The Board of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, on Tuesday met with the Vice-President Kashim Shettima to fine-tune preparations for the upcoming 2025 Hajj operation.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the members of the board were led to the Office of the Vice-President at the Presidential Villa by the Executive Chairman of NAHCON, Prof. Abdullahi Usman.
Addressing the board, Mr Shettima urged the commission to ensure that all hands were on deck to ensure the success of the Hajj exercise.
“All necessary measures must be taken to guarantee the success of the 2025 Hajj.
” We owe it to all Nigerians and our prospective pilgrims to ensure a smooth and spiritually fulfilling experience,” he said.
On his part, the NAHCON boss said the board had briefed Mr Shettima on the ongoing efforts by the commission to conduct a successful 2025 Hajj operation.
Mr Usman revealed that the commission would begin the transportation of the Nigerian prospective pilgrims to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on May 9, 2025.
” Actually, we came here just to brief the vice-president about the preparations for Hajj operation for this year, 2025.
” We gave him all he needs about our preparations. So, actually he was very happy with what he heard from us.
” He advised the members of the board to unite themselves, work together as one family of the commission and deliver a successful 2025 Hajj operation,” Mr Usman said.
On his part, Sheikh Bin Uthman, a board member, said the board of NAHCON was now operating as a united house.
” The preparations are up to the task, we are hoping to conduct the best Hajj operation this year,” he vowed.
Also, the Commissioner of Operations, NAHCON, Anofi Elegushi, affirmed that all arrangements for this year’s Hajj operation had been made in Makkah and Madina.
He added that the Holy city of Madinah was ready to start receiving the Nigerian pilgrims from May 9, 2025.
” Even in Mashair (secret sites around Makkah), we have gotten enough bed spaces and paid for adequate feeding for our pilgrims.
” And we have fixed May 9, 2025 for the inaugural flight to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for this year’s Hajj.
“By the grace of God, we intend to finish the transportation of all Nigerian pilgrims to Saudi Arabia by May 24.
”We intend to start our return trips by June 13, we hope to finish the return journey by the 2nd of July 2025,” he said.
Mr Elegushi assured that all hands were on deck, saying, ” and I can assure all Nigerian pilgrims that they all in a safe hands.
” Adequate arrangements have been made for both their accomodation, feeding, and their transportation within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
” And most importantly, their transportation in and out of the Saudi Arabia, ” Mr Elegushi said.
On the number of Nigerian pilgrims for this year’s Hajj, the commissioner said, ” right now, we have gotten over 40,000 pilgrims that are for the states and officials.
” But for the pilgrims from the tour operators, I think they are around 13,000 now,” he said.
The Deputy Comptroller General, Nigeria Immigration Service, Mohammad Umar, said, ” as of today, I can assure that we don’t have any intending pilgrim that applied for a passport and is having any issue.
”All our centres across the nation have booklets are ready, waiting for the pilgrims to come and apply and issue to them accordingly.
”And another aspect where we are also concerned is at the point of departure and on their arrival. Adequate arrangements have been made.
”And we are ready, we are just waiting for the take off date,” Mr Umar said.
NAN
