Sultan urges Nigerians to promote peace as Sokoto fixes 2027 Hajj fare at ₦7.67m

Anene Aike, Sokoto

Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, has called on Nigerians to promote peaceful coexistence at all levels, stressing that peace remains the foundation for development, security, religious harmony and national progress.

The Sultan made the call in Sokoto during a two-day Conflict Sensitivity Training for media practitioners and influencers, organised to strengthen responsible and peace-oriented journalism ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Represented at the event by the Wazirin Sokoto, Prof. Sambo Wali Junaidu, the Sultan said peace was essential for the smooth functioning of society, warning that development could not be sustained in an atmosphere of conflict and insecurity.

He said Nigerians must work tirelessly to ensure that peace prevailed across communities and the country, noting that peaceful coexistence would create an environment where citizens could pursue their religious, economic and social activities without fear.

“Without peace, nothing can work properly,” the Sultan declared.
He stressed the need to begin teaching the values of peace to children and younger generations, saying they must be encouraged to understand the importance of tolerance, mutual respect and peaceful coexistence.

According to him, peace should be promoted at every level of society so that children and adults would understand its significance and contribute to building a peaceful nation.

The Sultan, who is also President-General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), further noted that peace was particularly important for religious practice and cooperation among citizens.

He said people must work together, support one another and create an atmosphere where everyone could freely practise their faith and contribute to national development.

He commended the organisers of the training for their efforts to promote peace and conflict-sensitive communication within communities, government institutions and across Africa.

Also speaking at the event, the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Sokoto State Council, Comrade Usman Mohammed Binji, said journalists had a major responsibility to promote peace through accurate, balanced and conflict-sensitive reporting.

Binji said the responsibility had become more critical as Nigeria prepares for the 2027 general elections, when political activities and public discourse were expected to intensify.

He urged journalists to avoid sensational reporting, inflammatory language and narratives capable of aggravating existing tensions in communities.

According to him, the media must remain committed to providing the public with accurate information while ensuring that its reportage does not contribute to the escalation of conflicts.

The training, sponsored by the European Union and facilitated by Alert

International, focused on strengthening the capacity of media practitioners and influencers to understand conflict dynamics and apply conflict-sensitive approaches in their professional activities.

Binji also announced plans to establish a Community of Practice, CoP, to sustain the knowledge and skills acquired during the training.

He said the platform would provide journalists and other stakeholders with an avenue to continue sharing experiences, lessons and best practices in conflict-sensitive journalism beyond the training.

Participants and other stakeholders at the programme agreed that responsible journalism, peaceful communication and collaboration among citizens would be critical to maintaining stability in Sokoto State and Nigeria ahead of the 2027 elections.

Sokoto Fixes 2027 Hajj Fare at ₦7.67m
In a related development, the Sokoto State Pilgrims Welfare Agency, PWA, has announced ₦7,672,882 as the final fare for pilgrims from the state participating in the 2027 Hajj.

The announcement provides prospective pilgrims with the financial requirements for the forthcoming pilgrimage and is expected to guide preparations and payment arrangements for intending pilgrims.

The agency urged prospective pilgrims to take note of the approved fare and make necessary preparations ahead of the exercise.

The 2027 Hajj preparations are expected to involve coordination among the state pilgrims’ welfare authorities, relevant national agencies and other stakeholders to ensure a smooth pilgrimage for Nigerian pilgrims.

Meanwhile, former Sokoto State Governor, Alhaji Dr. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, has congratulated Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, on his re-election.

Tambuwal described Adeleke’s victory as a victory for democracy and the people of Osun State.

He said the outcome of the election demonstrated the importance of democratic participation and the power of the electorate to determine who governs them through the ballot.

The former governor urged political leaders and stakeholders to respect democratic institutions and the will of the people, stressing that Nigeria’s democracy would continue to benefit from peaceful political participation and respect for electoral outcomes.

The developments in Sokoto, the Sultan’s renewed call for peace, preparations for the 2027 Hajj and the political reaction to the Osun election, underscore the importance of peaceful coexistence, responsible leadership and respect for democratic values as Nigeria moves towards another election cycle.