Vice President Urges Hajj Pilgrims To Promote Unity, Development, Strategic Diplomacy

Vice President Kashim Shettima on Wednesday urged Hajj Pilgrimage to promote unity, sustainable development and strategic diplomacy throughout the journey.

Speaking with the intending pilgrims at the Sir Ahmadu Bello International Airport, located in Birnin Kebbi in the Kebbi State, the vice president flagged off the 2024 annual Hajj Pilgrimage.

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications in the Office of the Vice President Stanley Nkwocha shared a statement on the official X (formerly known as Twitter) account, where Shettima mentioned that the Hajj pilgrimage allows Nigerian Muslims to follow Prophet Muhammad's teachings and showcase Nigeria's positive national values at an international level.

"Our Nigerian pilgrims, as you prepare to depart for the Holy Land, I urge you to embody the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) by exhibiting humility, perseverance, and kindness during this journey," he said.

Shettima pointed out that the pilgrimage is aligned with the President Bola Tinubu-led administration's goals in promoting peace and unity among Nigeria's diverse population. He also asked the pilgrims to represent Nigeria in Saudi Arabia, where the Hajj will be performed, by following the Hajj rules.

"I implore you to be good Nigerian ambassadors by observing the rules and regulations of Hajj," he said. He also requested all the pilgrims to pray for peace, unity, and development in Nigeria during their journey.

Furthermore, the vice president praised government officials and agencies for their commitment to organizing a hassle-free Hajj pilgrimage, adding that it symbolizes "the Nigerian spirit of resilience and hospitality," which the Tinubu-led administration aims to showcase globally.

Kebbi State Governor Nasiru Idris said that the state was the first one to pay its pilgrims' fees for the annual Hajj pilgrimage to the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria.

The governor also shared that the state government invested more than N953 million to improve facilities at the Sir Ahmadu Bello International Airport and the Hajj Camp in Kebbi to ensure that the pilgrims are airlifted directly from Kebbi to Saudi Arabia for Hajj.

"The airlift of Kebbi State pilgrims for last year was carried out in Sokoto due to some very obvious reasons but this administration has been able to overcome such infractions," he said, The Nation Online reported.

Idris added, "A professional aviation consultant was engaged to holistically undertake a maintenance and upgrade of facilities in our international airport in the total sum of N53 million while infrastructural facilities were provided for the State's hajj camp in the sum of N900 million."