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Hajj: Five Nigerians die in Saudi Arabia, 30 Others with mental challenges

Published

3 years ago

June 25, 2023

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The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria has confirmed the deaths of five Nigerian pilgrims participating in the ongoing Hajj in Saudi Arabia.

The head of NAHCON Hajj medical team, Usman Galadima, made this known on Saturday during a meeting of the commission in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, adding that 30 patients also have mental health challenges.

He identified the delegates as two each from Osun and Kaduna states, while Plateau State recorded one.

Galadima disclosed that the people with mental challenges are currently undergoing treatment and are expected to perform Hajj.

According to him, “There are 30 of them with mental health challenges.

“We have been managing them in our facilities. We have about four psychiatrists on the team.

“We have been managing them and all of them would likely perform hajj because they are a bit stable now.”

He further stated that the 2023 Hajj clinic recorded two miscarriages and delivered one baby.

News

FG approves 6-month maternity leave for female lecturers without pay

The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, disclosed this during the presentation of the renegotiated agreement between the Federal Government and ASUU.

Published

4 hours ago

January 16, 2026

OCHEFA

13 Views

Photo: Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa (right), and Minister of State for Education

The Federal Government has announced that qualified female academic staff shall be entitled to a maternity Leave of six months as provided in the subsisting Public Service Rules,” Section 3.4(vii) reads.

The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, disclosed this during the presentation of the renegotiated agreement between the Federal Government and ASUU.

He clarified that the Section 3.4 of the agreement, which focuses on ‘Non-salary conditions of service’, makes provision for six-month maternity leave as a fringe benefit.

Alausa described the agreement as a historic turning point that symbolises renewed trust, restored confidence and a firm commitment to uninterrupted academic calendars in Nigerian universities.

Alausa emphasised that the agreement reflects the resolve of President Bola Tinubu to prioritise education as the foundation of national development, noting that it marked the first time a sitting president took full ownership of the long-standing challenges confronting the university system.

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Insurgency: Trump allocates N587bn to US Africa Command for military operations in Nigeria, others

The allocation is contained in the US National Defence Authorisation Act for Fiscal Year 2026. The funds were approved under Title XLIII – Operation and Maintenance.

Published

5 hours ago

January 16, 2026

OCHEFA

13 Views

The United States plans to spend N587 billion ($413.046 million) on counter-insurgency operations in Nigeria and other African countries in 2026 amid worsening security conditions across West Africa.

The allocation is contained in the US National Defence Authorisation Act for Fiscal Year 2026. The funds were approved under Title XLIII – Operation and Maintenance.

The security budget for the US Africa Command comes against the backdrop of the Christmas Day attacks on terrorists’ hideouts in Sokoto State by the Donald Trump administration.

On Tuesday, AFRICOM delivered a consignment of military equipment to Nigerian security agencies as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen security operations across the country.