saudi Arabia to grant NAHCON’s request.

“Thousands of Nigerian intending Hajj pilgrims are currently in the queue in anticipation of additional slots,” the group said, adding that most of those on the waiting list may not be able to perform Hajj again if they miss this year’s exercise.

“We are aware that one of the reasons for the reduction in the allocation of Nigeria’s quota was the inability of intending pilgrims to register on time, so the country was unable to use the quota in recent times.

“However, due to the Ministry’s firm stance and the rededication of all Hajj stakeholders in the country to strictly enforce the calendar of activities established by NAHCON, the issue of early pilgrim registration and payments has greatly improved,” IHR said.

It noted that NAHCON has undergone positive structural operational reforms, resulting in timely utilization of 2027 Hajj slots.

“Furthermore, improved enlightenment among Nigerian pilgrims has succeeded in painting a true picture of what Hajj entails for the average intending pilgrim.

“As a result, our pilgrims now understand exactly what to expect while in the holy land, as well as how they should behave to maintain sanity and have little or no negative impact on current operational frameworks in Saudi Arabia,” the CSO stated.

By Dahid

The Africa Blue Economy Roundtable (ABER) has appointed H.E. Dr. Ezeadili Appolonia Obiageri as Director of Advocacy, Policy & Governance, ABER Women’s Forum.

Dr. Ezeadili is a Certified National Accountant, Chartered Project Manager, Forensic Accountant and distinguished public servant. She is a Former National Financial Secretary, ECOWAS Women Section (ROAJELF), Former Foreign Affairs Minister, United Kingdom of Atlantic (UKA), and Former Finance Minister, United Kingdom of Atlantic (UKA).

With academic credentials including HND Accounting, Certified National Accountant (CNA), PGD Management, MBA, MSc Project Management, and PhD Administration and Management, plus vast political leadership experience as Deputy Governorship Candidate (Anambra 2025), Deputy National Women Leader YPP/LP, and Director General, Political, Contact & Mobilization, Accord Party, she brings unmatched governance expertise.

Her mandate includes driving inclusive policy and recognition for women in Africa’s Blue Economy, policy tracking at AU and national levels, advocacy for women in artisanal fisheries and maritime sectors, gender mainstreaming in all ABER strategies, and stakeholder engagement for tenure and resource rights for women in Africa’s 38 coastal and island states.

Announcing the appointment at the weekend in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Convener of the Africa Blue Economy Roundtable, Dr. Piriye Kiyaramo, said:
“We are delighted to announce the appointment of H.E. Dr. Ezeadili Appolonia Obiageri as Director of Advocacy, Policy & Governance, ABER Women’s Forum. Dr. Ezeadili is a seasoned political leader, founder, former Deputy Governorship Candidate and champion of gender equity who brings over two decades of expertise in finance, governance and advocacy.

In this role, she will lead ABER’s policy tracking at the AU and national levels, advocacy for women in fisheries and maritime sectors, gender mainstreaming in Blue Economy strategies, and high-level stakeholder engagement across 38 coastal states. We are confident she will drive policy influence and legal advocacy for women across Africa’s Blue Economy.”

Congratulations, Dr. Ezeadili!
Welcome to the Leadership Team!

By Uthman Baba-Naseer,Minna

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Niger State chapter has called for more security presence at places of worship especially during Fridays Jumu’at prayers and Sundays services.

Chairman of the CAN in Niger state, Most Rev. Dr. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna made the disclosure in a homily on Sunday at the St. Michael Catholic Cathedral Church, Kontagora following the abduction of unspecified number of worshippers from mosques in Dekara, Kpenya, Sabon-Gida and Gidan-Zana in Borgu local government area of Niger state during Jumu’at prayers on Friday, August 21, 2026.

Accordingly, he said “the whole of Borgu Emirate which include Agwara and Borgu LGAs need strong and permanent security presence so that those in the rural communities can live without fear of being abducted.

While appealing for a beefed up in security at places of worship, the Chairman who is also the Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese, condemned in strong terms the abduction of hundreds of Muslim worshippers during Jumu’at prayers.

In his words: “for us, an attack on any place of worship, irrespective of religion, is an attack on the sanctity of places of worship and a threat to the wider community.
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“And as a Body, we express solidarity with the victims and their families and share in the grief of the affected Muslim communities”.

He added that “millions of Christians and all the churches across the state have intensified prayers for the safe returns of the abducted worshippers in Borgu local government area.

“As a Body, we have set aside today (Sunday) to call on all Nigerlites, Christians and churches across Niger State to use this Sunday service to cry to God and to pray specifically for the safe return of the abductees and for God to help our security agencies.

“We are praying and we believe God has heard and answered our prayers already.”

Furthermore, Bishop Yohanna commended the Federal and State Governments, as well as security agencies for their roles so far.