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Kano 2026 Hajj: Dignity on the Journey, Excellence in Leadership
Kano 2026 Hajj: Dignity on the Journey, Excellence in Leadership
By Lamara Garba_
For Kano pilgrims, the 2026 Hajj was not just a religious obligation fulfilled. It was a journey defined by dignity, comfort, and the quiet confidence that comes from being well cared for.
From transit at the Hajj Camp to departure through Malam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), from King Abdulazeez Airport Jeddah to Madinah, from Madinah to Makkah, and through Mina, Arafat Holy sites, and the return home journey, the operation ran with remarkable calm. There were no chaotic scenes, no avoidable crises. What stood out instead was order: order in movement, order in service, and order in conduct. That order did not happen by accident. It was deliberate and organised.
The first signal came early. The airlift was orderly. The transfer from Jeddah to Madinah was smooth. The road movement from Madinah to Makkah followed the same pattern. Even the return journey from the Holy Land was largely uneventful. For thousands of people moving across borders and holy sites, the absence of disruption is itself a statement. It meant pilgrims could focus on worship, not on logistics. Anxiety was replaced with peace of mind.
The machinery behind it was complex: accommodation, feeding, water, transportation, welfare support in a foreign land. Yet for Kano, much of it worked. Meals were regular and nourishing, supplemented with fruits and soft drinks. Drinking water was available without interruption, even during the most demanding days. Accommodation in Madinah, Makkah, Mina and Arafat was decent and well managed. The 24-hour shuttle service in Makkah made access to the Grand Mosque easier, freeing pilgrims to spend their time in prayer rather than in transit.
The token financial support from the Kano State Government also mattered. Beyond the cash value, it sent a message that the government saw the sacrifice and chose to share the burden. These interventions created something more valuable than convenience. They created confidence.
But good administration alone does not make a successful Hajj. The conduct of the pilgrims did. Throughout the exercise, Kano pilgrims showed patience, discipline, and respect for authority. There was no rancour, no unnecessary confrontation. They carried themselves in a way that preserved the dignity of Kano and reflected well on the state.
That mutual respect between service providers and pilgrims is what made large-scale logistics manageable. Government provided the facilities, and citizens responded with responsibility. That partnership is the difference between a trip and a dignified pilgrimage. In a gathering of thousands, the absence of serious disorder is not a minor footnote. It is proof that the system worked on both sides.
Recent reporting has independently affirmed the success of the 2026 Kano operation, with specific commendation for Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf and the Kano State Pilgrims Welfare Board. The recognition reportedly extended by the Mutawwaf to the governor adds weight. When praise comes from outside the state’s own administrative structure, it suggests the experience was visible beyond Kano.
At the center of that administration was Alhaji Ibrahim Abubakar Matawalle, Director General of the Board. Hajj is not managed in press statements. It is managed in whether food arrives on time, water does not run out, buses run on schedule, and assistance reaches a pilgrim in need. Across those details, the Board performed. The success of the operation must therefore be viewed not only as an administrative achievement, but as a welfare achievement judged by the experience of the pilgrim.
Guidance also came from the Amirul Hajj, the Emir of Gaya, Alhaji Aliyu Ibrahim Abdulkadir. In an operation involving thousands of people and multiple agencies, temperament matters. His calm, humble leadership set the tone and provided direction without noise. His deputy, the Emir of Karaye, Alhaji Maharaz Abubakar, played an important supporting role. Together, they reinforced the contribution of traditional institutions and gave the delegation a reassuring sense of guidance throughout the journey.
Hajj strips governance to its essentials. Policies are tested not in memos, but in meals, beds, buses, and water. A pilgrim who receives a nourishing meal, finds clean drinking water, sleeps in decent accommodation, boards a shuttle to the Haram, and receives help when needed is experiencing government in its most practical form. When public resources are administered with competence and care, they translate directly into comfort and dignity.
Kano’s 2026 experience also highlights the importance of collective leadership. The governor provided political direction and support. The Board translated that direction into administration. The Amirul Hajj offered guidance. Traditional rulers added wisdom and authority. Officials managed logistics. And the pilgrims completed the chain by behaving responsibly. When each link performs its responsibility, the people become the ultimate beneficiaries.
The scale of the operation alone makes the achievement significant. Moving thousands of pilgrims across different locations, in a foreign country, requires meticulous planning and constant supervision. For Kano pilgrims, that machinery largely delivered. They were moved from the Hajj Camp to MAKIA, from Jeddah to Madinah, from Madinah to Makkah and eventually back home with remarkable order. They were fed adequately. Drinking water was available without interruption. They enjoyed decent accommodation in the two Holy cities and at the Holy sites. They had access to 24-hour shuttle buses. They received financial support from the state.
But perhaps the greatest achievement was the dignity that characterised the entire experience. The pilgrims were treated with respect, and they reciprocated that respect.
Hajj will always be a spiritual test first. No amount of administrative excellence can replace the faith, sacrifice and devotion required of the pilgrim. But good administration can remove avoidable burdens and create the conditions in which worship can be performed with greater peace of mind. That appears to be what Kano achieved in 2026.
