News

Hajj Deaths: FG May Bar Unfit Pilgrims From Travelling To Saudi Arabia

Published

2 years ago

July 6, 2023

The Chairman of the National Hajj Commission, Alhaji Zikrullah Hassan, has said the commission will ensure the enforcement of stringent medical screening for intending pilgrims.

This is as he said anyone found unfit for the pilgrimage would be denied the opportunity to participate in the religious rites henceforth.

“Certainly yes,” Hassan told our correspondent on Wednesday when asked if the commission will deny those found unfit from travelling to Saudi Arabia.

He said with the deaths recorded during this year’s Hajj, the commission has recommended stringent medical screening for all stakeholders, including state pilgrims’ welfare boards.

He also faulted reports that over 41,000 Nigerian pilgrims fell sick during the exercise in Saudi Arabia, saying some pilgrims were attended to more than twice by medical experts.

No fewer than 14 pilgrims died during this year’s Hajj. Giving the breakdown on Sunday in Makkah during the post-Arafat review session, the head of the Nigerian medical team for the pilgrimage, Dr Usman Galadima, said seven pilgrims died during the pre-Arafat period.

He listed the casualties to include: Plateau (1), Kaduna (2), Osun (2), Borno (1), Yobe (1), FCT (1), Benue (1) and Lagos (1), while private tour operators recorded three deaths.

Galadima said during the Muna-Arafat period, four pilgrims died at Arafat and two at Mina.

Also, The PUNCH reports on Wednesday that a 58-year-old female Kano Pilgrim, Hadiza Ismai’il, passed away while performing Hajj in Mecca.

But speaking with our correspondent on Wednesday from Saudi Arabia, the NAHCOM chairman said though it was unfortunate, death was inevitable.

He said while many things could be attributed to death by others, Muslims believes death is ordained by Allah irrespective of the circumstances.

“We are Muslims and we believe that death is inevitable. Death is not associated with sickness. As Muslim, we believe death is not about sickness.

“It (death) is about when you are called by Allah. Though we would have wanted a situation where nobody dies but we can’t question the Almighty,” Hassan told The PUNCH.

Speaking further, he clarified that the commission had in its team over 500 medical experts to cater to the pilgrims, adding that some figures being bandied in some reports were false.

He said, “It is misleading to state that 41,000 Nigerian pilgrims fell sick this year, this is because the figure represents only medical consultations i.e. the number of times a doctor consulted a patient.

“A single patient can attend a clinic multiple times if his or her condition requires multiple medical consultations. We expect over a hundred thousand consultations at the end of the operation.”

On plans to reduce mortality during a pilgrimage, Hassan said, “An effective pre-HAJJ medical screening has the potential to reduce mortality during hajj.

“Therefore, we have also recommended that a more stringent medical screening be conducted and a person certified fit to perform hajj before he or she is allowed to perform Hajj.

“NAHCON could take up the responsibility of enforcing such a decision to reduce interference by the State’s stakeholders.”
PUNCH

News

Out-of-school: Bauchi Education Ministry Takes ‘Back To School’ Campaign To Markets

Published

9 hours ago

October 15, 2025

Editor

The Bauchi State Ministry of Education has launched a sensitization campaign on the importance of education across selected market places in the state.

The campaign aims to encourage school enrolment and showcase the infrastructural facilities provided by the Bauchi state government to ensure a conducive environment for learning and teaching in the state.

Speaking during the flag off of the campaign at Gadan-Maiwa Community, Dr. Mohammed Lawal, the state’s Commissioner for Education, emphasized that the marketplaces are ideal locations to promote education, as it is a hub of activity where people gather to buy and sell.

He highlighted the various infrastructural facilities provided by the government, which he said included the mega schools, provision of qualified teachers, and educational materials to woo parents to enroll their wards into school.

The Commissioner noted that the state has made significant progress in reducing the number of out-of-school children.

Lawal stated that the government has implemented a Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) programme to support the education of girl children, which he said, has recorded significant success.

He therefore urged parents to take advantage of the government’s efforts and send their children to school.

The commissioner also commended Governor Bala Mohammed for his commitment to education and reducing the number of out-of-school children in the state.

On their part, the village head of Gadan-Maiwa, Safiyanu Ahmed, and the Chairman of Gadan-Maiwa motor Park, Alhaji Adamu Abubakar, lauded the government’s initiative and urged parents to support the effort.

The duo also appealed for more teachers to be employed to improve education in the state.

News

How My Fiancée kept Me From Temptations – Singer Spyro

Published

14 hours ago

October 15, 2025

Editor

Nigerian singer, Oludipe Oluwasanmi David, popularly known as Spyro, has revealed that his fiancée, Janet Atom, keeps him him grounded and away from temptations.

The ‘Who’s Your Guy’ crooner shared that before meeting his fiancée he was “tempted” by ladies, especially in Lekki.

Hailing his fiancée as his “Jesus baddie,” he appreciated her for changing his life.

The singer captioned a picture of his fiancée via Instagram; “Eiii God! My very own Jesus baddie @_callme_njure.

“Thank you again for saving me from Lekki girls o, na me know wettin my eyes see.”

Recall that Spyro recently engaged Janet Atom. He disclosed that he met her at a nightclub while announcing their engagement in September.

News

Drama In Abuja Hotel As BBNaija Star, Phyna Creates Scene Over alleged N200,000 Dispute [VIDEO]

Published

14 hours ago

October 15, 2025

Editor

Former Big Brother Naija winner, Ijeoma Josephina Otabor, popularly known as Phyna, was reportedly involved in a heated altercation at a hotel in Abuja following an alleged N200,000 disagreement.

According to eyewitness accounts, the confrontation began in the early hours of Tuesday inside Phyna’s hotel room in Abuja, before spilling into the lobby, attracting the attention of guests and staff.

Sources claimed the dispute stemmed from an unsettled financial issue involving N200,000, which quickly escalated into a shouting match.

The argument reportedly intensified when neither party was willing to back down, leading to pushing and chaos within the hotel premises.

Eyewitnesses further alleged that the situation worsened after others connected to the individuals involved joined the confrontation, turning the verbal exchange into a physical clash.

Security personnel and police officers were eventually called in to restore order, using teargas to disperse the crowd.

The incident comes shortly after Phyna returned to the public eye following a brief break to mourn the death of her sister, who died in an accident involving a Dangote truck.

Watch video:

https://x.com/i/status/1978198954014629890