Nigeria’s inaugural flight for this year’s Hajj has Wednesday the 15th of May departed Sir Ahmadu Bello International Airport, Birnin Kebbi for Saudi Arabia with 423 pilgrims and Hajj officials.
Flagging off the flight, Vice President Kashim Shetima, said in spite of the economic constraints the country went through because of downward dive of the Naira, President Tinubu had graciously provided N90b to subsidise this year’s hajj.
The Vice President, urged the departing pilgrims to reciprocate the good gestures while in the holy land by praying for their political, religious and community leaders as well as an end to the current security challenges facing Nigeria.
While advising the pilgrims to conduct themselves according to the laws of Saudi Authorities, the Vice President commended Governor Nasir Idris for providing all the necessary support that made the take off of the inaugural fight a success.
In his remarks, Governor Nasir Idris said, pilgrims were flown to Saudi Arabia last year from Sokoto due to some solvable issues at the Sir Ahmadu Bello International Airport, Birnin Kebbi, revealing that had been tackled, henceforth the state pilgrims would be airlifted from the Kebbi airport.
He then directed political office holders and Local Government Administrators to provide financial assistance to pilgrims from their respective constituencies while in the holy land to enable them carry out hajj rites comfortably.
Also speaking, the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, described hajj as a spiritual voyage aimed at cleansing the souls of the worshippers, therefore urged the pilgrims not to carry illicit substances and luggage’s that would deter them from attaining the purpose of the pilgrimage.
Earlier, in a remark, the National Chairman, National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, Jalal Ahmad Arabi, said the commission had secured best accommodation in Madina for the comfort of the pilgrims besides making beneficial bilateral arrangements between Saudi Authorities and the Commission for their welfare.
Abdullahi Tukur, Kebbi
