Category: Nigerian Tribune

There was a light-hearted moment at the 2026 Independence Day edition of The Platform after the Lagos State governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, was challenged by an audience member to answer a question on Yoruba culture and language in the indigenous language.

The incident occurred during the question-and-answer session of the event when an attendee asked Rhodes-Vivour what he would do to preserve Yoruba culture, tradition, and language if elected governor of Lagos State.

The questioner referred to a recent interview the ADC candidate had with Seun Okinbaloye on Channels Television, expressing concern that many Yoruba children in Lagos were increasingly unable to speak the language.

‘Mr Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, I have two questions for you. I watched your recent interview with Seun Okinbaloye on Channels TV, where you spoke about the Yoruba culture, tradition, and language. You know Lagos is Yorubaland. Now, what would you do to preserve our culture, tradition and language?’ the attendee asked.

He also cited China and India as examples of countries where children continue to speak their indigenous languages.

However, as Rhodes-Vivour began responding in English, some members of the audience protested and demanded that he answer the question in Yoruba.

The development briefly caused a stir at the venue before the ADC candidate calmed the audience and proceeded with his response, at one point speaking in Yoruba.

Rhodes-Vivour affirmed that Lagos is Yorubaland and stressed the importance of preserving the Yoruba language as a carrier of the people’s culture and heritage.

‘Let me start by saying this is Lagos; Lagos is Yorubaland. No doubt about it. Language is important, language carries the culture and heritage of our people,’ he said.

He, however, said his primary responsibility as a governorship candidate was to address issues of governance.

The ADC candidate also criticised the state’s education system, alleging that pupils had been punished for speaking Yoruba in schools despite more than two decades of APC administration in the state.

‘Today, we’ve had 20-something years of the APC governance but till now, if you speak Yoruba in primary schools or secondary school, they will say it is vernacular and they beat and punish you,’ he said.

Rhodes-Vivour subsequently urged the questioner to direct some of the concerns to representatives of the Lagos State Government who were present at the event.

The Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, on Thursday called on Muslim faithful in Nigeria to uphold their right to practise the religion without any let or hindrance, even as he appealed for unity among Muslims.

Alhaji Abubakar said this at the NSCIA 2026 General Assembly held at the Abuja National Mosque, and emphasised the need for Muslims to uphold their faith.

He further called on Muslims to be proactive instead of passive when issues affecting their faith and welfare arise, and urged them to engage constructively in protecting their religious interests.

While saying Muslims should protect their religious interests, the Sultan, who is the spiritual head of the Nigerian Muslim Ummah, however, emphasised that Islam does not advocate coercion in matters of faith.

According to him, Muslims did not need and must not force anyone to embrace Islam.

‘What we need in this country and anywhere else is for us, as Muslims, to be allowed to practise our religion without hindrance.

‘We do not intend to force anybody to join Islam. But we have seen how many people have been joining Islam on their own free will because Almighty Allah said there is no compulsion in religion,’ he said.

The Sultan, however, appealed to Muslims to support and protect those who voluntarily embraced Islam with a view to helping them live according to the tenets of Islam.

He equally admonished Muslim faithful to demonstrate humility and equality, submitting that all people were equal before Almighty Allah and that piety remained the true measure of a person’s worth.

While appreciating Allah for making it possible to hold the general assembly this year, seven years after the last one, the Sultan described the gathering as significant, as it brought Muslim leaders from across the country together.

According to him, this year’s general assembly did not only serve as an avenue for Muslim faithful in the country to share ideas but also strengthened the existing bond among them as members of the big family of Islam.

‘We are holding this general assembly almost seven years after we had the last one. All of you are aware why we didn’t hold general assembly for some few years,’ he said.

The Sultan said that, despite not holding a general assembly, the NSCIA had been holding expanded general purpose committee meetings, explaining that the inability to hold a general assembly all this while was largely due to financial constraints.

Despite the constraints, the Sultan said the NSCIA had been seeking assistance to enable it to carry out its responsibilities to Islam and the Nigerian Muslim Ummah.

This year’s general assembly, according to the Sultan, was holding at a time when Nigeria and the entire world were facing challenges.

‘This (general assembly) is coming at a time when we should be attentive. We should be a little more conscious because we all know the situation in the country and in the world. We Muslims have a lot of roles to play,’ Sultan Abubakar said.

The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, has assured members of the party that all candidates vying for different positions in the 2027 election would come out victorious, without fight or rancour.

