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Nigeria Retains 95,000 Hajj Allocation For 2024 As Saudi Ministry Announces Decision
Nigeria Retains 95,000 Hajj Allocation For 2024 As Saudi Ministry Announces Decision....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Rephrased text: Nigeria has secured its allocation of 95,000 slots for the 2024 Hajj, maintaining the same number granted during the previous pilgrimage. The announcement came during a virtual meeting between the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah and the leadership of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).
The meeting, which officially marked the commencement of preparations for the 2024 Hajj, was attended by notable figures, including Hon Jafar Mohammed, Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Hajj, Senator Abubakar Sani Bello, representatives of the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, and Ambassador Bello Abdulkadir, the Nigerian Consul-General in Saudi Arabia.
In a press statement issued by Alhaji Mousa Ubandawaki, Deputy Director of Information and Publications at NAHCON, Nigeria is expected to finalize arrangements and negotiations with service providers, including catering, accommodation, and transportation, within the next 120 days.
Ubandawaki also mentioned that NAHCON would promptly submit lists of medical and other officials to Saudi authorities, as the Kingdom intends to work closely with these bodies. Additionally, the commission was urged to ensure that only air carriers with a minimum of two aircraft in their fleet, along with a backup, are appointed or allowed to participate in the 2024 Hajj operation.
Dr. Badr Mohammed Al-Somi, leading the Saudi team, emphasized the importance of adhering to the timeline to enable adequate planning and prevent issues experienced in previous Hajj seasons. He assured that the refund requested by NAHCON was being processed and would be acted upon as soon as the investigative committee’s results were available.
Alhaji Zikrullah Kunle Hassan, Chairman of NAHCON, urged Saudi authorities to expedite action on refunding the feeding and tent services not provided in the Mashair. He also called for the Kingdom to discontinue providing feeding services in the Masha’ir and allow Nigeria to manage Muna and Arafat, providing pilgrims with familiar cuisine. Furthermore, Hassan sought the support of the Saudi Ministry of Hajj in securing the refund paid to the General Authority of Saudi Aviation (GACA) on behalf of Nigerian carriers in 2019. He appealed to the ministry to reconsider the departure location for Nigerian pilgrims, proposing the King Abdul-Aziz International Airport in Jeddah instead of Medina to avoid logistical issues.
The Presidency has rejected calls for the sacking of EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede following the anti-graft agency’s decision to freeze the Osun State Government’s accounts days before the August 15 gubernatorial election.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The EFCC had placed a “Post No Bill” order on the accounts on Wednesday, citing suspicious transactions and an ongoing investigation since March 2026, asserting its legal right to freeze accounts for 72 hours based on reasonable suspicion. However, President Bola Tinubu intervened on Thursday, directing the commission to unfreeze the accounts and labeling their action embarrassing due to its timing and political optics.
Following this intervention, opposition figures intensified pressure on Olukoyede to resign. Major Agbo, National Chairman of the NNPP, criticized Tinubu’s directive as undermining the EFCC’s independence by creating the appearance that the commission takes orders from the President, while Yunusa Tanko of the Obidient Movement suggested Olukoyede should step down to protect his personal integrity.
Conversely, sources within the Presidency indicated that while President Tinubu was frustrated with the timing of the move, it does not signal the end of Olukoyede’s tenure, with one official noting that a disagreement with the President is not grounds for dismissal.
In a related development, court documents obtained by SaharaReporters revealed that the EFCC had secured a formal order from the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday, August 5, 2026, to freeze three Osun State Government accounts over allegations of public fund diversion and money laundering. This order authorizes the agency to restrict transactions pending the conclusion of its investigation and potential prosecution.
Market sources indicate that parallel market (black market) operators in Lagos traded the dollar at a selling rate of ₦1430 and a buying rate of ₦1415 on Friday, August 7, 2026.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Meanwhile, official rates via the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) recorded a high of ₦1367 and a low of ₦1363. Please note that the CBN does not officially recognize parallel market transactions and advises individuals to conduct foreign exchange dealings through authorized banking channels. Actual transaction rates may also vary depending on specific market conditions and locations.
During the inauguration of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) reconciliation committee, NDC chieftain Buba Galadima revealed that Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed is currently straddling the political fence and could potentially align with either the NDC or President Bola Tinubu of the APC for the 2027 polls.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Galadima shared that Governor Mohammed had previously considered defecting after a late-night meeting, but ultimately backed out due to advice against joining a party that already features a strong presidential candidate.
In a separate development, Governor Mohammed recently swore in four new commissioners—Madaki Ahmad Gololo, Bashir Yau, Bashir Adamu Rishi, and Baraya Ibrahim—to fill vacancies left by officials who resigned to pursue political ambitions, were removed, or stepped down voluntarily ahead of the upcoming general elections. Emphasizing integrity and transparency, the governor noted that the appointments ensure continued representation for the affected local government areas in the State Executive Council.
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