The Kano State Pilgrims Welfare Board says it will soon announce the official deposit amount for the 2027 Hajj, assuring intending pilgrims that preparations for next year’s pilgrimage are already underway despite the absence of an official fare announcement.

The Director General of the Kano State Pilgrims Welfare Board, Alhaji Abubakar Ibrahim Matawalle, disclosed this during a press briefing at the Board’s headquarters in Kano while presenting the major achievements recorded during the 2026 Hajj operations.

Matawalle explained that although some states have already announced their Hajj fares and deposits for 2027, Kano State would not be in a hurry to make such an announcement until the necessary consultations and planning were completed. According to him, the Board is working diligently to ensure that intending pilgrims receive accurate information at the appropriate time.

The Director General described the 2026 Hajj exercise as one of the most successful in the history of the Board, attributing the achievement to careful planning, effective coordination and the commitment of all stakeholders involved in the pilgrimage operations.

He expressed gratitude to Almighty Allah for the successful completion of the pilgrimage and commended Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf for his unwavering support, guidance and commitment to the welfare of Kano State pilgrims. Matawalle also acknowledged the contributions of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Saudi authorities, airlines and other partners for ensuring a smooth operation.

Highlighting the Board’s achievements, Matawalle said every intending pilgrim from Kano State received official uniforms and hand luggage to promote uniformity, convenience and easy identification throughout the pilgrimage.

He further revealed that the Board renovated the mosque at the Hajj Terminal of Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport to provide a more conducive environment for worshippers and pilgrims. According to him, chairs and electric fans were also donated to improve the comfort of pilgrims awaiting their departure flights.

Matawalle stated that each of the 3,611 Kano State pilgrims received financial support of 200 Saudi Riyals upon arrival in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to assist with their immediate expenses.

The Director General added that the Hajj demonstration field and toilet facilities at the Hajj camp were renovated to improve the quality of pre-departure orientation programmes, while the Board also donated four Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) units to the Nigerian Immigration Service at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport Command to facilitate efficient immigration services during the Hajj operations.

According to Matawalle, the Board, with support from ASIA Group of Companies, distributed free detergent and toothpaste to all Kano pilgrims as part of efforts to improve their welfare throughout the pilgrimage.

He also disclosed that shuttle buses were provided to transport pilgrims between their accommodation and the Holy Mosque (Al-Haram) in Makkah for the five daily prayers, significantly improving their comfort and ease of movement.

Matawalle said the Board successfully airlifted all 3,611 registered pilgrims to Saudi Arabia and safely returned every one of them to Nigeria, achieving what he described as a 100 percent completion rate without leaving any Kano pilgrim stranded in the Kingdom.

He noted that close collaboration with NAHCON, airlines, Saudi authorities and service providers ensured the smooth execution of all stages of the Hajj exercise, while continuous medical services were provided in collaboration with relevant health authorities to address pilgrims’ healthcare needs.

The Director General explained that intensified enlightenment and orientation programmes before departure resulted in better compliance with Hajj regulations and exemplary conduct by Kano pilgrims throughout the pilgrimage.

Matawalle further disclosed that proper identification and documentation of pilgrims significantly reduced cases of missing pilgrims during movements between the holy sites despite operational challenges experienced at some Saudi airports.

He revealed that the Board successfully recovered about 30 pieces of luggage left behind in various pilgrims’ accommodations, in addition to more than 100 pieces of abandoned main and hand luggage at Saudi airports.

According to Matawalle, an international cargo operator was engaged to transport all recovered luggage back to Kano, where they would be distributed to their rightful owners.

He said the Board’s performance during the 2026 Hajj has once again strengthened Kano State’s reputation as one of Nigeria’s leading pilgrims’ welfare agencies, noting that the achievements were made possible through teamwork, transparency, dedication and the unwavering support of the Kano State Government and other stakeholders.

Matawalle expressed appreciation to all Kano pilgrims for their discipline, patience and cooperation throughout the exercise, saying their conduct reflected the values and dignity of the state and contributed significantly to the overall success of the pilgrimage.

The Director General assured residents that the Board would continue improving its services by applying lessons learned from the 2026 Hajj exercise in preparations for future pilgrimages. He reiterated that the official deposit for the 2027 Hajj would be announced soon after the necessary arrangements are concluded.

The Kano State Task Force Committee on Voter Registration Mobilisation has intensified its campaign to encourage eligible residents to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) with an advocacy visit to Yan Lemo Market in Na’ibawa, the largest fruit market in Kano State. The outreach was carried out by the Sub-Committee on Engagement with the Business Community as part of efforts to ensure that no eligible voter is left out of the ongoing voter registration exercise.