He gave the assurance while addressing a gathering at an interfaith prayer and praise concert, held at the Ake Pavilion, in Abeokuta, on Wednesday evening, organised to seek God’s divine intervention in the elections.

Adeola, representing Ogun West Senatorial District, said the prayers offered at the gathering would culminate in victory for the party at all levels, beginning with the presidential election scheduled for January 16, 2027.

He expressed confidence that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would be re-elected, alongside APC candidates contesting National Assembly seats in Ogun State.

The lawmaker, who is aspiring to succeed Governor Dapo Abiodun, also prayed for divine support for his emergence as the next governor of the state.

He explained that the APC would record victory without a serious contest, saying God had already begun paving the way for the party ahead of the February 6, 2027 governorship election.

While adding that other political actors were allegedly making efforts to reorganize their political platforms, he remained confident that the APC would emerge victorious.

He said, ‘That same God that will give us victory on January 16 will also support me to become the seventeenth Executive Governor of Ogun State.

‘God will give us victory and clear our path without a fight. Because there will be nobody contesting against us. God has started that already. In February 6, 2027, there will be nobody, because they are all party less.’

He said they are running helter-skelter to perfect their shortcomings, but God has spoken that He’s going to give us victory without a fight,’ he added.

Also speaking, Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, said the gathering was an opportunity for APC members to seek God’s guidance and commit their political journey towards 2027 into His hands.

Abiodun said the party had gathered to put God first through prayers, songs, and thanksgiving, expressing confidence that the prayers would yield positive results.

Reflecting on his political journey, Abiodun recalled the challenges he faced during the 2019 governorship election, saying his emergence as governor was a testimony to God’s intervention.

He said the political circumstances at the time were difficult, but maintained that the same God who helped him navigate those challenges remained capable of guiding the state through another transition.

The governor added that despite the challenges and political opposition he encountered in 2018, he eventually emerged as governor, stressing that the same divine intervention would guide the state towards a smooth transition from his administration to the next government.

‘We have gathered here to seek the Almighty’s face and commit our journey of 2027 into His hands.

‘Today, we have come here to put God first, to pray, dance, and sing. I am very confident, and without a doubt, that our heart’s desires shall be granted by the men of God who have prayed for us.

‘I recalled how the journey was in 2018. When we started, it was not like this at all; it was tough. But God has used me as a testimony.

‘God of 2018 is still around, and He will continue to allow us to embark on a smooth transition from a sitting governor to the incoming governor,’ he said.

Earlier in his sermon, the Regional Evangelist of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Johnson Kalejaiye prayed for divine intervention for the 2027 general elections.

Pastor Kalejaiye prophesied that God will clear the coast for Ogun APC and lead the party to victory without a fight.

The cleric called on political parties to refrain from the campaign of calumny and hate speech that may trigger violence.

The event, attended by Muslim and Christian clerics who prayed for APC candidates’ victory in turn, also had in attendance Chief Olusegun Osoba, former Governor of Ogun State; Minister of Livestock Idi Mukhta Maiha; Chief Yemisi Sanusi; Ogun State APC chairman and Senator Lekan Mustapha; and the Director General of the APC Campaign Council in Ogun.

Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has called on Nigerians to uphold national unity, tolerance and respect for the rule of law as the country marks its 66th Independence Anniversary.

The CJN, in a goodwill message to Nigerians, said the anniversary provided an opportunity to reflect on Nigeria’s journey as a nation, the challenges it had overcome and the work that remained to be done.

She acknowledged the difficulties and uncertainties that had characterised the country’s history but said Nigerians had continued to demonstrate resilience, creativity and faith in the nation’s future.

According to the CJN, the strength of a nation should not be measured solely by its economic and material progress, but also by the quality of its institutions, the fairness with which laws are administered and the level of trust citizens place in one another and public institutions.

She said the Judiciary had a critical role to play in this national development, describing it as an essential pillar of Nigeria’s constitutional democracy and guardian of the rule of law.

‘The Judiciary remains committed to the fair, impartial and timely administration of justice,’ she said, and stressed that public confidence in the justice system depended largely on the integrity, independence and humanity with which justice was administered.

Justice Kekere-Ekun also urged Nigerians to cherish their common identity and approach their differences with understanding and tolerance, saying the country’s diversity should be regarded as a source of strength rather than division.

‘Our diversity, when guided by mutual respect and a sense of common purpose, should remain a source of strength rather than division,’ she said, and called on Nigerians to remember and honour those who had made sacrifices in various fields of national service to preserve the country’s freedom and sustain its democracy.

