NIGERIA: Shettima Flags Off 2025 Hajj Operations In Imo, Urges Pilgrims To Uphold National Values

By Ameenat Hamzat, Lagos, Nigeria 

Nigeria’s Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, on Friday, officially inaugurated the 2025 Hajj airlift in Owerri, Imo State, calling on intending pilgrims to embody excellence, discipline, and a deep sense of national responsibility throughout their pilgrimage.

The event, held at the Same Mbakwe International Cargo Airport, marks the first inaugural Hajj flight to take off from the South-East region.

The Vice President, accompanied by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Senator Abubakar Sani Bello, and the Chairman of the House Committee on Hajj Affairs, Hon. Jafaru Muhammad Alli was received by Governor Hope Uzodinma, alongside other key religious and traditional leaders.

While addressing the gathering, Shettima applauded Governor Uzodinma for hosting the ceremony, describing him as “the hope of Nigeria” and commending his commitment to religious harmony and national unity.

He said: “This Hajj is more than a spiritual obligation; it is a national assignment that binds us by a solemn duty to guarantee the welfare of our citizens wherever they may be.

He reminded both the pilgrims and Hajj officials of the sacred trust they carry, urging service providers to discharge their duties with diligence and accountability, as negligence in such a sensitive operation could bear dire consequences.

Shettima added: “There must be no room for lapses where lives, hopes, and sacred obligations converge.”

The Vice President also conveyed the goodwill of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, assuring the gathering that the federal government has made all necessary provisions for a successful Hajj exercise.

Speaking at the event, Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman, disclosed that a total of 64,188 pilgrims have registered for the 2025 Hajj. He noted that the inaugural flight would carry 315 pilgrims a first of its kind in the region and hailed it as a remarkable milestone in the decentralisation of Hajj operations in Nigeria.

Prof. Usman further appreciated the federal government’s intervention in resolving Basic Travel Allowance (BTA) issues via credit cards and praised Governor Uzodinma for his leadership in promoting interfaith harmony.

He further urged the pilgrims to be ambassadors of Nigeria and wished them safe returns.

In his remarks, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, described the ceremony as a strong statement of Nigeria’s unity and an example of peaceful religious coexistence.

Sultan stated, “Religion is a personal journey, but unity is a collective truth we must face together.

He also commended the Gov for his effort towards the event and acknowledged how firm and tall he stood throughout the entire planning of the event.

The first batch of pilgrims left Owerri on an Air Peace flight, kicking off the Hajj airlift across the country, which the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON)hopes to finish in two weeks.