*Photo R-L: Vice President Kashim Shettima, NAHCON Chairman/CEO, Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman; Prince Aliu Abdulrazaq, Commissioner, Policy, Personnel Management & Finance and Prince Anofi Elegushi, Commissioner Operations, Inspectorate & Licensing, during a meeting with the Vice President on Tuesday*
Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON ), Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman has said Vice President Kashim Shettima is pleased with the preparations so far made by the Commission towards the 2025 Hajj.
He stated this in a chat with journalists at the Presidential Villa on Tuesday after he led Board members of NAHCON to brief the nation’s number man on 2025 Hajj.
The Office of the Vice President supervises NAHCON and the Commission told Senator Senator Kashim Shettima arrangements have been concluded to commence the 2025 Hajj operations with the airlift of pilgrims to Saudi Arabia starting from May 9, 2025.
Also speaking to journalists after the meeting, NAHCON Commissioner in charge of Operations, Inspectorate & Licensing, Prince Anofi Elegushi said arrangements have been made in Mecca, Medina and other cities for a hitch-free 2025 exercise.
He said, “We have all of our accommodation intact in Mecca, Medina and other locations. They are ready to take our pilgrims, we have secured enough bed spaces and paid for adequate feeding for our pilgrims. We have picked May 9 for our first flight to Saudi Arabia through Medina. We intend to finish the airlift to Saudi Arabia by May 24 and start the return by 13th of June to end 2nd of July.”
“All hands are on deck, and I can assure all Nigerian pilgrims that they are in safe hands. Adequate arrangements have been made for airlift in and out of Saudi Arabia. We have made arrangements for over 40,000 pilgrims, including officials from the states and 13,000 others from the tour operators,” he added.
Speaking earlier, the Vice President charged the commission to ensure that all hands are 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 pilgrims to ensure a smooth and spiritually fulfilling experience,” he said.