Hajj
Hajj institute graduates students on strategic management
The second batch of graduates of the Hajj Institute of Nigeria (HIN), mid-wifed by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), has completed the training programme with the award of professional certificates to 54 participants. A statement by the Commission’s Deputy Director, Information & Publications Division, Malam Mousa Ubandawaki, said the graduation ceremony marked the end of the one month Read More
Hajj ’23: A personal Impression of Aero Contractors
Hajj ’23: A personal Impression of Aero Contractors This piece is the writer’s personal celebration of some former colleagues who ventured into an enterprise ingeniously, a move regarded by like minds in Hajj corridors as phenomenal. It sounds extolling, it is not intended to be excessive though. It is a celebration of cleverness, that shows again that one can retire Read More
IHR lauds stakeholders, calls for early preparation for 2024 hajj
As the hajj 2023 comes to an end for Nigerian pilgrims, the Independent Hajj Reporters (IHR) has called for a quick review of this year’s hajj operations with a view to taking proactive measures that will ensure a smooth 2024 hajj. In a statement signed by the national coordinator of IHR, Malam Ibrahim Muhammed, and made available to newsmen in Read More
Attention: Hajj not a capital flight
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) observed with dismay how some media outlets, for whatever reasons, have carried on with campaigns of calumny against the commission despite several press briefings and press releases clearly explaining reasons and solutions to hitches encountered in the 2023 Hajj operations. In its bid to carry the press along, who in turn it is Read More
Ringing the bell of 2024 Hajj
“A good plan, violently executed now is better than a perfect plan tomorrow.”Anonymous Recently, Independent Hajj Reporters released a statement urging NAHCON and state Muslim pilgrims boards to immediately activate the process of registering intending pilgrims for the 2024 Hajj. The statement hinged its calls on the early release of the 2024 Hajj calendar by the Saudi Minister of Hajj Read More
Hajj: Saudi Arabia deserves praise, not condemnation, says IHR
Independent Hajj Reporters (IHR) weekend said it was aware of the challenges faced in this year’s hajj exercise owing to recent change of policy by Saudi Arabian authorities regarding service provision to the guests of AR Rahman. These challenges, it said, raised a lot of issues by hajj participating countries which were widely reported by the media. IHR in a Read More
[Breaking] Hajj 2023: Another Plateau pilgrim confirmed dead, as first 523 return to Nigeria
Another Nigerian hajj pilgrim from Plateau state, Hassan Musa, has been confirmed dead by the State Pilgrims Welfare Board, Executive Secretary (ES), Barr. Auwal Abdullahi. This was contained in an exclusive statement, via WhatsApp, sent to Blueprint online, in the early hours of Saturday July 8, 2023, by the ES. “From Allah we are and unto Him we shall all Read More
The high and low of 2023 Hajj
Many Nigerians would not forget the 2023 Hajj in a hurry because of the diversities of experiences. ABDULRAHMAN ZAKARIYAU writes on the highs and lows of this year’s spiritual exercise. In the build-up to the 2023 Hajj, the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) held a series of meetings with the State Pilgrim Welfare Board (SPWB), Airlines, Service providers and Read More
Breaking: 95,000 Nigerians in Saudi Arabia for Hajj as NAHCON concludes airlift
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) with the Private Tour Operators has airlifted 95,000 Nigerians to Saudi Arabia for the 2023 Hajj that is slated to commence on Monday June 25, 2023. NAHCON which started the airlift operations on May 25, concluded cluded it on June 24, 2023. Blueprint reports that the Saudi Arabia Ministry of Hajj and Umrah Read More
Return of NAHCON to VP’s office: Group commends Tinubu
A group, the Independent Hajj Reporters (IHR) has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for returning the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) to the Office of the Vice President. IHR in a statement issued Friday by its national coordinator, Ibrahim Mohammed, said the decision was a welcome “one because it will free the Commission from unnecessary bureaucracies and provides efficient Read More
Breaking: Tinubu returns NEMA, HAJJ commission to vice president’s office
President Bola Tinubu has approved the return of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) to the Office of the Vice President for supervision. The decision is in compliance with various establishment Acts of the two agencies. In a statement by the Director, Information, Office of the Vice President, Olusola Abiola on Tuesday Read More
[Happening now] Hajj 2023: First batch of Nigerian pilgrims set to depart for Saudi Arabia
All is now set for the first batch of Nigerian intending pilgrims for the 2023 Hajj operation from Nasarawa State to be flown to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from pilgrim terminal of Nnamdi Azikiwe International International Airport, Abuja. The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) advance team depart Nigeria for Saudi Arabia on Sunday. Intending pilgrims from Nasarawa State Read More
Sudan crisis: IHR appeals to FG, states to subsidise pilgrims Hajj flight tickets
Independent Hajj Reporters (IHR), a civil society organization that monitors and reports Hajj and Umrah activities in Nigeria and Saudi Arabia, has urged the Federal and State Governments to subsidize the differences in the prices of air tickets of Nigerian 2023 intending Hajj pilgrims. On Saturday, the commission announced an increase of $250 in the flight tickets of the 2023 Read More
2023 hajj: NAHCON, local airlines sign agreement
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) and the four Nigerian Airlines approved for the airlift of pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for the 2023 hajj finally laid the truce with the signing of the 2023 Hajj Airlift Agreement between the two parties. The four airlines, Air Peace, Azman Air Services, Aero Contractor and Max Airline last week refused to sign Read More
Hajj 2023: NAHCON meets NCAA, air carriers
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has met with stakeholders in the aviation industry as well as air carriers to ensure this year’s seamless Hajj airlift. The meeting, according to a statement issued Friday in Abuja by NAHCON’s assistant director of public affairs, Fatima Sanda Usara, took place Thursday in Abuja. The statement read in part, “Preparatory to Hajj Read More
Prepare for timely airlift of pilgrims, CSO urges hajj carriers
Ahead of the 2023 Hajj operation, the Independent Hajj Reporters (IHR), a civil society organisation that monitors and reports hajj and umrah in Nigeria and Saudi Arabia, has charged the appointed hajj carriers to brace up for quality and timely airlifts of Nigeria intending pilgrims. Last week, NAHCON chairman, Alhaji Zikrmullah Kunle Hassan, said that President Muhammadu Buhari approved Airpeace, Read More
Interrogating the Global Rise in cost of Hajj
The astronomical increase in the cost of performing 2023 hajj is giving hajj participating countries a serious course of concern. Analysing or discussing the dynamics of the cost of hajj or the financial implications of services rendered during hajj requires a competent understanding of intricate relationships between local factors and international (host country) subtleties in payment for hajj services.In Pakistan, Read More
2023 Hajj: NAHCON allocates 3,132 slots to Bauchi
The Bauchi State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board on Friday disclosed that the National Hajj Commission (NAHCON) had allocated 3,132 hajj slots to the state for this year’s exercise. The Board’s executive secretary, Abdurrahman Ibrahim Idris, who made the disclosure at a senior management meeting on this year’s hajj preparations, said the Board had allocated the same seats to all its Read More
NAHCON’s Hajj institute begins academic activities February 7
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON’s) Hajj Institute of Nigeria (HIN) will commence academic activities with a four-week certificateprogramme for the members on ‘Strategic Management of Hajj and Umrah Operations’. A statement by NAHCON Assistant Director, Information and Publication, Mousa Ubandawaki, Thursday, said NAHCON’s midwifed HIN will formally begin its 2023/24 academic session on Tuesday, February 7, 2023 at Read More