His Excellency, Comrade Dr Nasir Idris, Kauran Gwandu, has tasked intending pilgrims from the state to respect both Saudi Arabian and Nigerian laws.
He gave the task while bidding farewell to first batch of intending pilgrims from Kebbi at Sir Ahmadu Bello International Airport, Birnin Kebbi.
The first flight took-off for Saudi Arabia from the airport with 420 intending pilgrims onboard at about 6:00p.m.
The governor, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Alhaji Umar Abubakar-Tafida, charged them to be good ambassadors of the state and the nation at large.
He lauded the gigantic efforts of the Kebbi Pilgrims Welfare Agency for putting in place perfect arrangement for smooth take-off.
Also speaking, the 2025 Amirul Hajj in the state and Emir of Argungu, Alhaji Sama’ila Mihammad-Mera, said a total of 420 intending pilgrims comprising both males and females were airlifted.
While praying for a safe trip to the holy land, the Amirul Hajj enjoined the pilgrims to use the opportunity to pray for the leaders, the state and the country as a whole.
He assured that Kebbi was 100 per cent ready for 2025 Hajj exercise, “all the 3,800+ intending pilgrims from Kebbi, right from first to last flight are fully ready, their passports, visas and basic travelling allowance (BTA) are all at hand.”
On his part, the Executive Chairman, Kebbi State Pilgrims Welfare Agency, Alhaji Faruk Yaro-Enabo urged the intending pilgrims to reciprocate the gesture extended to them by the governor, his wives and all other good people of Kebbi.
Yaro-Enabo encouraged them to maintain the excellent record of discipline, decorum, orderliness, calmness, and respect for constituted authority.
He advised the intending pilgrims boarding subsequent flights to follow the instructions of Kebbi PWA by reporting at the Hajj camp very early to avoid unnecessary delays.
“As you can see, this plane has landed in Kebbi for over ten hours, since 3:30p.m. yesterday. Though, it’s neither our fault nor theirs, the plane is a new one and this is its first entry into Nigeria. Therefore, there are certain protocol before it’s allow to convey pilgrims.
“We are appealing to intending pilgrims boarding second plane to be ready and report to Hajj camp for screening while those boarding the third plane should also get ready and report to Hajj camp very early,” he pleaded.
