Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Lenders Consult, Dr. Shina Phillips has commended Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma for consistently prioritising security, describing the state’s repeated hosting of CARSPO as evidence of his continued commitment to security.

Shina Phillips, who was represented at CARSPO 2026 by Mr. Nelson Olafisoye, praised the governor’s consistent support for initiatives focused on strengthening security and improving policing.

Phillip noted that the latest edition of the Conference and Retreat for Senior Police Officers marked the third time Imo State had hosted the programme.

According to him, the three editions were held under three different Inspectors-General of Police, making the repeated hosting significant in demonstrating the state government’s sustained interest in security matters.

He said the development reflected Governor Uzodinma’s continued desire to ensure that security remains a major priority in Imo State.

Philip also commended President Bola Tinubu, senior police officers and other stakeholders for maintaining their interest in and commitment to the CARSPO programme.

He said the continued participation of key stakeholders underscored the importance attached to discussions surrounding policing, security and the challenges confronting law enforcement in Nigeria.

According to Philips, CARSPO was designed to encourage police officers to engage in continuous discussions and deliberations on ways to strengthen policing and address security challenges in the country.

He urged participants at the 2026 edition to take full advantage of the platform by exchanging views and developing ideas that could contribute to better policing.

Phillip said the deliberations should help generate ideas capable of supporting improved policing and strengthening security across the country.

He further encouraged participants to remain focused on the objectives of the programme and use the opportunity to examine ways of improving the effectiveness of policing in Nigeria.

The Lenders Consult representative also expressed appreciation to the organisers for putting the programme together and commended the participants for their involvement in the discussions.

He thanked members of the Nigerian press for attending the event and helping to bring the proceedings to a wider audience.

Philip concluded by wishing the organisers, participants and other attendees safe journeys as they returned to their various destinations.

By Sam Otuonye

In a bold policy shift to upgrade the experience, streamline operations and services to Pilgrims visiting the holy land of Mecca, for their sacred duty, the Saudi Authority has introduced new measures to make the experience worthwhile, even as it has given September 26, 2026, as deadline for intending pilgrims to upload their data.

The development was made known by the Chairman, National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Ambassador Ismail Abba Yusuf, in a media interaction on Monday, September 21, 2026, at the Hajj House’s Conference Hall, Abuja.

Ambassador Yusuf, who explained that the essence of the parley was to review the new norms occasioned by the reform, and get the Muslim community acquainted with them, stated that the reform touched several areas of the Hajj operations including digitalization, business model, medical, transportation, accommodation, and the scrapping of the grade D package, as well as a new operational calendar.

“The core objective is to transition from a decade-old state-managed public system into a highly commercial, digitized, and strictly regulated private market. This strategic evolution balances an ambitious goal of hosting 30 million pilgrims by 2030 with highly rigid, uncompromising safety and
operational protocol. The most prominent component of the reforms are privatization and market
disruption of the B2B system.

“Saudi Arabia is systematically moving away from dealing with government-run national governance, welfare laws, such that we have in Nigeria. Instead, it is forcing international Hajj delegations to migrate to a business model. In the case of Nigeria this year, there was an attempt
for us to move 98% of the pilgrims to a tour operator model. For us, this drastic reform.”

Ambassador Yusuf emphasized the need for pilgrims to upscale their digital literacy and professionalism in order to align with the logistics, medical disaster management, and digital operations the reform has introduced.

“Moving forward, the Saudi government is cancelling the grade D package because they believe that anybody who comes to perform Hajj should have the best experience. So that is an issue.
Then, of course, they are thinking about face-to-face training. Anybody who is a Hajj administrator should also be professional. No room for ad-hoc people
handling Hajj administration anymore.

“There are going to be specialised training on logistics, on medical services, disaster management and crowd control. All that are going to be included in their welfare. All that are going to be included in the packages for training. And we expect that unless you get certification for that, you are not going to be accepted as a Hajj manager.
Meaning that you will not get an official visa to perform any function as a Hajj manager. However, you can go on Hajj as an ordinary citizen.

“Of course, there is a complete digitisation and centralisation. The central cornerstone of the ecosystem is the Nusuk application and the Masar
platform. All visa applications, hotel booking, flight confirmations, entry permits, including access to the
holy sites must be secured and paid for exclusively through digital portal. And of course, it means that you need to embrace digital infrastructure to be able to do that. Otherwise, it will be difficult
for your children to access all the holy sites.”

