Following the removal of the previous head of the Hajj Commission, Jalal Arabi, amid allegations bothering corruption, President Bola Tinubu has appointed Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman as the new Executive Chairman of the National Hajj Commission (NAHCON). Professor Usman is a renowned scholar with qualifications from the University of Madinah and Peshawar University, Pakistan. He previously served as Chairman of the Kano State Pilgrims Board, successfully overseeing the operations of the largest quota of state pilgrims in the country.

The Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, CBCN, has called on the federal government to either amend or withdraw from the Samoa Agreement. In a position paper, titled,”Threats to the Sovereignty and Values of Nigeria in the Samoa Agreement: A Statement of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, CBCN,’ issued yesterday, the National Director of Social Communications of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, CSN, Rev. Fr. Michael Umoh, the bishops expressed concerns that the agreement undermined Nigeria’s moral, cultural, and religious beliefs and values. Specifically, they cited provisions related to sexual orientation, gender identity, comprehensive sexuality education, and abortion as being in conflict with Nigerian laws and values. The bishops argued that these provisions of the agreement threatened the country’s moral fabric and cultural identity, expressing concerns that the agreement might lead to the erosion of Nigeria’s sovereignty, as it may be subject to external pressures and dictates.

The Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, has expressed the commitment of his government to deal with any group suspected to be promoting and advocating for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender, LGBT, rights in the state. The governor’s gave the warning on the heels of rising tensions over the activities of group’s allegedly promoting same-sex marriage in the state.

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has today, congratulated the Muslim faithful across the state on the celebration of the New Year Islamic calendar, appealing for closer inter-faith unity and peaceful coexistence among residents of all faiths in the state. Adeleke made the statement through the Secretary to the State Government, Teslim Igbalaye, who represented the governor at an event organised in celebration of the new Hijrah calendar in the state capital.

Niger State Governor, Umar Bago has expressed anxiety over the operations of National Hajj Commission (NAHCON), and has vowed to lead campaign to abolish the commission. NAHCON is a federal government agency responsible for the annual Muslim pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia and oversees the operation of Nigerian clinics in Medina, Mecca, and Muna. The governor stated this in an interview with journalists in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, adding that the body should be decentralized, act as a regulator rather than managing the entire Hajj.

President Bola Tinubu, after observing the 2024 Eid-el Adha prayers at Dodan Barracks, Lagos, congratulated the Muslim faithful. He prayed that Allah accept their supplications and acts of obedience. He also urged Nigerians to embody the virtues of sacrifice, love, and gratitude towards one another and the Almighty God.