President Muhammadu Buhari has flagged off the airlift exercise of this year’s Hajj pilgrimage. The inaugural flight was launched Thursday at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja. The president formally flags off the inaugural flight by 1:30 pm
The president, who was represented at the event by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Zubairu Dada commended the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) for the successful preparations for Hajj 2023.
Addressing the NAHCON board, Ambassador Dada said “NAHCON is doing a very wonderful job and the President appreciates what you have been doing since coming on board”.
The president then admonished the Hajj officials not to relent but “maintain the momentum. Let this be the beginning of the job which is the Welfare of the pilgrims.
“Assist them as much as possible to enable them discharge their religious obligations that they are there for. Some of them have never traveled outside of their communities, your role means that the entire live of these human beings have been entrusted into your hands” he said.
The president also charged all offices to take their responsibilities with all seriousness, adding that everything required by NAHCON has been provided by the government and that there is therefore, “no room for excuses.”
To the pilgrims, the president urged them to be very good ambassadors of Nigeria. He asked them to consider themselves as the representatives of Nigeria and Islam.
“Represent the best of what Islam stand for,” he said.
He also urged them to pray for peace in the country and the incoming administration.
Speaking earlier, Governor Abdullahi Sule, who was represented by the Emir of Lafia, Justice Sidi Bage wished the intending pilgrims Welfare and pray that they perform Hajj mabroor.
He also prayed for the quick recovery of some of the pilgrims who sustained injuries from an accident on their way to Abuja earlier on Wednesday.
He equally thanked NAHCON for giving Nasarawa state the opportunity to be the first to fly to Saudi Arabia for this year’s Hajj exercise.
