Category: Religion

  • Group Decries Non-Inclusion of Christians in North West Development Commission Appointments

    Group Decries Non-Inclusion of Christians in North West Development Commission Appointments

    Say’s None from 6 States of North West Appointed
    By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna

    A pressure group known as the Northern Christian Youth Professionals (NCYPs) has expressed concern over the lack of Christian representation in the appointments to the newly created North West Development Commission. The group is calling for inclusivity in these appointments.

    In a statement issued on Thursday and signed by the group’s chairman, Comrade Isaac Abrak, the NCYP noted that the recent appointments to the commission’s board of directors by President Bola Tinubu do not reflect the region’s diversity, as no Christians from the six states were selected.

    The statement, titled “Call for Inclusivity: Northern Christian Youth Professionals Decry Marginalization in North West Development Commission Appointments,” reads in part: “We are deeply concerned about the recent appointments to the board of directors of the North West Commission by President Tinubu. Unfortunately, these appointments do not reflect the diversity of the region, as no Christians from the six states were selected.

    “For the sake of inclusivity and fair representation, it is imperative that Christians are appointed to the commission. The current situation is unacceptable and perpetuates marginalization. We urge President Tinubu to reassess these appointments and make necessary adjustments to ensure balanced representation.

    “Leaving these appointments unchanged will have negative consequences for the commission’s success and exacerbate religious divisions in the region and Nigeria as a whole. We call on President Tinubu to prioritize unity and inclusivity in his decision-making.

    “We request that President Tinubu take immediate action to address these concerns and promote inclusivity in the North West Development Commission,” the statement lamented.

  • Sultan Sa’ad Declares Friday as First Day of Rabi’u Thani

    Sultan Sa’ad Declares Friday as First Day of Rabi’u Thani

    By Muhammad Ibrahim, Sokoto

    Sultan of Sokoto and President General of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, has officially declared Friday, October 4, 2024, as the First Day of Rabi’u Assani 1446AH.

    This announcement was made in a statement signed by Professor Sambo Wali Junaidu, Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs of the Sultanate Council Sokoto.

    The statement indicated that the Advisory Council did not receive any reports from various moon sighting committees across the country confirming the sighting of the crescent moon for Rabi’u Assani 1446AH on Wednesday, October 2, 2024, which corresponds to the 29th of Rabi’u Awwal 1446AH. Consequently, Thursday, October 3, 2024, will be observed as the 30th of Rabi’u Awwal 1446AH.

    In light of this, the Sultan has accepted the report and declared Friday, October 4, 2024, as the first day of Rabi’u Assani 1446AH.

  • Maulud: Seek God’s Intervention on Nigeria’s Security Challenges, Gov. Aliyu Urges Muslims

    Maulud: Seek God’s Intervention on Nigeria’s Security Challenges, Gov. Aliyu Urges Muslims

    By Muhammad Ibrahim, Sokoto

    Governor Ahmad Aliyu of Sokoto State has called on Muslims in the state to use the Maulud celebrations as an opportunity to seek Allah’s intervention in addressing the security challenges facing Nigeria.

    The governor made this appeal in his Maulud message to the people of the state, highlighting the importance of prayer in overcoming the country’s current security issues.

    Gov. Aliyu described the ongoing security challenges as a significant obstacle to Nigeria’s development, stressing the need for collective efforts. “No meaningful development can occur without peace,” he said. “Let us focus more on prayers so that our country can overcome its present predicaments.”

    He encouraged Muslims to dedicate more time to prayers during this festive season and urged religious leaders to educate their followers on the power of supplication, especially during difficult times.

    The governor also reiterated his administration’s commitment to promoting religious activities in the state, stating, “Promoting Islamic affairs is one of our 9-point Smart Agenda, and we will give it the necessary attention.”

    As the Federal Government declared Monday, September 16, 2024, a public holiday to mark the Maulud celebrations, Gov. Aliyu extended his best wishes to the Muslim community, wishing them a happy and peaceful celebration.

     

     

  • CAN and Islamic Leaders Condemn Surge in Kidnappings and Killings

    CAN and Islamic Leaders Condemn Surge in Kidnappings and Killings

    As Okoh and Sa’ad Urge Increased Efforts to Combat Violence

    By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna

    The President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Archbishop Daniel Okoh, and the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammed Sa’ad Abubakar, have voiced their deep concern over the recent surge in kidnappings and killings across the country.

