The Taraba State Council of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) has pledged to partner with the Taraba State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board in strengthening information dissemination during Hajj operations.
Chairman of the council, Matthew Eluid Jen, made the pledge during a courtesy visit to the board, stressing that successful Hajj operations demand collective effort. He also urged the board to consider journalists for roles supporting pilgrims both in Nigeria and in the Holy Land.
Responding, the Acting Executive Secretary of the board, Alhaji Abubakar Usman Tanko, described the NUJ as partners in progress. He noted that although the board traditionally nominates three journalists to join the National Hajj Commission’s media team, the practice has been affected by the rising cost of Hajj seats.
Tanko expressed hope that the federal government might revisit the issue of high fares, which could enable the state to secure more slots. He disclosed that Taraba has been allocated 912 Hajj seats for 2026, with a deposit of N8.5 million per intending pilgrim, and that registration is ongoing ahead of the November 2025 deadline set by NAHCON.