She urged citizens to contribute, regardless of how modest their efforts might be, towards building a stronger, more just and united Nigeria for future generations.

‘Let us honour their contributions by doing our part, however modest, to leave Nigeria stronger, more just and more united for those who will come after us,’ the CJN said.

The Federal Government has missed its September target for submitting the 2027 Appropriation Bill to the National Assembly, raising fresh concerns over Nigeria’s persistent delays in the budget cycle and the implementation of annual fiscal plans.

Government sources attribute the development to the decision to embark on yet another recess shortly after returning from a prolonged break.

Members of the National Assembly began the new recess after spending 68 days away from plenary. Their 2026 annual recess started on July 23, following the conclusion of legislative activities.

The Assembly was originally scheduled to resume on September 15, but the date was shifted to September 29 to allow for repairs to the sound systems in the Senate and House of Representatives chambers. Upon resumption, the Senate adjourned after deliberating on nationwide security ahead of a planned National Security Summit. The House is set to resume on October 13 to handle pending bills and budget-related matters.

The Federal Government had planned to lay the 2027 Appropriation Bill before the National Assembly in September as part of efforts to restore a more predictable budget cycle and address longstanding delays in budget implementation. The intention was outlined in the 2027 Personnel Costs Budget Call Circular issued by the Budget Office of the Federation and dated September 4, 2026.

In an earlier circular signed by the Director-General of the Budget Office, Tanimu Yakubu, the office noted that the draft 2027-2029 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper had been concluded in July 2026 in line with the Fiscal Responsibility Act 2007. This was intended to facilitate the submission of the 2027 budget to the National Assembly by September 2026.

‘As you are aware, the 2027-2029 draft Medium-Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper was concluded by July 2026 in line with the Fiscal Responsibility Act 2007 to facilitate the submission of 2027 Budget to the National Assembly by September 2026,’ the Budget Office stated.

Although no specific presentation date was fixed, the timetable aimed to have the spending plan before lawmakers about three months before the start of the 2027 fiscal year. The move comes against a backdrop of repeated delays and overlapping budget cycles that have complicated the execution of federal budgets in recent years.

More concern lies in the fact that the National Assembly has extended implementation of the 2025 Appropriation Act’s capital component to December 31, 2026, giving federal ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) three more months. The extension came after the Senate and House of Representatives separately considered and approved President Bola Tinubu’s request for more time to implement capital projects under the 2025 fiscal framework.

This is coming at a time when economic and financial experts have stated that part of the 2026 budget may be rolled over into 2027, noting that the Federal Government is still struggling with the implementation of previous budget cycles. ‘If the budget, for example, the 2025 budget, has not been implemented, and we have to roll over 70% of 2025 to 2026, and that with the promise that 30% will be implemented before March. Up to March, even 30% was not implemented. The National Assembly had to extend the lifespan of the budget up to September to allow government to implement just the 30% component of the 2025 budget,’ one expert lamented.

Tribune Online contacted the Budget Office of the Federation to ascertain the level of 2026 budget implementation. However, there was no response at the time of filing this report.

Officials had previously linked some implementation challenges to inconsistencies in key macroeconomic assumptions used by fiscal and monetary authorities. Following a joint budget retreat and technical validation workshop, discrepancies were identified in projections for crude oil prices and production, exchange rates, inflation, and non-oil revenues. These differences contributed to gaps between budget estimates and actual fiscal outcomes.

The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, had emphasised that harmonising the assumptions would help reduce such discrepancies and improve the alignment between budget projections and economic performance.

Ahead of the September target, the Budget Office set a 4pm deadline on September 18, 2026, for ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) to submit both hard and electronic copies of their 2027 personnel budget proposals. The circular introduced stricter verification requirements, including the compulsory submission of the laws establishing each MDA alongside its budget proposal. The measure followed controversy over the inclusion of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, which was allocated about N1.3 billion in the 2026 budget despite questions over its legal status.

The Budget Office said the new requirement was designed to prevent the inclusion of unestablished agencies in the Federal Government’s budget. ‘To further strengthen the budget preparation process and mitigate against any entry of unestablished agencies in the FGN Budget, it has become compulsory for MDAs to submit budget proposals along with their respective Establishment Acts as failure to do so may lead to rejection,’ it stated.

