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Stakeholders to Tinubu: Return NAHCON to SGF Now
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By Kayode Sanni-Arewa and Prosper Olayiwola
Calls for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to return the supervision of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, to the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, continue to grow, as Muslim professional groups, civil society actors, farmers’ associations and individual stakeholders intensify pressure on the Presidency to review the current arrangement.
The renewed push follows a series of open letters and formal submissions urging the President to reverse the 2023 directive that placed NAHCON under the Office of the Vice President and restore the long standing supervisory role of the SGF.
A coalition of Muslim professionals, led by Hassan Abdullahi and Danladi Bello, traced the evolution of Hajj administration in Nigeria from the regional boards of the 1950s to the creation of the Nigeria Pilgrims Board in 1975, and the eventual establishment of NAHCON in 2006 following years of administrative lapses, including the 1996 Saudi suspension of Nigerian pilgrims.
They argued that the NAHCON Establishment Act clearly places the Commission “under the Presidency” without reference to the Office of the Vice President, stressing that successive administrations exercised this oversight through the SGF as a neutral coordinating authority.
“The Act does not say Office of the Vice President. It says Presidency,” the group stated, adding that SGF supervision historically guaranteed stability, inter agency coordination and operational efficiency.
According to the coalition, the 2023 transfer to the Vice President’s office injected political considerations into what should remain a technocratic and coordination driven function, warning that such a shift weakens accountability and blurs reporting lines.
The group cited concrete gains recorded under SGF coordinated oversight, including Nigeria’s full utilisation of its 95,000 Hajj quota in 2023 for the first time in nearly ten years, the successful airlift of over 51,000 government quota pilgrims in 2024 despite economic pressures, and direct accommodation contracting with Saudi landlords that cut out intermediaries and saved millions of naira.
They noted that these achievements were driven by close cooperation among aviation, finance, health, foreign affairs and security agencies, a role the SGF’s office is institutionally designed to manage.
Support for the call has since expanded.
In a separate endorsement, the Amana Farmers and Grains Suppliers Association of Nigeria, AFGSAN, described stability and neutrality in Hajj administration as critical for ordinary Nigerians who spend decades saving for the pilgrimage.
In a letter signed by Aliyu Yunusa Yandutse, Chairman of its Jigawa State chapter, the association urged President Tinubu to restore NAHCON’s supervision to the SGF, noting that the welfare of pilgrims requires administrative consistency rather than politically exposed oversight.
Further weight was added by TSANGAYA, Support Transformation and Empowerment Initiative, whose executives and board members passed a resolution backing the return of NAHCON to SGF supervision after internal deliberations. The group said the move would strengthen efficiency, continuity and accountability.
In an independent letter addressed directly to the President, Goni Ibrahim Garba Dr Usman Ahmad urged a formal review of NAHCON’s supervisory framework, stressing that the SGF operates as the Presidency’s coordinating arm and is better positioned to align federal ministries and agencies involved in Hajj logistics, foreign exchange approvals, health services and security clearances.
The letter outlined key reasons for the proposed reversal, including legal compliance with the NAHCON Act, operational efficiency, institutional stability across administrations, clearer accountability and improved pilgrim welfare, citing full slot utilisation and cost savings as evidence.
Concerns were also raised by individuals from within the Hajj ecosystem.
Muhammed Suleman Gama of Kano described recent internal tensions within NAHCON as symptoms of avoidable political interference. He praised the current Chairman, Prof. Abdullahi Saleh Usman, popularly known as Prof. Pakistan, describing his leadership during the last Hajj as the strongest in decades, but warned that undue external pressure risks undermining progress.
Across the submissions, stakeholders shared common demands, stronger bureaucratic coordination, insulation from political disruption, clear oversight lines and protection of Nigeria’s standing with Saudi authorities.
They argue that returning NAHCON to SGF supervision is essential to sustaining recent improvements and safeguarding the interests of more than 160,000 Nigerians who performed Hajj in 2023 and 2024.
