By: Ibrahim Abubakar Nagarta-NHMST
The Nigerian Hajj Media Support Team had recently come across yet another lopsided, biased, prejudicial, as well as unbalanced media report by an online newspaper “Nigerian Daily” selfishly accusing NAHCON’s leadership of nepotism among other accusations.
It could be recalled that, barely 2 months ago, a similar report which was in all ramifications same with the latest one, was unprofessionally dished out to the public by a different media platform.
The only distinction being that the recent report was attributed to the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, NAHCON ‘s wing, even though, the association in question has swiftly and categorically debunked and distanced itself from the unfounded report, however, the reports revolve around same motive and mission which was to slander and vilify the good name of the current NAHCON’s leadership by labelling baseless allegations of nepotism, favouritism and administrative flaws or lapses, against the highly revered Professor Abdullahi Pakistan’s led hajj Transformative stride in the eyes of Nigerian Muslims who mean well and have for decades been yearning for meaningful reforms in the country’s hajj industry, as being robustly witnessed at the moment.
However, the two media platforms claimed to have sourced their shoddy information from insiders within the hajj commission particularly the recent one, but annoyingly the vendors of those controversial reports never resorted to accuracy, fairness and balance as core values of journalism and as required by the ethics of the pen profession before rushing to press.
This attitude negates and outrightly goes contrary and inimical to the rules and regulations guiding the practice of journalism as a noble and just profession.
Unfortunately, or fortunately rather, the latest media report came at a time when scores of Nigerian Muslims faithful are expressing delight, optimism and confidence in the leadership style of the incumbent National Hajj Commission’s chairman, in person of Prof. Abdullahi Saleh Usman, given the unprecedented successes recorded within a very short time of his stewardship of the commission.
Most notable and outstanding feat of Prof. Abdullahi Saleh Usman’s achievements were the drastic measures taken by the far-sighted chairman and his hardworking management team in controlling the 2025 hajj fare, from further skyrocketing above what was paid the previous year despite constant fluctuations in forex, this was achieved through consistent engagements and deliberations with key stakeholders from both onshore and off shore, by NAHCON’s chairman.
Facts-check About Nepotism:
To begin with, the recent media report by the “Nigerian Daily” lacks accuracy and substance in totality, particularly where it categorically mentioned the name of one Abdulmalik Diggi, as the Chairman’s nephew, according to the NHMST’s investigations, Diggi, is not in anyway related by blood to the chairman, but only close and trusted associate of the chairman whom Professor Abdullahi Saleh,feels can render him meaningful support to successfully deliver in his mission of repositioning the hajj industry.
Similarly, where the “Nigerian Daily” an online newspaper, reported again that, it gathered some information from insiders as usual that a massive redeployment looms in the hajj commission where a chunk of NAHCON’s Staff would be affected, albeit, the newspaper couldn’t still provide any substantive evidence to corroborate it claim but as usual it only resorted to reiterating the word “insiders” as it source of information.
Journalists are always known to be fearless and courageous as such, the writer of that controversial and false report should be bold enough to mention by name some of those insiders for clarity, since in the report nowhere the so-called insiders requested for anonymity from the newspaper.
Advisably, this suggestion will earn the newspaper much public confidence and credibility which is the ultimate hope of any decent news outlet.
On the final note, the major question on the lips of many Nigerians now is who actually is behind the controversial report by the Nigerian Daily newspaper, since the Association of Senior staff of Nigeria NAHCON’s wing has denied issuing out any report of that nature as attributed to it?
In the event where these kinds of unfounded and concocted reports continue to emerge in the media without primarily reaching out to those accused (third party) for clarification as outlined in the ethics of journalism, the Nigerian Hajj Media Support Team (NHMST), will be left with no option than to start calling a spade, a spade by exposing the sponsors of those negative write-ups by calling names for the public to know, irrespective of whether those behind the ploy to mar the reputation of Prof. Abdullahi Saleh Usman, are within or outside the hajj industry in general or the National Hajj Commission in particular.
Enough is enough!
Ibrahim Abubakar Nagarta is the
National coordinator NHMST, writes from Kaduna.