The commendation therefore belongs to Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf for the political support provided, to Alhaji Ibrahim Abubakar Matawalle and his team for administrative diligence, to the Amirul Hajj for calm and purposeful leadership, and to his deputy for valuable support. It also belongs to the pilgrims themselves. They travelled with dignity, worshipped with devotion and returned with honour.
Leadership, ultimately, is not simply about taking people somewhere. It is about ensuring that they make the journey with dignity and return with gratitude. Kano’s 2026 Hajj has provided a powerful illustration of that principle. It shows that when government puts the welfare of its people first, good governance stops being an abstract political promise.
It becomes something people can eat, drink, experience, remember, and ultimately thank their leaders for.
Lamara Garba, is a member of the 2026 Hajj Media Team
News
CP Tijjani Commissions Newly Modern Police Division In Birniwa LGA
CP Tijjani Commissions Newly Modern Police Division In Birniwa LGA
…*He also visits the family of a fallen police corporal and inspects the armed robbery crime scene in Hadejia town.*
The Commissioner of Police, Jigawa State Command, CP Tijjani Murtala, psc, mnips, has commissioned the newly modern Police Division (Abuja type II) in the Birniwa Local Government Area of Jigawa State.
The commissioning ceremony was attended by Birniwa Local Government Council Chairman, the District Head of the Birniwa LGA, the representative of Senator Jigawa Northeast and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Police Affairs, the Chief Imam of the Birniwa LGA, the State Chairman of the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC), members of the Jigawa State Police Command Management Team, Area Commander Hadejia, the Commanding Officer, 35 PMF Dutse, Heads of Sister Security Agencies, community representatives, and other critical stakeholders from Birniwa and neighboring communities.
The colorful occasion provided an opportunity for stakeholders to express their views and offer goodwill messages concerning the new facility, policing, security, and the need for sustained collaboration between the police and the communities they serve.
Prior to the remarks by the distinguished guests, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of the Birniwa Division presented a comprehensive briefing on the Division. The briefing highlighted the historical background of the Division, its operational activities and achievements, crime-fighting efforts, community engagement initiatives, and prevailing security challenges, as well as areas requiring further support and intervention.
In his remarks, the Commissioner of Police, Jigawa State Police Command, CP Tijjani Murtala, psc, mnips, commended the efforts of the Inspector General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, psc (+), NPM, distinguished Senator Amb. Ahmed Abdulhamid Malam Madori, “the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Police Affairs,” the Chairman of the Birniwa LG council, Hon. Shehu Baba, community leaders, stakeholders, and all those who contributed to the construction of the modern facility. He noted that the provision of a conducive and functional police facility would significantly improve the working environment of police personnel and enhance the Command’s ability to respond promptly and professionally to security threats within Birniwa and adjoining communities.
The CP reiterated that the Command’s policing strategy remains anchored on intelligence-led policing, community partnership, proactive crime prevention, rapid response, professionalism, accountability, respect for human rights, and effective collaboration with sister security agencies and other relevant stakeholders.
He called on the personnel of the newly commissioned Division to regard the facility as a center of service to humanity and to discharge their responsibilities with discipline, dedication, integrity, courage, and professionalism, while maintaining a strong relationship with the members of the public.
The Commissioner further urged traditional rulers, religious leaders, community leaders, youth groups, vigilante organizations, and other stakeholders to continue supporting the police through timely provision of credible information and intelligence capable of preventing crime and facilitating the arrest and prosecution of criminal elements.
In a further demonstration of the Command’s commitment to the welfare of its personnel and the people they serve, the Commissioner of Police and his entourage, during the visit, paid a condolence and solidarity visit to the family and relatives of a police corporal who tragically lost his life while responding to a distress call arising from an armed robbery incident in Hadejia town.
The Commissioner of Police commiserated with the bereaved family and expressed the Command’s profound sympathy over the painful loss. He acknowledged the fallen officer’s sacrifice and dedication to duty, noting that his death was a painful reminder of the risks police officers confront in the course of protecting lives and property.
The CP assured the family that the sacrifice of the deceased officer would not be forgotten and conveyed the solidarity and condolences of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, psc (+), NPM, and the entire Nigeria Police Force.
The Commissioner also visited and personally inspected the scene of the armed robbery incident in Hadejia town, where he assessed the circumstances surrounding the incident, reviewed the security situation, and received operational briefings from officers on the ground.
He directed the DPO Hadejia ‘A’ Division and the investigative units of the Command to intensify efforts towards identifying, arresting, and bringing all perpetrators connected to the incident to justice. He equally called for enhanced intelligence gathering, community engagement, and proactive patrols within Hadejia and other identified flashpoints across the Command.
The Commissioner assured residents of Birniwa, Hadejia, and the entire people of Jigawa State that the Police Command remains resolute in its constitutional responsibility of protecting lives and property, preventing and detecting crime, maintaining public order, and ensuring that criminals have no safe haven within the State.
SP Lawan Shiisu Adam, ANIPR,
Police Public Relations Officer,
Jigawa State Police Command.
