News
NAHCON: Members of 5th Board assume duty
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) witnessed a significant moment today as the fifth board, headed by Malam Ahmad Arabi, was inaugurated by His Excellency Kashim Shettima, the Vice President of Nigeria, on 28th February 2024.
The inauguration ceremony took place in the esteemed office of the Vice President. The Board Members proceeded to their new office in the Hajj House immediately.
During the Board’s inaugural meeting with the NAHCON management, Chairman Malam Ahmad Arabi extended a warm welcome to the new Board Members, expressing confidence in their capabilities. He assured them of the same level of cooperation from the staff as enjoyed by him when he assumed duty on acting capacity in the last four months. He called upon NAHCON’s dedicated staff to extend their similar support to their new bosses in the pursuit of the Commission’s goals.
The newly appointed members of the Board are:
1. Malam Jalal Ahmad Arabi — Chairman
2. Aliu Abdulrazaq — Commissioner, Policy, Personnel, & Finance (PPMF)
3. Prince Anofi Elegushi — Commissioner, Operations
4. Professor Abubakar A. Yagawal — Commissioner, Planning & Research, Information Statistics and Library Services
ZONAL REPRESENTATIVES:
1. Dr. Muhammad Umaru Ndagi — Board Member, North Central
2. Abba Jato Kala — Board Member, North East
3. Sheikh Muhammad Bin Othman — Board Member, North West
4. Tajudeen Oladejo Abefe — Board Member, South West
5. Aishat Obi Ahmed — Board Member, South East
6. Zainab Musa — Board Member, South South
7. Professor Musa Inuwa Fodio — Board Member/Representative Jama’atul Nasril Islam
8. Professor Adedimizi Mahfouz Adebola — Representative/Supreme Council on Islamic Affairs
Expressing their gratitude, the new Board Members acknowledged the Chairman’s fatherly role and welcomed his warm reception from the outset of their meeting. In their individual comments, the members, made assurances to support the Chairman in the quest for success. Similarly, they separately expressed their appreciation to the Almighty for the privilege to serve and prayed for guidance in their new assignments.
In his closing remarks, Dr Abdullahi Rabi’u Kontagora, the Secretary of the Commission, lauded the intellectual prowess of the new Board Members, describing them as a group with a good number of persons with diverse and advanced knowledge and experience as never witnessed in one single board of the Commission since inception. He described the 5th Board of NAHCON as a new chapter of the Commission with its blend of experts starting with its head, Malam Jalal Arabi, from whom he had learned a lot of administrative skills within a short while. Dr Kontagora expressed optimism that their skills and knowledge would be deployed in the service of Allah, the federal government of Nigeria, and commitment to the welfare of Nigerian pilgrims.
Finally, Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu has resigned from President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet.
In a resignation letter dated April 22, 2026, and addressed to President Bola Tinubu, Adelabu said the decision would take effect from April 30, 2026, to allow for a smooth transition.
The letter, routed through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, stated that he was stepping down with “a deep sense of honour and profound gratitude.”
He wrote, “I write with a deep sense of honour and profound gratitude to formally tender my resignation as the Honourable Minister of Power of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. This resignation is to take effect on 30th April 2026, in order to allow sufficient time for a smooth and orderly handover of responsibilities.”
Adelabu thanked the President for the opportunity to serve, describing his appointment as a privilege.
He said, “Your Excellency, I remain sincerely grateful for the privilege and confidence you reposed in me by appointing me to serve our great nation in this capacity.
It has been a rare honour to contribute to national development under your leadership and to play a role in advancing reforms in the power sector—one of the most critical foundations of Nigeria’s industrial growth and economic transformation.”
By Gloria Ikibah
As part of efforts to strengthen the country’s security architecture, President Bola Tinubu, has sent a formal communication to the House of Representatives on seeking legislative approval for the repeal and re-enactment of the Nigerian Police Trust Fund (NPTF) Establishment Act, 2025.
The request which was transmitted to the House for consideration and passage on Wednesday at plenary, underscores the need to improve the management and administration of the fund, enhance police training, and provide modern equipment for the Nigeria Police Force.
According to the letter,, the proposed amendment is aimed at boosting the operational capacity, accountability, and sustainability of the Police Trust Fund in line with current security challenges.
The President urged lawmakers to give the bill expeditious consideration, as the said the reform will improve the welfare of police personnel and support skill development across the force.
In another development, the House Committee on Rules and Business has moved to tighten legislative discipline, directing all standing and ad hoc committees to submit reports on bills and motions within set timelines in line with House procedures.
Chairman of the committee, Rep. Francis Uwaive, reminded all committee chairmen to treat all assigned matters within 30 days, with the risk of losing such assignments after 60 days if no progress is made, except where a short extension is granted.
A firm deadline has also been set for all outstanding reports, with the end of April 2026 as the cut-off point, and non-compliance attracting automatic discharge.
Amid the formal proceedings, lawmakers briefly paused to celebrate two members marking their birthdays, acknowledging their contributions to public service and national development.
The mood later shifted as the House paid tribute to a former member of the Fifth Assembly, observing a minute’s silence in his honour following his passing after a prolonged illness.
He was remembered for his dedication and service to his constituents in Benue State, with colleagues noting that his death represents a significant loss to the legislature and the country.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said on Wednesday that their naval forces stopped two ships attempting to cross the Strait of Hormuz and directed them to the territorial waters of the Islamic Republic.
“The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps naval force this morning identified and stopped in the Strait of Hormuz two violating ships,” the Guards said in a statement.
“The two offending ships… were seized by the IRGC’s naval forces and directed to the Iranian coast.”
They identified one ship as “MSC-FRANCESCA”, which they said belonged “to the Zionist regime” in reference to Israel, and the other as “EPAMINONDAS”, which they said was “tampering with navigation systems and jeopardising maritime security.”
The Guards further warned against any action against the regulations imposed by the Islamic republic in the strait “as well as activities contrary to the safe passage” through the waterway.
Tehran has said vessels must seek permission to leave of enter the Gulf through Hormuz, through a route that in peacetime accounts for a fifth of the world’s oil and gas exports along with other vital commodities.
Source: AFP
BREAKING: Finally, Power Minister, Adelabu resigns from Tinubu’s cabinet
Reps Begin Review of Police Trust Fund Law, Tighten Timeline for Committee Work
Iran Seizes Two Ships attempting to cross Strait of Hormuz
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