Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Professor Saleh Usman has advised intending pilgrims from Nigeria to the Holy to make sure they drink a lot of water while performing the Hajj to avoid the effects of extreme heat.
The chairman who spoke today, May 9, in Owerri, capital of Imo state, at official flag-off of the inaugural flight for Hajj 2025, said that due to expected hot weather, they should drink a lot of water and juice to remain healthy.
He reminded them that pilgrimage is one of the most important journeys of their 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.”
Professor Usman Saleh said that the Commission had made adequate arrangement for the welfare and wellbeing of the Nigerian Pilgrims in the Holy land.
He called on them to, above all, keep their intentions pure “and your hearts open for Allah’s guidance.”
NAHCON boss described the event as the first ever Hajj inaugural flight to take off from the Eastern part of the country.
“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.”
“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 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.
“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.
The inaugural flight was flagged off by Vice President, Kashim Shettima, and in attendance were the Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Senator Abubakar Sani Bello; the Chairman of the House Committee on Hajj Affairs, Honourable Jafaru Muhammad Alli, the Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the National Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar; NAHCON Commissioners and Board Members as well as Chairman for Forum of States Pilgrims Welfare Boards/Agencies/Coordinator.