Speaking during the visit, Chairman of Yan Lemo Market, Alhaji Muhammadu, welcomed the delegation and commended the committee for identifying the market as a strategic partner in the voter registration campaign. He expressed appreciation for the initiative and appealed to the Kano State Government to make voter registration more accessible to traders and business owners, noting that the nature of their commercial activities often makes it difficult for them to leave their businesses to register.

Addressing the traders, the Chairman of the Sub-Committee on Engagement with the Business Community, Alhaji Tijjani Abdullahi Sarki, described the possession of a Permanent Voter Card as both a constitutional right and a civic responsibility. He urged eligible residents to take advantage of the ongoing registration exercise to secure their PVCs and participate in future elections.

According to Alhaji Sarki, the registration exercise is open to first-time registrants, Nigerians who have attained the age of 18 since the last voter registration exercise, individuals seeking to transfer their voting location following a change of residence, those requesting corrections to their personal information, as well as citizens whose voter cards have been lost or damaged.

He further assured the traders of the Kano State Government’s commitment to promoting wider voter participation across the state. He said the concerns and requests presented by the market leadership, particularly the need for easier access to registration centres for traders, would be forwarded to the main Task Force Committee for appropriate consideration and necessary action.

Also speaking during the engagement, the Secretary of the Sub-Committee, Alhaji Hassan Kofar Mata, thanked the market executives and traders for their warm reception and active participation throughout the sensitisation programme. He commended their interest in the exercise and encouraged them to mobilise other eligible members of the business community to register.

Responding to questions from traders, Alhaji Hassan explained the procedures for transferring voter registration from one Local Government Area to another, correcting personal records, replacing lost or damaged Permanent Voter Cards, and other voter registration-related processes. He urged residents to take advantage of the ongoing exercise to regularise their voter information and ensure they are eligible to participate in future elections.

The advocacy visit forms part of the Kano State Task Force Committee’s broader campaign to increase voter registration and strengthen citizens’ participation in the democratic process through sustained engagement with critical stakeholders, including business communities across the state.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has dissolved its Kano State executive committee and constituted a caretaker committee to oversee the affairs of the party pending the conduct of future congresses. The announcement was made on Monday in Kano by the party’s Deputy National Chairman (North West), Hajiya Najaatu Muhammad, during a press briefing at the Kano Press Centre.

Addressing journalists, Hajiya Najaatu Muhammad said the newly constituted caretaker committee would be chaired by Alhaji Umar Bala. She explained that the decision was taken by the national leadership of the party in line with its constitutional responsibility to preserve the unity, continuity and constitutional integrity of the ADC in Kano State.

According to her, the dissolution of the state executives and the inauguration of the caretaker committee should not be interpreted as a victory for one faction over another but as a constitutional response to an administrative situation within the party. She stressed that the move was aimed at restoring stability and ensuring the uninterrupted administration of the party in Kano State.

Hajiya Najaatu stated that the national leadership acted in accordance with the provisions of the party’s constitution, the Electoral Act and its responsibility to safeguard the future of the ADC. She maintained that when circumstances create a leadership vacuum within a political party, it becomes the duty of the national leadership to take appropriate constitutional measures to maintain order, discipline and continuity.

She further emphasized that the constitution of the caretaker committee was not a judgment on the loyalty or commitment of party members across Kano State. According to her, thousands of members had sacrificed their time, resources and reputation to build the party at the grassroots and had remained committed even during difficult political periods, adding that their contributions remained appreciated by the national leadership.

Speaking on the mandate of the committee, Hajiya Najaatu said its primary responsibility was to heal divisions within the party rather than deepen them. She noted that the committee was expected to rebuild confidence in the party’s structures, strengthen its institutions, prepare for future congresses and ensure that every genuine member of the ADC had a place within the party.

She urged members of the caretaker committee to lead with fairness, humility, transparency and impartiality, saying their success would be measured not by the number of decisions they make but by their ability to reunite members under one platform. She advised the committee to consult widely, exercise patience and always regard leadership as a trust rather than a privilege.

The ADC Deputy National Chairman also appealed to party members across the 44 local government areas of Kano State to support the transitional arrangement in good faith. She assured members that the doors of the party remained open to everyone and called on stakeholders to embrace reconciliation, dialogue and unity in the overall interest of the party.

Hajiya Najaatu said the political environment ahead would require greater unity and discipline, warning that internal disagreements should not distract the party from presenting itself as a credible alternative to Nigerians. She urged members to channel their energy toward strengthening the party, mobilising supporters, expanding membership and engaging communities instead of focusing on internal divisions.

She expressed confidence that the future of the ADC in Kano State would be stronger if members remained faithful to the party’s constitution and democratic ideals. She called on members to replace division with dialogue, suspicion with trust and personal interests with the collective interest of the party, while praying for God’s guidance for the caretaker committee, Kano State and Nigeria.