By Olugbenga Salami

A faith-based civil society organisation, CSO advocating workable policies within the Hajj industry, the Independent Hajj Reporters, IHR, has advised the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON to establish a special Hajj calendar harmonisation committee and commence early registration for the 2027 holy pilgrimage.

In a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Ibrahim Muhammad, and released on Tuesday, he stated that the
recurring operational challenges in Nigeria’s Hajj preparations are largely due to late pilgrim registration and delays in implementing pre-Hajj timelines.

“The fundamental operational challenges encountered yearly are largely due to late registration and the behind-schedule pre-Hajj timeline operated in Nigeria. This has affected our ability to comply with the Hajj calendar set by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, thereby creating serious setbacks in the level of our preparations every year,” Muhammad stressed.

IHR said there was an urgent need for the apex Hajj regulatory body to establish a Hajj calendar harmonisation committee that would develop a comprehensive annual pre-Hajj timetable and ensure strict compliance across all stakeholders.

According to the group, such a committee would harmonise the registration timelines of State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Boards, SMPWBs and private Hajj operators to ensure alignment with the domesticated version of the Saudi Hajj calendar, particularly in the areas of pilgrim registration, medical screening and orientation.

It noted that the absence of a unified registration guideline had led to some states continuing pilgrim registration even after official deadlines had elapsed, creating difficulties for intending pilgrims who might eventually miss the opportunity to perform Hajj.

“The State’s Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board’s asymmetric hajj registration timeline resulted in the remaining registered pilgrims whose data was not uploaded on the Saudi Hajj portal this year. Nigeria as a single Hajj body, ought to implement a system in which all states start registering on a given date and finish at a predetermined time.

“There should be strict and uniform timelines to ensure smoother and more efficient Hajj coordination. Saudi Arabia has already shifted to a ‘first-come, first-served’ model in addition to strict contractual deadlines for Hajj services,” the statement said.

IHR also urged NAHCON to authorise states to commence registration for the 2027 Hajj without delay, noting that the Saudi authorities have significantly shortened registration timelines in the past two years.

“Early commencement of registration for the 2027 Hajj will make funds available to meet the Service providers contractual obligations, which have posed serious challenges to NAHCON recently.

“Although we acknowledge that this call might be considered an operation within an operation, we should point out that other nations, such as Indonesia, have a three-year Hajj rolling plan that allows pilgrims to register while ongoing operations are in progress.

“States may establish committees to supervise registration while the Hajj exercise is underway,” IHR added.

The organisation said starting early registration would not disrupt preparations for the 2026 Hajj airlift, as states could set up four-member committees to handle the exercise with support from NAHCON’s zonal offices.

It further suggested that the 2026 Hajj fare could serve as a benchmark for the 2027 registration process, while calling on financial institutions to intensify grassroots publicity for the Hajj savings scheme to help intending pilgrims plan ahead.

A major legal battle is unfolding in Nigeria’s media and political landscape after Senator Jimoh Ibrahim filed a ₦50 billion defamation suit against Punch Newspapers and veteran columnist Sonala Olumhense over a sharply critical opinion article questioning his suitability for diplomatic office. The lawsuit follows the publication on March 15, 2026 of Olumhense’s column titled “Jimoh Ibrahim, in broad daylight,” which examined the senator’s record shortly after his appointment as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The column, written in Olumhense’s characteristic accountability style, revisited a series of controversies surrounding Ibrahim’s business career, arguing that such matters were of legitimate public interest given the international scrutiny attached to Nigeria’s UN representation. Among the issues highlighted were the acquisition and eventual collapse of ventures such as NICON Airways and Air Nigeria, with references to longstanding allegations that employees of the former were left without salaries and pensions for years despite court awards. The article also mentioned disputes linked to NICON Insurance and raised questions about Ibrahim’s broader financial dealings.

Olumhense’s piece further referenced regulatory and financial controversies that have trailed the senator over the years, including the 2020 seizure of multiple properties by the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria over a reported ₦69.4 billion debt. It also cited past investigations by agencies such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Federal Inland Revenue Service, including allegations relating to tax obligations and documentation issues. The columnist framed the discussion as a necessary review of publicly documented matters, arguing that diplomats posted to the United Nations inevitably face scrutiny from international media and policy observers.

