President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration has assured of
support to the 2024 Hajj pilgrims, Vice-President Kashim Shettima
has said.
Shettima made this known Wednesday at the inauguration of the
2024 National Hajj operation at the Sir Ahmadu Bello International
Airport (SABIA), Birnin Kebbi, the Kebbi state capital.
The first inaugural flight conveying pilgrims for 2024 Hajj from Nigeria
to Saudi Arabia departed via Flynas airline with 422 Kebbi pilgrims
and seven officials taking off at 4: 54 pm Nigerian time.
And simultaneously, Air Peace followed with 299 pilgrims and five
officials from the FCT at 5.44pm, while some 545 pilgrims from
Nasarawa state also flew out via Max Air from the Nnamdi Azikiwe
International Airport at 8.04pm, thus bringing the total number
airlifted to Madina, Saudi Arabia, to 1,266 as at the time of this
report.
Inaugurating the airlift exercise by 1:02pm, Vice President Shettima
told the pilgrims the challenges that almost crippled 2024 Hajj
exercise.
He said: “You may recall that this year, we had a major challenge in
announcing the final hajj fare for the 2024 Muslim pilgrimage due to
fluctuation in foreign exchange rates.
“President Bola Tinubu also worked round the clock to control the
downwards spiral of our local currency to bring relief to our pilgrims
and other Nigerians, a move that eventually succeeded in lowering
the fare. The President approved the release of N90 billion to
subsidize the cost of pilgrimage for this year’s hajj.”
He said that the government of Renewed Hope, led by Tinubu,
“attaches immense importance to religious pilgrimage due to the role
it plays in transforming behavioral and social vices of the believers
beyond performing the pilgrimage.
“Due to this high regard, the government took time to carefully select
men of integrity with administrative acumen and records of selfless
dedication to manage the affairs of the National Hajj Commission of
Nigeria in the interest of Nigerian pilgrims.”
“Government at the highest level monitors all arrangements meant for
the wellbeing of our pilgrims both in Saudi Arabia and within the
country before embarking on the journey.
“We are aware of the provision put in place for the safety, security
and comfort of the Nigerian contingent to the 2024 hajj…,” the VP
said.
Shettima urged the pilgrims to pray for the success of the Tinubu
administration, peace and progress of the country, saying Nigeria is
one place “we are proud to call our motherland.”
” Indeed, it is through our collective prayers and individual
contributions that our country will prosper,” Shettima said.
…Exercise excites Sultan
Earlier, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, had tasked
Nigerian pilgrims on discipline and urged them to positively project
the country’s image in the Holy Land.
He said: “As you heard that NAHCON Chairman said when all hopes
were lost, light showed at one end and today we are having the
inaugural flight for the 2024 Hajj.
“We never lost hope that we will go for hajj. We are in an era of
Renewed Hope. So, tell Asiwaju that his real hope is still being
expected to shine everywhere.
“We are looking for more; we want more of good leadership. We want
to thank the President for his leadership.
“We thank the Vice President and all governors for our states who
have been standing by to help the common man to survive.”
…Our breakthrough – NAHCON
Earlier in his remarks, Chairman National Hajj Commission of Nigeria
(NAHCON), Malam Jalal Ahmad Arabi, described the occasion as
memorable in the short life of the Fifth Board because
the management was about to put to test the many strategies
conceived for the safe delivery of a well-organized Hajj season.
“We stand to be assessed for the promises we have made to
spearhead an outing that would be recorded as one of the best in
recent times,” he said.
He highlighted some of the achievements of the commission to
include “securing accommodation for pilgrims in Mina closer to the
Jamarat. Another achievement was the successful conclusion of visa
issuance to every eligible pilgrim before commencement of the year’s
airlift, and the Commission recorded a reduction in Hajj fare when
calculated in Dollars.”
On measures taken by the Hajj body to cushion the effect of high
Dollar rate, Arabi said these included “reduced days in Madina from
eight days to four days, in addition to discounted amount in the total
cost of accommodation. Another measure was reducing BTA (Basic
Traveling Allowance) from 800 to 500 Dollars.”
The chairman advised those who needed more BTA to source the
relevant currency individually.
Like the other speakers, the NAHCON boss advised the pilgrims “to
be obedient, patient, pray for Nigeria and her leaders and pray for
guidance of our youth as future leaders of our country.”
Arabi was earlier on ground to inspect the aircraft in the company of
his three permanent Commissioners and Commissioner representing
North-west for the commencement of the inaugural flight.
During his inspection of the aircraft, Arabi advised the
airport management to provide additional boarding stairs for the
aircraft’s back door to facilitate quicker boarding.
The NHCON boss also inspected Abuja’s Bassa Jiwa Hajj Transit
Camp and the Birnin Kebbi Hajj camp ahead of the inaugural flight.
…Kebbi gov expresses delight
Also speaking, Kebbi state Governor Nasir Idris expressed
appreciation that for the first time, his state was hosting an inaugural
flight for Hajj..
He assured of the state government’s continued support for the
agency throughout the Hajj exercise.
Idris commended various Hajj managers for organizing the pilgrimage
in such a manner that pilgrims will carry out their worship with
concentration without distractions, and prayed for the acceptance of
their worship.
The governor recalled that last year’s airlift of Kebbi State pilgrims
was carried out from Sokoto due to obstacles in embarkation point,
adding that his administration provided the necessary facilities at the
SABIA airport and the state’s Hajj camp making SABIA departure
center a reality this year.
…Dignitaries in attendance
Dignitaries that graced the inaugural flight were royal fathers led by
His Eminence, Sultan Abubakar III of Sokoto Caliphate, Sen. Abubakar
Sani Bello, Chairman Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Senator
Ali Ndume, Chairman House Committee on Pilgrimage, Hon. Jafar
Muhammad Ali, Senator Abdul Ningi, Senator Sahabi Alhaji Yau and
former senators from Zuru, Bala Ibn Na’Allah and Muhammad
Magoro.
Others were Kebbi state Deputy Governor Umar Abubakar, Secretary
to the Kebbi state Government, Yakubu Tafida, and members of the
State Executive Council, among others.
The rest included Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development,
Festus Keyamo, SAN, Minister of State Education, Hon. Yusuf Sununu,
Alhaji Faruku Aliyu Chairman of Kebbi State Pilgrims’ Welfare Board,
Yaro-Enabo, who was supported by his colleagues
namely; Executive Secretaries from Adamawa, Abubakar Salisu;
Plateau, Alhaji Dayyabu Dauda, Bayelsa, Ms Amira Dokubo; and
Alhaji Sa’adu Hassan from Gombe.

https://blueprint.ng/1-266-fct-kebbi-nasarawa-pilgrims-arrive-madina-sultan-commends-tinubu/

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