Beyond agency verification, the 2027 budget circular tightened controls over personnel expenditure. MDAs were warned against providing salaries and allowances for individuals who are not legitimate Federal Government employees. Payrolls must be validated against records on the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) and the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS).

The Budget Office stated that no personnel cost provision would be made for serving Federal Government employees who are not captured on IPPIS or enrolled on GIFMIS, except where an appropriate exemption exists. MDAs were directed to use only salary structures and allowances approved by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission and to verify employees’ grade levels and steps.

The government further barred MDAs from budgeting for anticipated promotions. Only promotions already approved and effective will be reflected in the 2027 personnel budget, while those taking effect during the year will be funded centrally. Unauthorised recruitment that results in salary shortfalls or payroll lock-outs will not attract government funding.

Consultants, contract workers, National Youth Service Corps members, industrial attachment students, outsourced service providers, and other non-permanent workers are not to be included in MDAs’ nominal rolls. Particular restrictions were placed on federal health and education institutions to prevent the multiple capture of consultants, lecturers, and interns on the payrolls of different institutions.

The Budget Office said it would deploy a centralised Personnel Cost Monitoring Dashboard linked to IPPIS and GIFMIS. This will allow MDAs to compare actual personnel expenditure with approved budget provisions in real time. A Payroll Discrepancy Resolution Committee will meet monthly to address differences between MDA submissions and government payroll records, while requests for salary and promotion arrears will be processed quarterly.

MDAs are also required to submit their third-quarter 2026 personnel budget performance reports by September 30 to guide personnel planning for the 2027 fiscal year. Ministers, chief executives, and accounting officers must initial every page of their hard-copy budget proposals and certify the accuracy of the information submitted.

The tighter controls indicate that the 2027 budget preparation process is being used not only to advance the submission timetable but also to strengthen expenditure controls and reduce payroll and institutional irregularities before funds are appropriated.

With the National Assembly now on another recess and the House not expected back until mid-October, the early submission of the 2027 budget remains delayed, continuing a pattern that has long hampered effective fiscal planning and implementation in the country.

Kano State Governor Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf has urged political actors, community leaders, and residents to reject violence, division, intolerance, and criminality in order to sustain peace and development in the state.

Yusuf made the call on Thursday while addressing citizens at the 66th Independence Anniversary celebration held at the Sani Abacha Indoor Stadium, Kano.

The governor also urged residents to pray for peaceful, free, fair, and credible elections while exercising their civic responsibilities responsibly.

‘Let us shun violence and anything that may threaten the peace and stability of our dear state,’ Yusuf said.

He called on the people of Kano to renew their commitment to peace, unity, and responsible citizenship as Nigeria marks its 66th Independence Anniversary.

Yusuf said nation-building required unity, sacrifice, and collective responsibility, urging Nigerians to turn the country’s diversity of languages, cultures, traditions, and faiths into a source of strength through mutual respect and peaceful coexistence.

The governor also urged citizens to obey the law, protect public property, reject violence and criminality, pay legitimate taxes, and contribute to the peace and development of their communities.

He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to working with the federal government, local governments, traditional and religious institutions, the private sector, and development partners in the interest of the people.

Yusuf called on residents to support farmers, traders, teachers, entrepreneurs, women, and young people, saying a peaceful and stable environment would enable citizens to contribute meaningfully to the development of the state.

He said his administration would remain focused on consolidating its achievements in education, healthcare, agriculture, infrastructure, water supply, security, and human capital development.

Chairman of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) in Osun, Adewale Adebayo, has assured members of the party that the recent Supreme Court judgment on provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 does not affect the party’s structure or operations.

Adebayo gave the assurance in a statement made available to journalists on Thursday, amid concerns in political circles over the implications of the apex court’s September 24 judgment for political parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The Supreme Court, in a unanimous judgment delivered by a seven-member panel led by Justice Adamu Jauro, restored Sections 77(5), 77(6), 77(7) and 84(2) of the Electoral Act 2026, which had earlier been voided by the Court of Appeal.

The provisions govern political parties’ membership registers and the nomination of candidates. Sections 77(5) to (7) require parties to rely on the membership register submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at least 21 days before primaries, congresses or conventions, while Section 84(2) provides for direct primaries or consensus as methods of nominating candidates.

The judgment followed an appeal by INEC against an earlier Court of Appeal decision which had struck down the provisions after a challenge by the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).

Adebayo, however, said the ruling had no adverse effect on the APM, urging members to remain calm, united and focused on the party’s programmes.

