Uphold Nigeria’s values, Shettima tells pilgrims
• Vice President kicks off hajj operations as 500 Kogi pilgrims departs Abuja Vice President Kashim Shettima yesterday flagged off this year’s Hajj operations in Abuja. He urged intending Muslim
• Vice President kicks off hajj operations as 500 Kogi pilgrims departs Abuja
Vice President Kashim Shettima yesterday flagged off this year’s Hajj operations in Abuja.
He urged intending Muslim pilgrims to uphold values that positively reflect Nigeria and serve as worthy ambassadors of the country during their spiritual journey.
Speaking at the inaugural airlift ceremony at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, the Vice President said pilgrims carry the nation’s image on the global stage and must conduct themselves with discipline, humility, patience and integrity.
“You are ambassadors of Nigeria. You carry with you the image of our nation and the dignity of our people. Let your conduct reflect discipline, humility, patience, and integrity,” Shettima said.
The ceremony marked the commencement of this year’s exercise with the departure of about 500 pilgrims from Kogi State to Saudi Arabia, out of a total of 50,000 Nigerians expected to perform the pilgrimage this year.
The Vice President described the pilgrimage as a binding covenant between the Nigerian state and its citizens.
He stressed that the government has a duty to ensure the safety and welfare of pilgrims, while participants must uphold national values.
In a statement in Abuja by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications in the Office of the Vice President, Stanley Nkwocha, the Vice President said: “Our duty is to ensure that every pilgrim undertakes this journey without avoidable hardship, needless anxiety, or preventable setback.”
Shettima reaffirmed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to protecting Nigerians at home and abroad, saying governance remains anchored on service and accountability.
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The Vice President stressed that while Hajj is a personal act of worship, it also reflects the credibility of national institutions, as every pilgrim travels under Nigeria’s banner.
“We owe every Nigerian pilgrim dignity, safety, order, compassion, and honour. Each pilgrim travels under the banner of our country, and each institution involved carries a sacred trust,” he added.
Shettima aso urged Hajj administrators, aviation operators, medical personnel and security agencies to ensure seamless coordination and high standards of service delivery.
The Vice President noted that success would be measured by the comfort and experience of pilgrims rather than the number of flights.
“The success of this operation will not be measured by the number of aircraft that depart alone, but by the comfort of our pilgrims, the orderliness of our processes, and the absence of avoidable hardship,” he said.
Kogi State Governor Usman Ododo described the Hajj as a rare spiritual privilege.
The governor urged pilgrims to remain devoted to Almighty Allah and pray for Nigeria’s peace and socio-economic development.
He also called for prayers for the President and Vice President as they steer the country through ongoing reforms under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
The Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Dr. Mariya Mahmoud Bunkure, expressed appreciation to the Tinubu administration for strengthening institutional coordination.
She assured the pilgrims that the FCT would ensure their seamless movement.
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, who was represented by Captain Mamud Abdullahi, said the Federal Government was working with relevant agencies to guarantee safety and comfort across airports during the exercise.
The Chairman/CEO of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Ismail Abba Yusuf, assured stakeholders of the commission’s commitment to pilgrims’ welfare, noting ongoing reforms aimed at enhancing transparency and efficiency.
He urged the pilgrims to remain guided by humility and decorum throughout their stay in the Holy Land.