News
International Democracy Day: NDC Gubernatorial Candidate Calls For Political Tolerance
International Democracy Day: NDC Gubernatorial Candidate Calls For Political Tolerance
The Kano State governorship candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Comrade Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, has called on political leaders and their supporters to embrace tolerance, mutual respect and peaceful competition in the interest of democracy and national unity.
Comrade Gwarzo made the call in a statement marking the International Day of Democracy, observed every September 15.
In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Ibrahim Garba Shuaibu, Gwarzo said political differences should not divide Nigerians or turn opponents into enemies.
He stressed that every citizen has the right to support the political party and candidate of their choice, adding that democracy is strengthened when leaders respect opposing views and allow citizens to make their choices freely.
“We may belong to different political parties and have different opinions, but we are all Nigerians. Political disagreement should never become a reason for hatred, intimidation or violence. We must learn to compete without destroying one another,” Gwarzo said.
He urged governments at all levels to create an atmosphere where opposition parties can operate freely, while calling on security agencies to provide equal protection to all political parties, candidates and supporters, regardless of their political affiliation.
He also urged political parties to ensure internal democracy and avoid inflammatory statements, personal attacks and actions capable of creating tension.
Gwarzo called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other relevant institutions to remain impartial and ensure a level playing field for all political parties.
He also appealed to the media and civil society to promote responsible political discourse and provide space for competing ideas without encouraging hatred or division.
The NDC candidate said Nigerians are more interested in leaders who can address insecurity, unemployment, poverty, rising living costs, education and infrastructure than political quarrels.
“Our politics should be about ideas and solutions. We should be able to disagree on policies while respecting one another as citizens,” he said, urging young Nigerians to participate actively in the democratic process.
Gwarzo reaffirmed the NDC’s commitment to peaceful political engagement, dialogue, tolerance, accountability and inclusive governance.
“Political power is temporary, but the relationships among our people must remain. Let us compete fairly, respect our differences and allow the people to freely decide who they want to lead them. Democracy is stronger when we disagree peacefully and remain united as a people,” he said.
Signed:nn
IBRAHIM GARBA SHUAIBU
Spokesperson to Comrade Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo
NDC Kano State Governorship Candidate
September 15, 2026
News
Sabilurrashad Islamic Center Graduates 60 Students, 1 Woman Aged 100 Years
Sabilurrashad Islamic Center Graduates 60 Students,1 Woman Aged 100 years
Sabilurrashad Islamic Center located at block fj Ibrahim Umar Housing Estate, zoo Road in Tarauni Local government area has organized its graduation ceremony of 61 students among them there is one woman aged 100 years.
At the graduation ceremony held at the centre’s conference hall,an old woman aged 100 years Hajiya Murjanatu Dan- AZumi Rogo is among 61 students who graduated from the center.
What fascinated every one of the ceremony was fact that despite old age that did not prevent her from acquiring the basic Islamic knowledge where she started from scratch to the point of memorizing 60 chapters of glorious Al-Quran.
Speaking during the graduation ceremony the chairman Board of Trustee, Town planner [TPL] Al Mustapha D Inuwa said, the ceremony was 20th years of its kind, adding y the students comprising 31, married women, 23 girls, 3 boys, and 4 students who fully memorized the glorious Al –from the center.
TPL Inuwa used the opportunity to commend the center especially its teachers who dedicated effort inculcating sound Islamic knowledge among the students.
He urged parents and guardians to work hard toward further inculcating sound behaviour into their students.
According to him, the success recorded was made possible due to the effort put by parents and husbands to see that the students graduated with flying colours, describing the gesture as happy moment.
TPL inuwa advised parents, husbands and guardians to continuous to dent favourable environment for the continuity of education of the students even after graduation.
He also advised the students of the center to utilized what they learnt from the center in a good way for the benefit of their family, state and the nation at large.
The chairman of Trustee quoted a Hadith from Prophet Muhammad (SAW) which urged muslim ummah to dedicate their entire life to the services of the religion and also to continue to lead glorious Al quran daily so that it will not varnished away from his or her memory.
In his part, the secretary of Trustee who also the former provost of the state collage of Art and Remedial studies (CAS) Tudun wada Dr. Abdullahi Jibrin Adam appealed the students to be good ambassadors of the center. Dr.Jibrin commended the effort of the center for its timeless efforts toward development of the education in the center.
He revealed that the centre would continue to remember the three member like Alhaji Muhammad Bashir Tsanyawa, former chairman of Dambatta local government, Alhaji Datti Muhammad Danbatta and MD Yusuf describing them as men of the people, well-known philanthropist, leaders by example and great pillars of the center, state and nation at large.
Dr. jibrin described Hajiya murjanatu Rogo as a hardworking, dedication, humble and above all fear of God, hoping that the student of the center should emulate from her.
He then, prayed the Almighty Allah (SAW), to rewards them with Aljannah Firdausi.
Signed by Dr. Abdullahi Jibrin Adam. Secretary ward of Trustee Kano-Nigeria
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