He said, ‘The judgement does not affect the structure, operations and legitimacy of the APM in Osun and across the country.’

According to him, the party remains intact and is fully prepared for the 2027 elections.

He said the APM was working to secure victory for its presidential candidate, Seyi Makinde, as well as its candidates for the state House of Assembly, House of Representatives and Senate.

Adebayo added that the party had put strategies in place to strengthen its grassroots presence across the local government areas of Osun State.

He urged members to intensify mobilisation and remain focused, rather than being distracted by what he described as rumours or misinterpretations of the Supreme Court judgment.

‘We are not affected by the Supreme Court judgement. Our party is intact and we are more determined than ever to deliver for our presidential candidate, Seyi Makinde, and all our candidates in the House of Assembly, House of Representatives and Senate in 2027,’ he said.

The Supreme Court judgment has generated discussion over the practical implications of the restored provisions for political parties and candidates preparing for the 2027 elections, although reports indicate that the ruling did not automatically invalidate nominations already concluded.

Nigerian entrepreneur and civic advocate, Akin Olaoye, popularly known as Akin Tollgate, who supported Peter Obi in the 2023 presidential election, has endorsed President Bola Tinubu for a second term in office.

Akin Tollgate announced his new position in a statement shared on his X handle, explaining that his decision followed his assessment of the Tinubu administration’s policies and performance since 2023.

He was a prominent supporter of Obi during the 2023 election and publicly backed his presidential bid at the time. A 2023 interview also identified him as a supporter of Obi.

However, Akin said his position had changed after observing developments under the Tinubu administration over the past three years.

‘In 2023, I was a critic. I distrusted the APC like many in my generation. I was disillusioned, and my conviction then was clear: the opposition offered the better path. I acted on it. I organised, I spoke, and I put my own resources behind that belief,’ Akin said.

He said he was now supporting Tinubu because of what he described as the administration’s reform agenda, particularly its economic policies.

‘Three years later, I have changed my position. Not because it is convenient. Not because I was paid. I have changed because the reforms, the vision, and the leadership President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has shown have moved the country in a direction I can no longer honestly deny,’ he said.

Olaoye cited the removal of the petrol subsidy and foreign exchange reforms among the major decisions that influenced his position, acknowledging that the measures had imposed significant pressure on Nigerians.

‘Fuel subsidy removal was painful. FX unification was painful. Nigerians have carried a significant burden through this transition,’ he said.

The International Monetary Fund has said Nigeria’s reforms since 2023 have helped strengthen macroeconomic stability, reduce fiscal vulnerabilities and improve the functioning of the foreign exchange market, while also noting that economic conditions remain difficult for many Nigerians.

The social critic said he believed the reforms were addressing structural problems that had persisted in the Nigerian economy.

‘But I believe the architecture of a functioning economy is being rebuilt in public, with determination. Leadership sometimes requires decisions whose benefits are not immediately visible,’ he said.

The entrepreneur acknowledged that his decision to switch political allegiance would attract criticism, particularly because of his previous support for Obi.

‘Some will be upset to see me pivot. Others will cheer. I understand. But loyalty to a 2023 posture is easier than responding to what you believe the evidence before you now shows. I choose the latter,’ he said.

‘Nigeria cannot be frozen in the arguments of 2023 while 2027 and the future demand new decisions.’

He also said his support for Tinubu did not mean he opposed the existence of a strong opposition or the right of Nigerians to disagree with the government.

‘I respect those who still stand with the opposition. I admire their persistence and the constituencies they speak for. Democracy needs that contest, and I will continue to advocate for it,’ he said.

‘My position is simply that I no longer believe their current path represents the direction I want to support for Nigeria at this time.’

He identified fiscal policy, infrastructure and what he described as the administration’s willingness to take politically difficult economic decisions as factors behind his decision.

Olaoye also said he intended to remain actively involved in politics ahead of the 2027 elections.

‘That same energy and vigour will be deployed ahead of 2027 – not as a convert seeking applause, but as a Nigerian who has watched the data, lived through the pain and reached the conclusion that the country must keep moving,’ he said.

He argued that changing a political position based on changing circumstances should not automatically be interpreted as inconsistency.

‘There is nothing democratic about insisting that a citizen must remain permanently imprisoned by a political decision he made in 2023. Democracy also means the freedom to reassess, question, change, and make a different choice based on what you see today.

‘My position today is clear: Nigeria must move forward,’ he concluded.

