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NAHCON returns 17,347 pilgrims to Nigeria, concludes airlift for nine states

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The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) says it has airlifted 17,347 Nigerian pilgrims from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

NAHCON, in an update on the airlift operation, also said that nine states had completed the return of their pilgrims.

The commission listed the states that have completed their return airlift as Nasarawa, Gombe, Kogi, Oyo, Osun, Ogun, Jigawa, Kwara, and Plateau.

It said that Lagos, Kebbi and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) had gone above 65 per cent to 80 per cent.

“The return airlift of Nigerian pilgrims has entered its tenth day and is progressing steadily in line with return leg slots allocation secured by each of the official air carriers.

“As of the time of this report, a total of 17, 347 have been transported from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Nigeria.

“Some states have successfully concluded the return journey of their pilgrims, while others have reached various stages of completion,” the commission said.

The commission, however, said some states had yet to commence their return flights following NAHCON’s first-in, first-out policy enforced on each airline.

“For instance, pilgrims from the South-South states departed Nigeria on May 19, 2026, while Kano pilgrims commenced their outbound airlift from Nigeria on May 16, 2026 and Kaduna pilgrims on 14th May, 2026.

“States yet to begin the return journey are Adamawa, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, Imo, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Niger, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe and Zamfara states, as well as the Armed Forces.

“As for Adamawa and Taraba states that began their airlift fairly early, their official carrier is still airlifting its allocated pilgrims proportionate to its secured airlift slots,” NAHCON said.

According to the commission, the return schedule is determined by the airlift slots secured by the designated airlines.

It advised the designated airlines to take measures to complete the airlift within the agreed 19-day window, which was planned to cover the period for pilgrims’ accommodation, feeding, transport, and medical services.

“As backed by contractual agreements, the commission will implement a contingency rescue plan if it becomes obvious that any airline cannot meet up with the schedule,” the commission said.

Meanwhile, the Chairman and CEO of NAHCON, Ismail Yusuf, assured all pilgrims, their families and the general public of the timely return of every Nigerian pilgrim.

Mr Yusuf said that all Nigerian pilgrims would be airlifted back home well before the Saudi deadline for departure, which falls on the 15th of Muharram, the Gregorian date of which is June 30.

“NAHCON appreciates the cooperation of pilgrims and their families, the airlines and all stakeholders, and will continue to provide regular updates on the return airlift operations,” he said.

(NAN)

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JAMB Restores CAPS, Sets Admission Deadlines for 2026/2027 Exercise

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BY NKECHI NAECHE-ESEZOBOR—-The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, (JAMB), on Monday announced to inform candidates, institutions and other stakeholders that the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS) has been fully restored and is now operational, following the temporary disruption.

A statement posted via its official X account  today added that with CAPS back online, institutions are urged to accelerate their admission processes to recover lost time and meet the agreed admission deadlines. Candidates are also advised to promptly accept admission offers made to them.

The statement added that key deadlines for the 2026/2027 admission exercise:Public Universities: 31 October 2026; Private Universities: 30 November 2026 and Other Tertiary Institutions: 31 December 2026.

The board went further to advised candidates who previously awaited their results to upload and/or verify them promptly to ensure their credentials are available for consideration as institutions intensify their admission processes.

JAMB, also apologised for the inconvenience caused by the temporary disruption and appreciates the patience and understanding of all stakeholders.

The post JAMB Restores CAPS, Sets Admission Deadlines for 2026/2027 Exercise appeared first on Business Today NG.

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Supreme Court deepens digital transformation drive with Galaxy Backbone – Technology Times

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The Supreme Court of Nigeria is strengthening its digital transformation agenda through an engagement with Galaxy Backbone Limited focused on cloud service management, digital risk and the infrastructure required to support secure digital operations.

The engagement brought members of the Supreme Court management team together for executive training on managing cloud services and mitigating risks associated with the growing use of digital technology across institutional operations.

