Hadiza's Blog

  By   Hadiza Abdulrahman Oxfam Nigeria has described the total exclusion of young people under 35 from the Federal Cabinet as a strategic misstep that threatens the nation’s future.  Speaking at the “Next 90%: Youth, Policy and A Fairer Nigeria” Dialogue in Abuja organised in partnership with the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Oxfam’s Country Director,  Mr John Makina said the lack of youth representation in top decision-making positions is a missed opportunity to tap into the innovation and energy of Nigeria’s majority population. Makina emphasized that youth inclusion in governance is not just a question of fairness, but a national imperative. “This is about peace, development, and the future of our country. We cannot afford to sideline 70% of our population and expect progress,” he said. He called for structural changes that would empower young people to participate meaningfully in political and economic spaces. While spotlighting youth exclusion, the O...

  By Hadiza  Abdulrahman  The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has proposed N8.5 million as the provisional deposit for the 2026 Hajj, pending final negotiations with service providers. The announcement was made during a strategic  post-Hajj meeting  held on Thursday at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja, with Chairmen and Secretaries of State Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards in attendance. Chairman of the Commission, Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman, also revealed that Nigeria has retained its 95,000-slot allocation from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, while states will maintain the same slot distribution as in 2025. In a statement by Fatima Sanda,  NAHCON ’s Head of Public Affairs, the Chairman of the Commission emphasised the importance of early planning, adding that Nigeria is looking to secure flight slots early by possibly rolling over contracts with the four airlines used during the last pilgrimage. According to the statement, the Chairman thanke...

  According to estimates, 50 percent of Nigeria’s 25 million estimated People with Disabilities are women and girls   Photo: Hadiza Abdulrahman / Canva On one occasion, Bilikisu Yakubu, a disability rights advocate and wheelchair user, visited a hospital in Abuja. Exhausted from the long wait, she dozed off, unaware it was her turn to be attended to. When she finally woke up, the place was silent; everyone had been attended to and had left. No one woke her up or said anything to her. She observed that the hospital had no sign language interpreter, no visual notification system, and no staff support, making it clear the facility was not disability friendly. “I was just left there,” she said. “They don’t know how to relate with people with disabilities.” Bilikisu’s experience is not isolated. Many women and girls with disabilities in Nigeria continue to face discrimination, neglect, and stigma, especially when seeking sexual and reproductive health services. ...

By Hadiza Abdulrahman  The Hajj Savings Scheme (HSS) Division of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has meet with representatives of TAJ Bank to explore the development of a digital platform that will streamline Hajj registration and savings for intending pilgrims. According to NAHCON Information Officer, Abdul-Basit Abba, the session brought together key technical stakeholders from both institutions to deliberate on how to deliver a secure and user-friendly application that caters to pilgrims across the country. It explained that the Commission emphasised the importance of an inclusive platform that serves the diverse needs of prospective pilgrims nationwide. Both parties agreed on a framework for next steps, including drafting implementation timelines, defining roles, and holding follow-up sessions to monitor progress. The TAJ Bank team, comprising Sadiq, Abdulhakim Abdul, Na’ir Garba, and Yusuf shared insights into the bank’s capacity to develop a robu...

By Hadiza Abdulrahman  The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has invited pilgrims and stakeholders to submit complaints, comments, or suggestions regarding services rendered during the 2025 Hajj and Umrah operations. This call for feedback is part of the Commission’s ongoing review of this year’s pilgrimage activities, aimed at improving the experience for Nigerian pilgrims. According to a statement by the Commission: INVITATION TO REGISTER COMPLAINTS AND SUGGESTIONS ON SERVICES RENDERED DURING THE 2025 HAJJ AND UMRAH OPERATIONS In furtherance of its statutory functions "to regulate, supervise and perform oversight functions over organizations associations or similar bodies engaged in organizing and coordinating the movement of pilgrims to perform Hajj and umrah", the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) wishes to inform members of the general public that the Commission has commenced the review of the year 2025 Hajj and Umrah activities. The Commission...

By Hadiza Abdulrahman  The Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman , has expressed deep sorrow over the passing of former President Muhammadu Buhari , describing it as a monumental loss to the nation. According to Professor Usman, the death of the former President is coming at a time when the country is also mourning the loss of prominent industrialist and philanthropist Alhaji Aminu Dantata  is a solemn reminder of the inevitability of death and the need for younger generations to prepare themselves for leadership roles rooted in integrity, honesty, foresight, and a clear vision for Nigeria’s future. He noted that both Buhari and Dantata embodied distinct values that should inspire the youth to pursue national prosperity with purpose and principle. The former President, he said, commanded mass respect and loyalty due to his well-known personal discipline, honesty, and integrity. Professor Usman further described Alhaji A...

  By Hadiza Abdulrahman  The Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman, says the Commission is fully prepared for the 2026 Hajj and has assured that it will be even more successful than this year’s operations. He called on intending pilgrims to register early, noting that the Saudi authorities have indicated plans to commence preparations much earlier. Speaking to journalists in Kano following his return from the 2025 pilgrimage, Professor Saleh stressed the importance of cooperation and timely registration to ensure a smoother process. He also expressed profound gratitude to Almighty Allah for the successful conduct of the 2025 Hajj, describing the achievement as the result of divine grace and collective effort. “Our success in this year’s Hajj is by the grace of Allah. It is not mine, nor is it solely NAHCON’s it is Allah who blessed this exercise and guided us all through it,”  Professor Saleh also highlighted the ...