Less than a week after the official registration for the 2027 Hajj exercise, the Saudi Arabia Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has approved an additional 10,000 slots for Nigeria and conveyed the approval to the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), despite the ministry’s initial rejection of the commission’s request for additional slots.

The Saudi authorities had last year reduced Nigeria’s allocation from 95,000, which the country had maintained for nearly two decades, to 50,000 for the 2025 Hajj exercise and maintained the figure for the 2026 and 2027 Hajj exercises.

Based on the 50,000 slots allocated to Nigeria for the 2027 Hajj, NAHCON had distributed the slots among states and private tour operators, with states and the armed forces getting 35,000, while the remaining 15,000 was allocated to tour operators.

Following persistent requests for more allocations from state Muslim pilgrims’ welfare boards and private tour operators, NAHCON approached the Saudi ministry for more slots to be allocated to Nigeria for the 2027 Hajj.

However, on 17 September, NAHCON announced that the Saudi authorities had declined Nigeria’s request for an upward review of its 2027 Hajj allocation.

The decline, according to the management of the Hajj commission, meant Nigeria’s earlier quota of 50,000 slots remained unchanged despite growing demand from intending pilgrims across the country.

The commission disclosed that it had formally engaged the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, seeking additional pilgrimage slots to accommodate the increasing number of Nigerian Muslims desirous of undertaking the sacred journey and to address appeals from several state pilgrims’ welfare boards for enhanced allocations.

According to NAHCON, Saudi authorities communicated their inability to grant additional slots, citing capacity limitations, structural constraints within the holy sites and the Kingdom’s policy of strict adherence to approved country quotas under the current operational framework.

However, Tribune Online learnt that the Saudis made a U-turn as a result of diplomatic engagements involving higher authorities from both countries, prompting the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah to formally notify NAHCON of the approval of an additional 10,000 slots to Nigeria’s earlier allocation of 50,000 slots.

Reliable sources in NAHCON informed Tribune Online that the commission received a letter informing it of the allocation of the additional slots to Nigeria before the close of work on Wednesday. This now brings Nigeria’s total allocation for next year’s Hajj exercise to 60,000 slots.

‘Following diplomatic engagements between the Federal Government, NAHCON and Saudi authorities, the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah on Wednesday communicated approval of an additional 10,000 slots to Nigeria.

‘This means that we now have the opportunity of registering more intending pilgrims for next year’s Hajj. This is, indeed, good news,’ an insider in NAHCON told Tribune Online.

Asked what would happen after the 26 September deadline set by the Saudi ministry for all intending pilgrims’ registration data to be uploaded on its Nusuk Masar platform, another source said the Saudis would leave the platform open for the data of new registrants to be uploaded.

As of the time of filing this report, NAHCON had not made any official statement on the development, and it was not clear how the additional slots would be distributed, given that both states and private tour operators had agitated for more slots.

Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has distributed appointment letters to 2,367 newly recruited health personnel as part of efforts to address manpower shortages in healthcare facilities across the state.

He said the first phase of the recruitment included 250 medical doctors, 40 pharmacists, 250 nurses, 250 midwives, 150 senior community health extension workers, 50 junior community health extension workers and 50 epidemiologists.

Yusuf said the recruitment was necessitated by identified manpower gaps in health facilities and the need to improve access to quality healthcare services for residents.

The governor, who spoke during the distribution of the appointment letters in Kano, said the shortage of medical personnel had become a major challenge, particularly as doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals continued to move to other institutions and locations.

According to him, hundreds of other healthcare professionals across various cadres were also recruited under the exercise.

Yusuf said the deployment of the newly recruited personnel would strengthen hospitals, primary healthcare centres and other health institutions, particularly facilities experiencing critical shortages of healthcare workers.

He congratulated the new employees, describing their appointments as a call to service and urging them to demonstrate compassion, discipline, integrity, commitment, and respect for human dignity in discharging their duties.

The governor directed the health workers to provide services fairly and with dignity to all patients, irrespective of their social status, religion, ethnicity, political affiliation or economic circumstances.

He also urged them to maintain punctuality and dedication, pursue continuous professional development and ensure responsible use of public resources.

Yusuf assured the new health personnel that the state government would provide the necessary support to enable them to perform effectively, while holding them accountable for delivering quality healthcare services to the people.

He commended the Ministry of Health, State Hospital Management Board, Primary Healthcare Development Agency and other institutions involved in the recruitment exercise for their contributions towards its success.