The programme also included a tour of Galaxy Backbone’s data centre and other operational facilities, giving the Supreme Court management team an opportunity to gain practical insight into the infrastructure supporting digital services, according to a statement by Galaxy Backbone.

The engagement reflects the growing importance of technology management within Nigeria’s public institutions as government organisations increasingly rely on digital platforms, data, connectivity and cloud-based systems to support their operations.

Cloud computing allows organisations to access computing, storage and other technology resources without depending entirely on infrastructure located within their own offices. However, the shift to cloud-based systems also creates operational and security considerations, including data protection, access management, service availability, cybersecurity and business continuity.

These considerations are particularly important for public institutions that manage sensitive information and provide services that depend on reliable digital systems. For the Supreme Court, the management of technology risks is therefore becoming an important component of its broader digital transformation efforts.

The training hosted by Galaxy Backbone focused on helping senior managers understand the opportunities and risks associated with cloud services. Rather than treating technology adoption as purely a technical matter, the programme highlighted the role of executive decision-making in ensuring that digital systems are properly governed and managed.

Effective digital transformation requires institutions to understand not only what technology can deliver but also how digital services are operated, secured and maintained. This includes identifying potential vulnerabilities, establishing appropriate controls and ensuring that services can remain available when technical or operational disruptions occur.

The infrastructure tour added a practical dimension to the executive training. The Supreme Court team visited Galaxy Backbone’s data centre and other facilities to see how the physical infrastructure supports digital services.

Data centres provide the computing, storage, networking, power and security infrastructure required to operate modern digital systems. Their role becomes increasingly important as organisations move more administrative activities and information services into digitally enabled environments.

The visit therefore provided an opportunity for the Supreme Court management team to connect the broader concepts discussed during the training with the physical infrastructure on which digital services depend.

The engagement also highlights the importance of executive capacity in public-sector digital transformation. Technology systems can only deliver sustainable value when the people responsible for institutional decisions understand their operational requirements and associated risks.

For senior managers, this means having sufficient knowledge to evaluate technology investments, understand service-management arrangements, assess security considerations and make informed decisions about the continuity of critical digital services.

For the judiciary, these issues have wider institutional significance as technology becomes increasingly relevant to administrative and operational activities. Greater reliance on digital systems creates corresponding requirements for reliability, security, access control, data protection and continuity.

The engagement with Galaxy Backbone therefore goes beyond a conventional technology training session. It represents part of the wider process of preparing public institutions to manage the organisational and operational implications of digital transformation.

Galaxy Backbone’s involvement also underscores the importance of local digital infrastructure in supporting Nigeria’s public-sector technology ecosystem. As a provider of digital infrastructure and related services, the company’s facilities offer an environment in which public-sector decision makers can gain greater understanding of the infrastructure supporting digital services.

The collaboration comes at a time when Nigerian public institutions are increasingly seeking to modernise their operations through technology. Digital platforms can support administrative efficiency, information management, communication and service delivery, but their effectiveness depends on reliable infrastructure and appropriate governance.

This means that digital transformation cannot be measured only by the number of platforms or systems introduced by an institution. It also depends on whether those systems are secure, resilient, properly managed and aligned with institutional objectives.

The Supreme Court’s focus on cloud management and digital risk reflects this broader requirement. As digital services expand, institutions need to consider technology adoption alongside cybersecurity, operational resilience and the capacity of management teams to oversee increasingly complex digital environments.

The executive training and infrastructure tour provided the Supreme Court management team with both strategic and practical perspectives on these issues. The combination of knowledge development and exposure to operational infrastructure can help senior decision makers better understand the technology environment supporting their institutions.

For the Supreme Court, the engagement forms part of a continuing conversation about how technology can support a more digitally enabled judiciary while ensuring that the systems underpinning institutional operations remain secure and reliable.

As Nigeria’s public sector continues its digital transition, the experience also points to a wider lesson: successful digital transformation requires investment not only in technology and infrastructure but also in the people, governance frameworks and risk-management capabilities needed to operate them effectively.

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