By Danjuma Attah, Gombe
A new media initiative aimed at delivering rigorous and independent reporting of the annual Muslim Hajj and Umrah operations will soon debut in the media space.
According to Malam Auwal Ahmed Umar, Editor-in-Chief of the news medium, the initiative, a brain child of some Journalists, will be a specialised media platform specifically created to deliver rigorous, independent reporting on Hajj and Umrah exercise as well as the counter misinformation affecting the sector.
Auwal Ahmed, a media scholar and public affairs analyst said the publication will responds to the frequently experienced heightened confusion in Nigeria’s Hajj space, marked by unverified claims, misleading narratives, and sustained attacks that has weakened public trust and unsettled intending pilgrims.
He explained that Hajj Gazette will position itself as a public interest newsroom focusing on accuracy, context, and accountability across the full spectrum of Hajj affairs adding that, “this includes policy, operations, health and welfare, aviation, accommodation, pilgrim education, and institutional reform”.
He also pointed out that the vision behind the platform was founded to meet a clear gap in coverage saying, “Hajj is a sacred obligation and a matter of national responsibility.
“It deserves reporting that is careful, factual, and respectful of its spiritual weight. Hajj Gazette exists to inform, not inflame, and to protect pilgrims from the harm caused by false or distorted information”, he maintained.
Malam Auwal also noted that the platform will combine straight news, investigative reporting, and explanatory journalism, with human-focused stories that reflect the experience of pilgrims.
The editorial team comprises experienced reporters, editors, and analysts with strong grounding in religious affairs, governance, and public policy.
The organisation will commit to editorial independence and adherence to the highest professional standards, guided by journalistic ethics, national interest, and Islamic values.
Hajj Gazette will neither serve as a mouthpiece nor as an adversarial platform for its own sake. Its role will be to scrutinise, to clarify, and to highlight reforms that genuinely improve pilgrim welfare.
The organisation called on stakeholders, scholars, regulators, and the wider Muslim community to support credible journalism and to verify information before sharing. It warned that Misinformation harms institutions and disrupts the spiritual focus of intending pilgrims.
Hajj Gazette News and Current Affairs, it is expected, will publish across digital platforms, print formats, and social media channels.
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