By Ismai’l Yusuf Makwarari

The Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) Sheikh Abdullahi Sale, has vowed that the 2025 Hajj pilgrimage will mark a historic departure from past challenges.

He promised Nigerian pilgrims a hitch free pilgrimage full of comfort, safety, and spiritual fulfillment.

Sheik Sale made the declaration during a live interview on Africa TV3 in Kano, moderated by the station’s Director General, Dr. Tijjani, as part of a special program highlighting preparations for the 2025 Hajj season.

Sheikh Sale emphasized that his leadership is committed to resolving long standing issues such as accommodation shortages, inadequate feeding, and healthcare gaps.

Reflecting on his tenure as Kano State Hajj Commission Chairman, he stated, “My goal is to ensure Nigerian pilgrims perform Hajj with ease, joy, and dignity, free from the logistical hurdles of the past.”

To address accommodation concerns, NAHCON has secured over 52,000 premium housing units across Nigerian states, with an additional 20,000 units reserved for pilgrims using private tour operators. Sheikh Sale confirmed partnerships with Saudi authorities to ensure quality lodging, proper room allocations, and nutritious meals. “We have left no stone unturned in collaborating with stakeholders to guarantee comfort,” he said.

In a bid to ease financial burdens, the commission announced a landmark subsidy of ₦54 billion for 2025 pilgrims, mitigating the impact of rising global exchange rates. Sheikh Sale described the move as “a divine intervention” to ensure affordability despite economic pressures.

Healthcare remains a priority, with NAHCON partnering with the Federal Ministry of Health to deploy medical personnel, ambulances, and heatwave advisories. Free medications will be provided, and pilgrims will receive guidance on managing extreme temperatures. “We are prepared for all scenarios to safeguard our pilgrims’ health,” he assured.

The chairman also addressed misinformation circulating about Hajj preparations, urging media outlets to verify reports directly with NAHCON. “While we welcome constructive criticism, unverified claims only hinder progress. We are open to dialogue and transparency,” he emphasized.

Sheikh Sale extended gratitude to state governments for their role in securing accommodations and catering services, declaring, No pilgrim will have grounds for complaint.

He also praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima for their unwavering support in ensuring the success of the 2025 pilgrimage.

Concluding the interview, he reaffirmed his commitment: “With Allah’s grace and collective effort, the 2025 Hajj will set a new benchmark for excellence.

Our pilgrims deserve nothing less than a seamless and spiritually uplifting journey.”

Love Ogah, daughter of Bishop David Oyedepo, the founder of Living Faith Church Worldwide, has recounted a harrowing childhood experience involving a failed assassination attempt on her father.

Speaking during a sermon titled “Building a Successful Marriage,” which she shared on her Instagram page Tuesday, Mrs. Ogah reflected on a night from her school years when a group of armed men stormed their home in search of her father.

“I remember when we were growing up—I believe I was in secondary school then—one particular night, we were visited in our house by hired killers,” she said. “They came to our house specifically, stating from the time they entered the gate, ‘We’re here to execute him.’ By ‘him’, they meant my father (Bishop David Oyedepo). Our house was like a war zone. They were like, ‘Where is he?’”

According to her, the attackers searched the entire house for hours, unaware that the man they were looking for was watching them the entire time.

“The most interesting thing I’ll never forget in my life, which has stuck with me since I was a child, was that he (Oyedepo) was looking at them the entire time, but they couldn’t see him,” she said. “They ransacked our house for hours. There was a time we hid behind the door, and at a particular point, they shut the door. The door hit my lip—my entire top gum came off, and my gum was dangling. They came ready to execute.”

Despite the chaos, Oyedepo remained unharmed and hidden in plain sight. Mrs. Ogah described how, after the intruders left, family members were in disbelief when the bishop emerged from his room unscathed.

“After they ransacked the whole house for hours, my aunt came into the house crying. She said, ‘Oh my God, I don’t know what would have happened. Oh my God, where is he?’ And my father came out of his room, and we all looked like it was a film trick. He said, ‘I was staring at them the entire time.’ They entered his room and ransacked everywhere—he was looking, but they couldn’t find him,” she recounted

Using the story as a metaphor for divine protection and spiritual resilience, Mrs. Ogah urged believers to deepen their personal relationship with God.

“When you’re in the centre of God’s will for your life, challenges will come to test what you stand on. You can’t fake this thing forever,” she said.

Using the story as a metaphor for divine protection and spiritual resilience, Mrs. Ogah urged believers to deepen their personal relationship with God.

“When you’re in the centre of God’s will for your life, challenges will come to test what you stand on. You can’t fake this thing forever,” she said.

Vanguard

The murder Case Of Ahmed Musa, an SS2 student of Government Technical College Malali in Kaduna North local government area of Kaduna State, who was brutally killed on 16th February 2025, adjourned after the court session.

Four suspects who are security personnel of Kaduna state vigilance service (KADVIS), appeared in the Kaduna Chief Magistrate Court Kabala Doki in Kaduna on Thursday charged with the murder of Ahmed Musa SS2 student, who was brutally killed.

The Chief Magistrate, Justice Naheed Ibrahim Abdulhamid ordered that the 4 defendants, will be remanded in a correctional facility. The case has been adjourned until the 27th of May 2025.

The suspects are Timothy Abba 56 years old, Joseph Ogoni 41 years old, Bulus Adamu 42 years old and Francis Adamu 48 years old all personnel of Kaduna state vigilance service (KADVIS), posted to the said school to provide security, they were charged before the Kabala Doki Magistrate court, accused of criminal conspiring and negligence which cause the death of Ahmed Musa at Government technical college malali kaduna.

The security personnel will be remanded in kaduna correctional centre for alleged connection in the murder case, that out of negligence conduct they couldn’t prevent the occurrence and they could not report the incident.