*Photo L-R: NAHCON Chairman, Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman and Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State…on Friday in Owerri*
Chairman/CEO of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman has commended Governor Hope Uzodimma for hosting the first ever Hajj inaugural flight in the Eastern part of the country.
Prof Saleh Usman spoke on Friday at the Sam Mbakwe International Airport, Owerri, Imo State capital at the official flag-off of the 2025 Hajj airlift exercise which was attended by Vice president Kashim Shettima and many other dignitaries.
According to the NAHCON Chairman, “I feel greatly excited and honoured to be part of this historic event,—the official flag-off of the inaugural flight for Hajj 2025, taking place right here in this beautiful and ancient city of Owerri, the “Eastern Heartland.”
“This event is remarkable because it is the first ever Hajj inaugural flight to take off from this region. I remain deeply grateful to the Almighty for making this memorable occasion possible under my watch.”
The NAHCON CEO added that
“Governor Uzodimma’s readiness to host this inaugural flight that will convey 315 pilgrims from Abia, Bayelsa and Imo is exceptional and heartwarming. It shows the level of religious harmony the Governor is promoting in Nigeria. Ladies and gentlemen, I proudly welcome you all to Owerri, our home.
“Today marks the beginning of a blessed journey for thousands of Nigerian Muslims. It is not just a journey to the holy land of Makkah, but a spiritual journey that carries deep meaning in the lives of the pilgrims.”
Read his full speech below:
SPEECH BY THE CHAIRMAN, NATIONAL HAJJ COMMISSION OF NIGERIA (NAHCON), ON THE OCCASION OF THE INAUGURAL FLIGHT TO 2025 HAJJ HOLDING IN OWERRI, IMO STATE
Your Excellency, Senator Kashim Shettima, GCON, Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,
Your Excellency, the Executive Governor of Imo State, His Excellency Senator Hope Uzodinma
Distinguished Senator Abubakar Sani Bello, Chairman, Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs,
Honourable Jafaru Muhammad Alli, Chairman, House Committee on Hajj Affairs,
Your Eminence, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, CFR, MNI, the Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the National Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs,
Esteemed NAHCON Commissioners and Board Members of NAHCON,
Chairman, Forum of States Pilgrims Welfare Boards/Agencies/Commissions,
Leaders of Tour Operating Companies,
Gentlemen and Ladies of the Press,
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,
Assalamu Alaikum Warahmatullah Wabarakatuh.
I feel greatly excited and honoured to be part of this historic event,—the official flag-off of the inaugural flight for Hajj 2025, taking place right here in this beautiful and ancient city of Owerri, the “Eastern Heartland.”
This event is remarkable because it is the first ever Hajj inaugural flight to take off from this region. I remain deeply grateful to the Almighty for making this memorable occasion possible under my watch.
Governor Uzodimma’s readiness to host this inaugural flight that will convey 315 pilgrims from Abia, Bayelsa and Imo is exceptional and heartwarming. It shows the level of religious harmony the Governor is promoting in Nigeria. Ladies and gentlemen, I proudly welcome you all to Owerri, our home.
Today marks the beginning of a blessed journey for thousands of Nigerian Muslims. It is not just a journey to the holy land of Makkah, but a spiritual journey that carries deep meaning in the lives of the pilgrims.
We are pleased to announce that, the total number of pilgrims that registered for this year’s Hajj from both States and Private Tour Operators are …….. as at today because the Tour Operators are still uploading their visas. We have made adequate arrangements for reception of our pilgrims in Madinah and Jeddah Airports. Our target is to complete the entire airlift operation within two weeks, In Shaa Allah.
Distinguished guests,
Since assuming office just eight months ago as Chairman of NAHCON, our team has worked day and night to make Hajj more affordable and more comfortable for Nigerian pilgrims. By the mercy of Allah and with support from government and stakeholders, we succeeded in stabilising the cost of Hajj significantly—this is no small achievement, especially in the face of rising global inflation and currency challenges.
We are proud to say that for the first time in the history of Nigerian Hajj operations, we secured Tent A Plus for our VIP pilgrims—a scarce accommodation facility near the Jamarat area in Mina. This upgrade is a major milestone that reflects our commitment to improving pilgrims’ welfare and dignity.
In our spirit of brotherhood and cooperation, NAHCON provided crucial financial assistance to Tour Operators that allowed them to secure their camp bookings in time. We also made a special sacrifice by allowing Private Tour Operators to use the remaining slots in Masha’ir from the 52,000 reservations we made under the State Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards. Through this arrangement, the Tour Operators that have exhausted their allocation have continued to successfully register additional pilgrims.
Esteemed listeners, knowing the tough weather conditions expected this year in Saudi Arabia, we went further to engage more officials and staff for offshore duties compared to the previous year. This was done to ensure better care for our pilgrims and out of deep concern for the wellbeing of our staff. This will enable a shift-based working system so no staff and other officials would be overworked or risk being affected by heatstroke or health complications due to long time exposure to the extreme heat.
As we move forward, we continue to seek the blessings of Almighty Allah and the support of all stakeholders to deliver a smooth and successful Hajj operation.
At this point, I wish to express deep appreciation to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, and the Vice President, His Excellency Senator Kashim Shettima, GCON, for their endless support and fatherly guidance to the Hajj Commission. Their devotion to the welfare of Nigerian pilgrims led to their timely intervention in the issue of BTA in form of credit card for the 2025 Hajj pilgrims. Their leadership continues to inspire us to serve our pilgrims with dedication aiming for excellence.
To our dear pilgrims, I say: You are about to undertake one of the most important journeys of your lives as Duyuful Rahman- Guests of Allah The Merciful. Represent Nigeria well. Obey your officials. Follow the rules of the Kingdom and those of your country. Keep yourself away from harm whether natural or man-made by obeying guidelines. Due to expected hot weather, drink a lot of water and juice to remain healthy- Alhamdulillah, we have made adequate arrangement for these. Above all, keep your intentions pure and your hearts open for Allah’s guidance.
I wish you all Hajj Mabrur, a Hajj accepted by Allah.
Thank you and God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Wassalamu Alaikum Warahmatullah Wabarakatuh.