    As co-chairmen of the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC), they have called on the government to take decisive action to address the escalating crisis before it becomes uncontrollable.

    A statement released yesterday in Abuja by the Executive Secretary of NIREC, Fr. Cornelius Afebu Omonokhua, highlighted the organization’s growing alarm at the rapid increase in insecurity nationwide.

    The statement reads: “The Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC), led by His Eminence Archbishop Daniel Okoh, President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), and His Eminence Alhaji Muhammed Sa’ad Abubakar, CFR, mni, Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), is deeply troubled by the alarming rise in insecurity within the country.

    “The dramatic increase in banditry, abductions, and killings is profoundly distressing, and immediate action is needed to halt these heinous acts.

    “The recent spate of attacks over the past week is particularly disheartening and warrants urgent attention. NIREC calls upon the government and security agencies to intensify their efforts to eliminate these threats so that citizens can conduct their daily lives without fear or trepidation.

    “The council also extends its condolences to the families of those who have lost their lives due to these reprehensible acts and prays for the safe return of those still in captivity to their loved ones.

    “Finally, NIREC urges all Nigerians to remain vigilant, report any suspicious activities, and recognize that ensuring security is a collective responsibility, not solely the duty of the government,” the statement concluded.

  • Hajj 2024: The Formula Of Booking Tent “D” To Get Tent ‘A’ In Mina (I).

    Hajj 2024: The Formula Of Booking Tent “D” To Get Tent ‘A’ In Mina (I).

    By Ibrahim Muhammed National Coordinator Independent Hajj Reporters +2348037024356.

    The controversy over the inability of some 2024 hajj VIP private Tour Operators pilgrims to access ‘Tent A’ may not be over soon unless the undiluted details are brought open for an objective review of what went wrong.

    However, I understand that NAHCON and the relevant bodies in Saudi Arabia have instituted an internal inquiry to find out what went wrong.

    There have been accusations and counter-accusations as to who is responsible for not executing what in Mina.

    Before hajj days, the Saudi Ministry of Hajj laid down procedures for securing Tent A for all hajj participating countries and set a deadline for payment.

    AHUON, an umbrella body of private hajj Operators in Nigeria who are responsible for transporting and facilitating services for about 20,000 Pilgrims, has been calling for Investigation of NAHCON over 2024 hajj, especially on the challenges encountered on Tent A.

    To be fair to them, Hajj Operators are primarily businessmen whose target is to make a profit by way of satisfying its customers.

    They have every right to raise issues whenever they think things are not working properly.

    However, some members of AHUON (not all) seem to be pressing for political solutions over an operational issue in which they participated fully.

    Conducting a wholistic investigation into the 2024 hajj requires unearthing the roles played by NAHCON and each Private Tour operator under the banner of AHUON and laying bare who failed to do what at the right time.

    If you are an outsider to Nigeria’s hajj ecosystem, you will be tempted to believe that NAHCON is the political party in power and that AHUON is the opposition political party – not knowing that one is the regulator while the other is a group of operators.

    That will be a subject for another day. I will give more insight into the hajj politics that is currently souring the image of the Hajj and Umrah Industry in Nigeria.

    We owed it a responsibility to protect the coherence of hajj establishments (not any administration) – a task I have been doing since the establishment of NAHCON.

    Back to the subject matter, I was informed that the Saudi Ministry of Hajj stopped accepting payments for upgrades from Tent D to Tent A – a system previously adopted by Hajj and Umrah Tour Operators worldwide to book VIP tents for their respective pilgrims.

    My interaction with a Saudi-based official working under the Tent A arrangement revealed that many hajj operators encountered a hitch this year because of the new policy of not allowing upgrades from Tent D to Tent A.

    Most of the Tour Operators were said to have secured their Visa via the Tent D category with the hope of upgrading it to Tent A.

    The puzzle: Do the affected Operators eventually upgrade their Tent D visa category to Tent A before the arrival of their pilgrims? If not, do the affected tour operators inform their clients that ‘sorry, we couldn’t upgrade your payment to Tent A because of late payment? Was there any internal sabotage within the tour operators as being alleged The source informed that there is a private tour operator (name withheld) who claimed to have booked 46 Spaces in Tent A while the Saudi Hajj portal revealed that he booked for 6 spaces.

    We must also inquire whether there is a service failure or a failure on the part of the service provider to secure the tent as agreed.

    The official informed me that most of the affected tour operators failed to provide the identity of pilgrims that were for Tent ‘A’ separately from those that were for Tent D as when due therefore creating a mix-up on the said day.

