President Muhammadu Buhari has inaugurated a total of 43,000 Nigerian intending pilgrims with 546 intending pilgrims from Borno airlifted to Saudi Arabia for the 2022 Hajj at the Maiduguri International Airport, Borno state after the exercise was suspended due to COVID 19 pandemic.
Inaugurating the maiden flight at the International Airport, Maiduguri Thursday, Buhari said “I am indeed grateful to Almighty Allah for the flagging off of the maiden flight of the 2022 Hajj exercise here in Maiduguri”.
The President who was represented by the Borno state Governor, Prof Babagana Zulum said due to COVID-19 there was a ban on the exercise in 2020, while in 2021 the exercise was restricted to Saudi citizens only but thank God today we are witnessing the maiden flight for this year’s Hajj exercise here in Borno state”.
President Buhari said that Nigeria is facing series of challenges and urged the intending pilgrims to pray for Nigeria to overcome the security challenges and a successful transition of power.
The President urged the intending pilgrims to be good ambassadors of the nation by shunning any activities that will tarnish the image of the country.
Earlier, the Borno state Deputy Governor, Alhaji Umar Kadafur who is also the Chairman of the state 2022 Hajj committee said a total of 546 pilgrims from Borno state are to be airlifted today (Thursday) in Maiduguri in the inaugural flight”.
He urged the intending pilgrims to be good ambassadors of the state and Nigeria in.general while in the Holy Land, especially due to the COVID -19 pandemic.
Also speaking, the Chairman National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Alhaji Zikhirullah Hassan said a total of 43,000 intending Nigerian pilgrims across the nation are slated for the 2022 Hajj exercise and urged the pilgrims to be law abiding and exhibit good character while in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
“This year exercise is a special one because it is the fist time in two years that the exercise is resuming due to the COVID-19 pandemic”, he added.
In his remarks, the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Ibn Garbai Elkanemi thanked the Federal Government and President Buhari for choosing Borno for the inaugural airlift for the 2022 Hajj exercise in Borno..
Also in his welcome address, the Chairman Borno state Pilgrim Board, Sheik Ahmed Arabiy Abdulfatahi said a total of over 1,300 intending pilgrims are to be airlifted in Borno this year out of which 546 are to be airlifted in the inaugural flight today.