Ambassador Yusuf stated that the
commonly affordable grade D which accommodates 80 to 90% of poor Nigerian pilgrims who, out of
commitment to their religion, save over time to be able to perform the sacred duty has been scrapped in order to give every participant a rewarding experience.

On the Nigeria’s response to the reforms,
recognizing that an abrupt overhaul would collapse the long-established Hajj administrative system in Nigeria, Ambassador Yusuf said NAHCON responded with structured diplomatic resistance and negotiated concessions.

He said the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria successfully argued that an immediate 98 percent shift
to privatization would trigger financial shock and leave the country, the ordinary Nigerian women, prized out of Hajj hence, on August 18, 2026, NAHCON secured a major diplomatic concession, getting Saudi approval for a phased transition over a three-year period, commencing with 30 percent
withdrawal from the 2027 Hajj.

He said that they made an appeal for Saudi to increase their quota, because of the increased number of applicants this year 2026, but was turned down, insisting that the 50,000 was sacrosanct.

“We however promised that next year (2027) we will consider adjustment in our quota, depending on how we perform this year, performance in terms of quota utilization, if we are able to finish using
our quarter.”

On the institutional and government response to the Saudi reform, NAHCON chairman said, “The Nigerian government has shown its full institutional way behind compliance, that
Nigeria should comply. The government emphasizes that Nigeria must remain a law-abiding partner to maintain its
diplomatic credibility and prestige. So, NAHCON is complying as much as it can.”

By Ijeoma Nwajiobi, Nnewi

The Knights of St. Mulumba (kSM) Nigeria, Onitsha Metropolitan Council has unveiled N2 billion Endowment Fund and Integrated Charity Initiatives to sustain its work of charity.

The event at the Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity on Saturday, September 19, 2026 started with a Holy Mass presided over by the Catholic Bishop of Awka, Most Rev. Dr. Paulinus Ezeokafor.

In his homily, the Bishop spoke on the new found faith in Christ , describing it as helping one another, the Church and humanity.

He encouraged members to endeavour to do charity, and went further to commend them for being organised and helpful to the Church and humanity.

Bishop Ezeokafor called on Christian faithful to wake up, get their PVC ready for January 16, 2027 general elections, arguing that for president and Vice president of Nigeria to be Muslim- Muslim ticket means that Christians are not being considered and their votes are not needed.

“Rigging will not be as it used to because of the present arrangement.
People are becoming wiser and can now monitor election from their room.

“When people are elected as it should be, they will see their responsibility to serve the people, but when they come to power without the People’s support , they do as they like” he stressed.

The Worthy Supreme Knight Sir Steve Zakari Adehi in his remarks, said the event was organised to help them to raise fund for most of their charitable works.

He revealed for the past 72 years of their existence, it has always been charity, supporting the poor, building houses for widows, giving scholarships, empowering young people with skills, paying hospital bills, paying fines for prisoners and supporting the church.

“To reduce taking fines and levies from our members for charity , we decided to have an Endowment, targeting to make N2bn to sustain the work of charity” he disclosed.

He called on government, individuals and friends to partner with them in their work of charity.

SK encouraged all their members to take active part in politics, get their voters card, claiming that there is nothing wrong in being active in politics just to correct some ills being criticised.

“Vote, stay there, monitor your vote till the end that is the only way to prevent rigging.If you sleep over your right, somebody else will take it, you have to be part of the system to take over what belongs to you” he advised Christians as he spoke on Muslim – Muslim ticket.

The Worthy Metropolitan Grand Knight, Onitsha Metropolitan Council, Hon. Sir Jude Mbaegbu on the same note said the Endowment Fund was aimed at providing strategic leadership, mobilising funds, supporting internal and external charitable initiative of KSM, ensuring sustainability, effectiveness, humanitarian, spiritual and community development.

He thanked SK and his friends for reviving all the existing infrastructure, including bread industry, water plant and improvement of their lodging and accommodation.

He went further to appreciate the DSK, Sir Dan Egwu, whom he described as the man steering the ship, and their own chairman Onitsha Endowment, Bro. Eto Ajuluchukwu for their contributions.

Others who spoke during the event were: Sir Jude Ugochukwu, Sir Dan Egwu, among others.

Highlights of the event included, unveiling of KSM Endowment Fund, cutting of cake, contributions from subcouncils in Onitsha Metro and presentation of Endowment Fund Medals.