    However, I wrote an analysis during the 2023 hajj titled “Hajj 2023 And The Constraints Of Managing Space At Mina” when the same challenges of Tents prompted Mina to highlight the reality of space management in Mina and how the marketing strategy of luxurious, conducive and promised comfortability in Mina is putting pressure on the hajj industry.

    An extract from the analysis still suffices: “The name Mina is derived from the word with the root letters ma-na-ya, hence Mina means ‘to find’ or ‘to undergo test’ or ‘to be put to the test.’ Mina is connected to the words ‘tamannd’ and ‘manna’, which means ‘to hope for’ or ‘awaken a desire’.

    The spiritually applicable meaning of Mina in itself indicates that it is not a place for “desirable comfort”, but rather an area where our faith will be put to test in the quest of attaining Hajj mabrur.

    Research was conducted in 2016 using the Mina Tent Distribution Algorithm (MTDA to better utilize the available capacity of Mina’s area in the best possible way with efficient use of the available resources.

    MTDA employs seven functions during the search process to find the best-fit accommodation for pilgrims in the available tents of Mina.

    Experimental results revealed that MTDA achieves better performance compared with eight algorithm schemes in all experimental cases.

    The best result of MTDA was obtained by allocating 80% of the total number of pilgrims to over 76.2% of the total available accommodation space in the Mina area.

    So, the best experimental result still did not project housing all the pilgrims in the tents. Yes, pilgrims paid to be housed inside the tents, but this is when reality overshadows expectations.

    To provide more space for pilgrims, a new multi-story building has been erected in Mina within street 502. The new multi-story building can host 11,000 pilgrims. It was designed so that a room can accommodate approximately 25 to 30 pilgrims.

    There are a total of five floors in each building. Each building has 4 elevators, of which 3 elevators are for pilgrims and 1 is for services.

    The agitation to change service providers may not be the ultimate solution to the challenges in Mina as being made to believe. Indonesia, India, and Malaysia have a different service provider from Nigeria.

    In this year’s hajj, the Indonesia House of Representatives (DPR’s) Hajj Monitoring Team said the findings of the Indonesian Hajj pilgrims’ tents in Mina resembled those of “refugee camps.”

    In a preliminary report published by antaranews, the team said that “high numbers of male and female pilgrims had to stay in similar tightly packed tents without gender segregation.

    Adiputra pointed out that several pilgrims, notably the elderly, opted to stay outside to avoid the packed tents with a capacity of 80 pilgrims forced to accommodate around 1,200 pilgrims.

    Likewise, a report published by the Indian Free Press Journal and republished by the Hajj Reporters on the 20th of June shows that Indian pilgrims who were part of the annual five-day Haj pilgrimage complained of lack of cleanliness in the camps, inadequate food, and overcrowding.

    Indian Hajis took to social media to complain about the woeful conditions in the camps. One pilgrim from Telangana said in a video released on social media. “We were treated worse than beggars Shams Chowdhury of Mumbai-based Haj Pilgrims Social Justice Group said “You can’t blame the Haj Committee and the government for this, because there were more pilgrims this time.

    It was not just the Indians who suffered, but pilgrims from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Turkey faced similar difficulties,” Given the above, we can agree that other countries had similar experiences this year.

    During the 2023 Hajj, the challenges of space that affected virtually all Hajj participating countries were mostly within the Tent ‘D’ category. Countries like Malaysia, Indonesia, Bangladesh and Nigeria have to complain and draw the attention of their respective hajj service providers to the inadequacy of tents.

    It was as a result of the 2023 experience that the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah came up with a policy of allocating tent space based on first come first serve.

    Despite the relative lateness in our pre-hajj preparations, the provision of tent space within the D category this year was far better than the previous year.

    The Nigerian Hajj service provider, Ithraa Alkhair, was said to have made provision for almost 12,000 extra space for Nigerian Pilgrims. A commendable feat, I must admit.

    The challenge in VIP tents should not be a tool to measure the performance of entire hajj operations, especially in Mashair areas

    Now that Saudi Arabia has rolled out the 2025 hajj calendar, I hope that we will review all the major lapses and take proactive measures to avoid a repeat of 2025 hajj operations.

  • None of the Returned Pilgrims From the State Tasted for Covid 19 is Found Positive.

    None of the Returned Pilgrims From the State Tasted for Covid 19 is Found Positive.