As of the time of filing this report, the Presidency has yet to issue an official response on whether it will review NAHCON’s current supervisory structure.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has drawn attention to a fraudulent scheme orchestrated by criminal elements and scammers targeting unsuspecting members of the public.
The fraudsters have been found using the names of top NDLEA officials, most notably the Secretary to the Agency, Barrister Shadrach Haruna, to issue fake private letters and messages offering cheap forfeited vehicles for sale on auction.
The public is hereby notified that these offers are a complete scam. The Agency wishes to categorically state that these fraudulent offers are a malicious gimmick designed solely to defraud targeted individuals of their hard-earned money.
No official of the Agency has the mandate to privately offer, allocate, or sell forfeited vehicles or any other seized assets to individuals. Vehicles and other assets forfeited as proceeds of drug crimes are strictly auctioned through public processes managed by appointed, government-registered auctioneers. Any legitimate auction exercise is widely publicized in national dailies and through the Agency’s official channels, in line with established legal and public procurement guidelines.
Members of the public are strongly urged to discountenance, ignore, and report any such private letters, text messages, or social media offers claiming to originate from Barrister Shadrach Haruna or any other NDLEA official.
The NDLEA remains committed to maintaining transparency and integrity in all its operations. Do not fall victim to these criminal elements. If you are approached with such fraudulent offers, please report immediately to the nearest NDLEA command or via our official communication channels.
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
A faction of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) led by Nafiu Gombe has picked Professor Chris Uba as its presidential candidate for the 2027 general election.
The party disowned former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as its flag bearer.
The group said the party had already completed its presidential nomination process in line with its constitution and the Electoral Act, adding that Uba emerged as the recognized candidate after all required procedures were concluded.
The faction also disowned the National Working Committee headed by former Senate President David Mark, saying it has no constitutional or legal authority to act on behalf of the party.
It maintained that the recognized leadership of the ADC remains in charge of the party’s affairs.
According to the statement released on Wednesday, the clarification became necessary to stop attempts to create confusion about the party’s position ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The group said the ADC had not entered into any alliance, merger or coalition with any political party.
added that the party remains independent and intends to contest the elections with its own structure, manifesto and leadership.
The faction said it believes Uba has the experience, character and capacity to lead the country if elected in 2027.
It also warned Atiku against presenting himself as the ADC’s presidential candidate, saying such a claim is false and could mislead party members and the public.
The group added that the ADC would not allow its platform to be used by politicians pursuing personal ambitions or by coalition groups seeking to take over the party’s structure.
It said every constitutional and legal step would be taken to protect the party from what it described as unauthorised use of its name and platform.
The faction also dismissed reports suggesting that there were plans to stop the ADC from participating in the 2027 elections, expressing confidence in the Independent National Electoral Commission and the country’s electoral process.
It said the party is preparing to present candidates for the presidency, governorships, National Assembly, state assemblies and local government elections across the country.
Three brothers have appeared before the Mbabane Magistrates Court in Swaziland on a murder charge following the brutal de@th of their mother’s boyfriend.
The accused, Mlondi Mbuli, 25, Sakhelwe Mbuli, 18, and Lindani Mdziniso, 23, all from the Hholoshini area in Eswatini’s Hhohho Region, are alleged to have fatally assaulted Njabulo Ngwenya on June 28, 2026.
According to police, the brothers att@cked Ngwenya with bricks, stones, sticks, open hands, and kicks to different parts of his body. Investigators allege the assa¥lt was motivated by the brothers’ belief that Ngwenya was having a relationship with their biological mother.
Court records state that the incident was reported after Sibongile Motsa, also from Hholoshini, informed police that she discovered her son, Njabulo Ngwenya, lying deed inside her sister’s house at about 1 a.m. on June 28, 2026.
The matter came before Principal Magistrate Sfiso Vilakati during the trio’s initial court appearance.
The three defendants have been remanded in custody until July 10, 2026, pending committal of the case to the High Court for further proceedings.
Disclaimer: NDLEA alerts public on fraudulent auction offers impersonating officials
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