However, Ibrahim’s legal team, led by prominent advocate Adeniyi Akintola, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, has strongly rejected the article’s characterisation of the senator’s record. According to the lawyers, the column contains what they describe as deliberate distortions of court rulings and a misleading presentation of legal disputes that the senator claims to have successfully defended in court. They point in particular to Supreme Court judgments and a high-profile case involving Union Bank of Nigeria, where Ibrahim has previously stated that the courts awarded him a judgment exceeding ₦400 billion.

The legal action, which is expected to be formally filed beginning March 16, seeks ₦50 billion in damages for reputational harm and what Ibrahim’s lawyers describe as a coordinated smear campaign intended to undermine his credibility as a public official. Early reports of the impending suit were circulated by regional platform Ondo Events, though major national outlets had yet to provide extensive coverage at the time the news began spreading. As of Monday, Punch had not issued an official response to the legal threat.

The dispute places at the centre a familiar tension in Nigeria’s public life: the balance between the right of public officials to defend their reputation and the media’s role in scrutinising those who hold or seek positions of national representation. With Ibrahim preparing to take up a highly visible diplomatic role, the outcome of the case could become an important test of the boundaries between defamation law and press freedom in Nigeria’s evolving democratic landscape.

©️The Insight Lens Project.

By George Mgbeleke

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, has underscored the critical link between credible elections and national security, describing peaceful and transparent elections as the foundation for Nigeria’s stability and democratic consolidation.

Prof. Amupitan made the assertion on Monday, at the Commission’s Headquarters in Abuja while receiving a delegation of the Alumni Association of the National Institute for Security Studies (ANNISS), led by its President, Barr. Mike Ejiofor, FSI.

INEC Chairman Prof Joash Amupitan and members of his Alumni Association

The visit was in preparation for the Association’s Second Annual Lecture themed “Credible Elections and National Security in Nigeria.”

Welcoming the delegation, the INEC Chairman described the theme as timely and significant, noting that the integrity of elections has direct implications for national peace and security.

“Credible elections are the bedrock of our democracy and their integrity directly impacts on our national security,” he said. “For us in INEC, a free, fair and credible election cannot happen if it is not peaceful. It is therefore imperative that security agencies, policy makers and stakeholders work in harmony to uphold transparency, fairness and security during every electoral cycle.”

He commended ANNISS for its role in strengthening Nigeria’s security architecture through the training of senior officers across the armed forces, intelligence and regulatory agencies.

“As Nigeria continues to deepen its democratic processes, ensuring credible elections remains our foremost priority,” Prof. Amupitan stated. “We recognize that a secure environment is foundational for the success of our electoral processes and ultimately for Nigeria’s progress.”

The INEC Chairman also reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to collaboration with security stakeholders, stressing that inter-agency synergy remains indispensable to the successful conduct of elections.

“INEC remains committed to conducting free, fair and credible elections, leveraging innovative approaches and strengthening collective collaborations,” he assured.

Earlier in his remarks, ANNISS President, Barr. Mike Ejiofor, emphasized the importance of closer institutional engagement between the electoral body and security professionals, particularly as preparations gradually gather momentum towards the 2027 General Election.

“The course at the Institute is designed for top management staff and addresses critical issues, including the security of the electoral process,” he said. “Given what is expected of INEC as we approach 2027, the Commission should not be left out of such strategic engagements.”

Barr. Ejiofor congratulated the INEC Chairman on his appointment, describing the responsibility of overseeing elections in a country of over 200 million people as a weighty national assignment.

“No matter what we do, there may be hitches,” he noted. “But we pray for a seamless process in 2027. That is why this conversation on credible elections and national security is essential.”

He disclosed that the forthcoming Annual Lecture will convene security experts, civil society actors and electoral stakeholders to explore practical measures for strengthening electoral integrity. He further announced that a former Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mike Igini, will serve as Guest Speaker at the event.

The meeting reaffirmed the shared commitment of both institutions to sustained dialogue and cooperation in safeguarding Nigeria’s democracy through credible and secure elections.