    By Muhammad Ibrahim, Sokoto

    State Commissioner For Health Hajiya Asabe Balarabe Announced That After The Completion Of The Airlift Of Pilgrims Back Home.

    She Said All The Returned Pilgrims Undergone The Taste And None Was Found Positive

    The Commissioner However Said Some Of The Pilgrims Were Having Cataract And Feverish Condition And Were Given Drugs.

    Hajiya Asabe Balarabe Commended The Pilgrims For Their Cooperation During The Screening Exercise.

    She Said The Provision Of Medicaments And Logistics By The State Government Has Greatly Assisted Toward The Success Of The Exercise.

    Public Relations Officer Nura Bello Maikwanci Said The Commissioner Thanked The Chairman Hajji Reception Committee Alhaji Ya’u Muhammad Danda And His Members, Permanent Secretary Of The Ministry Alhaji Abubakar Ahmed Walin Gagi, Chairman House Committee On Health Soha Hon. Kabiru Dauda Tsitse And All The Staff Participated In The Exercise For Their Commitment And Dedication Which Led To The Succeses Recorded.

  • Hajj 2024: CSO Urges Improvement In Feeding And Other Services.

    Hajj 2024: CSO Urges Improvement In Feeding And Other Services.

    * Commends NAHCON,
    States, Airlines For Seamless Airlift.

    By Jabiru Hassan, Kano.

    Independent Hajj Reporters (IHR) have commended the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) officials from the 36 states and the Airlines involved in the airlift of this year’s pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for a seamless exercise so far.

    “About 95% of intending pilgrims have so far been airlifted to Saudi Arabia by the selected airlines with little or no incident, this is most commendable,” IHR said in a statement Friday by its national coordinator Ibrahim Mohammed.

    The CSO also said, “Commendation must particularly go to the states for always mobilising their pilgrims to camp ahead of their trip which is a departure from the past. We urge all concern to continue in that regard”.

    IHR said the decision by Saudi Authorities to force countries to process Visas for their pilgrims and sign service contracts way ahead of time also helped the cause of this year’s Hajj airlift.

    The CSO however, called on the officials to double their efforts and tackle recurring challenges, especially with the quality and quantity of food being served to pilgrims.

    There were numerous complaints of “insufficient ration of food and poor quality by pilgrims. NAHCON and States need an all-inclusive proactive approach to solve the problem.

    It also calls for a faster process of allocating bed spaces to pilgrims in both Makkah and Madinah.
    “After spending some time at Hajj transit camps and flying for about 5-6 hours, it is not good for pilgrims to be made to wait for a long time to be allocated bed spaces, the whole idea of sending an advanced team of officials is to ensure issues such as these do not occur.

    All involved should therefore up the ante and do the needful” IHR said.

  • Hajj 2024: KNSG Appoints Deputy Governor’s Spokesman, Ibrahim To Head The  Media Team.

    Hajj 2024: KNSG Appoints Deputy Governor’s Spokesman, Ibrahim To Head The Media Team.

    By Jabiru Hassan, Kano.

    The Kano State Government has approved the appointment of Ibrahim Garba Shuaibu as the head of the media team for the 2024 Hajj.

    This announcement was made during a stakeholders’ meeting for the inauguration of the 1445AH/2024 Hajj Operational Committee at the Kano State Pilgrims Welfare Board in the state metropolis.

    The meeting was attended by media personnel who will be covering the annual Muslim ritual, which attracts thousands of pilgrims from Nigeria and around the world.

    Shuaibu, who is currently the press secretary to the deputy governor of the state, Comrade Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, has a wealth of experience in media and communications.

    He has also served as the immediate past chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Correspondents Chapel, Kano State Chapter, and as a correspondent for This Day newspaper.

    His appointment as head of the media team is a significant development ahead of the 2024 Hajj, and his experience and expertise will likely prove valuable in managing the media aspects of the pilgrimage.

    Over 3,000 intending pilgrims from Kano State are expected to participate in the 2024 Hajj. The airlift of intending pilgrims is scheduled to commence on May 15 in the country, marking the beginning of the pilgrimage.

    The Kano State Government has made arrangements to ensure a smooth and successful pilgrimage for all intending pilgrims, and Shuaibu’s appointment is a key part of these efforts.

  • Hajj 2024: ‘Shelve The Idea Of Issuing Pilgrims BTA On Payment Cards’-CSO Tells CBN

    Hajj 2024: ‘Shelve The Idea Of Issuing Pilgrims BTA On Payment Cards’-CSO Tells CBN

    By Jabiru Hassan, Kano.

    The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) have been advised to shelve the idea of issuing pilgrims Basic Travel Allowance (BTA) through payment cards.

    The advice was given Tuesday by Independent Hajj Reporters (IHR) in a statement by its national coordinator Ibrahim Mohammed.

    IHR said with less than 24 hours to the commencement of airlift of pilgrims to the holy land, the CBN was said to have directed some commercial Banks to pay pilgrims only $200 in cash out of the $500 each pilgrim is expected to receive while the remaining $300 will be given on a payment card.

    “This year’s intending pilgrims have already gone through a lot of uncertainties ranging from forex policy induced rise in Hajj fare to reduction in BTA. This decision by the apex bank will only add to their woes “

    “It is common knowledge that most of our pilgrims come from the rural areas and are not familiar with virtual financial transactions, most do not even know how to use an ATM card, while most ATM machines in Saudi Arabia are configured in Arabic which poses more challenges to even those who are well acquainted with E-transaction.

    “Also, most tavellers are often charged very high for using ATM machines in foreign countries, and with a depleted BAT already in place, the use of the cards for withdrawals in Saudi Arabia will only add to pilgrims misery,”IHR said.

    The CSO also stated that there were very few ATM machines available around the Misfalah/Kudai and Shahrah Mansur areas where most Nigerian pilgrims stay, this lack of access will also be a serious problem.

    According to IHR, About 75 percent of Nigerian pilgrims are first timers who mostly finds it difficult to locate their accommodations in Makkah due to heavy traffic and unique nature of the buildings – how will they locate an ATM Machine in such situation?

    The statement added that most of the pilgrims will also find it difficult to pay for services using the card.

    “purchase of drinking water and other basic necessities will be a problem for the pilgrims this year, if the CBN insist on giving them payment cards. Not forgetting that, it is easier for an average person to guard their cash than a card,therefore, the tendency of pilgrims losing the cards are very high. Government policies should be tailored towards making life easier for the citizen not complicating it.

    “ We therefore, urge the CBN to immediately rescind the decision and pay the pilgrims in cash, that is what will help them and relieve them of the stress associated with years hajj and allow them to concentrates on performing their hajj rites with relative peace of minds.IHR added.

  • Hajj Airlift: CSO calls for coordinated Suchecurity Surveillance At Hajj Camps, Embarkation Points.

    Hajj Airlift: CSO calls for coordinated Suchecurity Surveillance At Hajj Camps, Embarkation Points.

    By Jabiru Hassan, Kano.

    As the airlift of Nigerian pilgrims to Saudi Arabia begins on Wednesday this week, Independent Hajj Reporters, IHR, a faith-based Civil Society Organization, CSO, that monitors and reports Hajj and Umrah activities has called on the Federal and state governments to make adequate security arrangements for pilgrims at embarkation points across the country.

    IHR stated this in na statement Monday signed by its national coordinator Ibrahim Mohammed that over 65, 000 intending pilgrims from Nigeria will be leaving their homes to various Hajj camps for screening and onward transportation to about 15 airports within the next 30 days.
    Such mass movement of people from one point to another creates serious security challenges that need a comprehensive and coordinated strategy by the various security agencies in the country.

    While we appreciate the efforts made by security agencies in previous operations, we call on the federal government to order and activate a high-level security surveillance system to monitor and protect the movement of pilgrims throughout the outbound and inbound airlift operations.

    We also urge State Muslim pilgrims’ welfare boards to advise intending pilgrims against coming to hajj camps with large escorts usually made up of family members as such increases the likelihood of security breaches especially when airlift operations demand that pilgrims can be invited to hajj camps at any time of the day or night.

    State governments should complement the federal security architecture by mobilizing local vigilantes and other volunteers to form a hajj security team and provide them with internal communication equipment with state hajj officials, airliners and other airlift stakeholders.

    “As journalists who worked closely with security agencies during hajj operations, IHR had in the last few years honour security institutions during its annual hajj lectures and awards to appreciate and encourage them to improve on their daunting tasks of maintaining security of lives and properties across the country.”

    IHR further appeals to Security forces to take necessary “measures to prevent evil-minded groups from exploiting the Hajj season to carry out acts of sabotage.

    “Anticipating and preparing for potential security threats before they materialize will help in identifying and mitigating vulnerabilities and weaknesses ahead of time” The statement said.